Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-11

seemed to dslate and decidedly danger
Gus expression glittered In Miss Las
celles' splendid dark eyes. Would that
glance ever soften. he thought. if
Charlie Fulton whispered in those ex-
quisite ears a tale of sweet devotion?
There must be some dove-lilxe softness
in nature like hers, Frank unused,
Notwithstanding that quivering lip and
proud disdain-
But Franks nerves were not OF steel
nor his youthful vigor unconquerable by
fatigue and suffering, SO as soon as the
repast was ended he begged to be per-
mitted to retire, as his journey must be
resumed at early dawn.
Utterly wornout, he sank on his bed,
without removing more of his clothes
than his borrowed coat, and fell into
profound slumber.
For hours he slept.
Was it dream that Mary Lascelles,
with her rustling dress of scarlet
trimmed with snowy miniver, was
! standing over him?
He started fitfully, and woke.
No, it was no dream. In reality she
stood beside him. holding lamp in her
| hand which threw it's rays across the
spacious room.
''You must CO." she said, speaking in
anxious haste. go at once, without
one word of explanation. Your uniform
| and arms are here. Dress as quickly as
| you can, for moments are precious You
will find me in the garden below await
ing you
And before he could speak one word
of reply, the fair vision had glided from
| the room.
Had these been less stirring times, he
might have thought the whole scene
! the phantasy of over-tired brain, but
a soldiers life had rendered him quick
to cast off the lethargy of sleep, and in
| an instant he had his faculties about
| him.
Il am here" came the silvery tones of
a woman's voice. as he stepped from the
broad porch to the garden walk.
''This is a sudden alarm, Miss Las
celles," he said, as he joined her under
the gloomy shadow of big magnolia.
but none the less necessitous," she
replied; Task me not how l know it.
Frank Besant, but already your enc
mics and my friends-alas. the cruel
bitterness ofit-are closing around you. ="
But, surely, when he remembers the
humane errand | came on your grand
fathers protection would be afforded
| me-"
eyes, and he thinks it would be all
| sufficient, but know better"
You are very. very good to me-" the
young man sighed, softly.
| ''Ah, you have found that out. 1t is
| hard for a woman to keep a secret like
| mine"
Her voice trenbled as she spoke. while
| Frank felt a dull sense of shame and
dread creep over him. Surely there
could be but one meaning to her words.
He knew not what to reply.
81 shall never be able to do enough to
| show my gratitude" he said. lanely.
Never" was the passionate reply.
''Who knows?" the young soldier ven-
| tured. THE fortunes of war are vari-
Gus, and it may be my turn to help you
| when next we meet"
! ''Help me! You help rae! God keep
| me from your help! You have helped
me now, Frank Besant, to forget the
holy cause that should absorb my very
soul, to barter my sense of duty to my
| fatherland for an unwomanly interest
| in one who comes with sword and fire
to waste my country. But :,ark!' she
cried. suddenly selling his hand in
|
of horses hoofs? Away, down yonder
path among the apple-trccs! 1t will
bring you to the Nashville pike. Here
| in this basket is food and wine: take it,
! and hurry: but oh. one word before
| you go. If in the time to come
| But hOrSemen were coming at furious
| speed along the Swallowed avenue and
| the girls injunction was never uttered;
| for, with q bound. Frank dashed to the
path of freedom. and ran stun bling
| through the darkness to the distant
| highway.
The stars Of another night were glim-
mering in the heavens. when. footsore
| and weary, he reached the fair city.
| whose beautiful streets had been of late
so often trodden by friend and foe.
CHAPTER X
IN THE TOLLS.
| But bark! Louder sounds the thun-
| dering storm of battle. From far and
wide the mailed clans are gathering for
! the fierce struggle that shall battle so
| many fields in blood. The South is wild
| with the alarms of war Johnston has
| marshaled his troops at COrinth, where
Beauregard has concentrated forces,
| Bragg has como from Florida. Polk from
the Mississippi, and Price and Van Dorm
are marching at the head of thirty
| thousand men from Arkansas.
And the Northern heroes muster for
| the fray by thousands. Sherman has
joined the Tennessee expedition, Buell.
is hurrying from Nashville, and Smith.
with forty thousand soldiers and seven
ty transports, has pitched his tents at
Pittsburgh Landing. an obscure spot.
whose name ere long shall darken the
page of history; and Grant is there. a
shadowy picture in the background at
first, but soon to take the leadership of
that vast array. Like two huge, angry
monsters, those great armies lie, but
thirty miles apart
On a plateau, two miles from the
Landing. stood log Westinghouse
known as Shiloh Church, which has
| given its name to the bloody battle
fought near its peaceful walls.
Smith was in the throes Of death. and
Grant was in command, with Sherman
for his staunch right hand, while on the
other side of the river Buell. with forty
thousand men was but few miles dis