The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-06-18
A Story of the Late War.
ny BERNARD eIcspY.

by BERNARD eIoseY.
Author Of Loyal at Last" Ny Lady Fantas-
TIC. "Elen's Great Secret" Fell
Among Thieves" Etc.
Copyright, 1891. by A. n. Kellogg Newspaper Co.
CHAPTER xI.-CoSTISrED.
.Let us stroll down this path, Besant,
and intercept him at the gap yonder.
We may get something out Of him any
how"
with pleasure, Major" and the two
officers started for the point suggested:
Evidently there was something on the
Majors mind. Frank thought. as they
walked slowly down the path, for he
was generally chatty and agreeable
enough, but now seemed moody and dis
inclined To talk.
"You seem out of sorts, Major
Frank said at last. really anxious about
his superior's manner.
And well l may be, Frank. ] am
very much concerned about Charlie Full
ton-not SO much for his sake as for his
fathers, who is an old and tried friend
of many years"
''Oh, Charles all right, sir" Frank
said. confidently.
You think So Well, am sorry to
say do not agree with you. Now, do
not like to ask you boys to tell tales of
one another out of school, and want
you to quite understand that am actu-
ated by no motives hostile to young
Eulton's interests. So"
Il quite understand that, Major"
We'll, do you know any thing about
young lady named Lascelles?'
Frank was too amazed to speak. He
was certain that not one living soul but
himself and young Fulton knew their
secret. Fulton, for his own sake, would
not have been likely to mention her to
any one, and he was positive her name
had never dropped from his lips.
''Ah, see you have heard of her-for
Gods sake, Frank, hope you arc not
mixed up in this serape?" His tone was
SO earnest and sympathetic that Franks
conscience smote him.
II am in no scrape, Major
NO. / was wrong to doubt you, my
boy; but was afraid Fulton had drawn
you into some connivance with his guilty
correspondence with this woman
Guilty correspondence. You amaze
me. Major Hopkins"
yet. am afraid there is no other
expression that will describe it. With
out betraying confidence, can not ex-
plain to you what information has
reached me, or how | have gained it,
but | know that Fulton met Miss
Lascclles in Nashville more than once,
and, from something that has just oc-
Cured, am suspicious that our every
movement is communicated to her, and
through her to Others"
''Oh, sir. Impossible. would stake
my life that Charlie Fulton could never
be so BASE
Nay, you misunderstood me, Frank.
Do not for one moment suppose that
imagine Colonel Fulton's son could ever
be a traitor. lie has sinned unllnow-
ingly: at least that's how | read it.
Caught in the fascinating tolls Of this
handsome, but unscrupulous, young
woman, he has allowed himself to be
caioled by her into giving her valuable
information. l can picture to myself
the bait with which she has played him
the tender inquiries about him and
his doings, his whereabouts, his ex
pected journeyings here and there, his
friends. his little bits of camp news
all SO interesting to one who loves him
Pshaw, it is the old tale of Delilah ovel
again, and if you and do not put on,
heads together, our poor young Sam
son will be surely shorn Of all hi.
locks"
Franks brain seemed in whirl.
major Hopkins" he said at last, you
asked me few moments ago if knew
Miss Lascelles, and then cvadcd you,
question. ! do know that lady, and
am going to tell you how and where
made her acquaintance. But first
need your word of honor as gentleman
that you will never reveal to any one
what may tell you-no, not even il 70,
stood on your oath before court
martial"
Il never will-so help me Heaven,
the Major declared, with as mucl
solemnity as though he stood before
whole bench of judges.
Then Frank related from first to las
his adventures with Mary Lascelles
emitting only the little episode of tn,
garden and her gentle hints of prefer
cnce for himself, which the honest la.
was 10th to believe even now were an,
thing but sincere.
by this time the mounted strange
had approachcd-a short, thick-set oil
man, dressed in the garb of minister
with Bible and hymn book sticking con
spicuously out Of his coat-pocket, an
mounted on lank, ill-fed mule.
He greeted them warmly as he rod
up to them.
"Ah, gentlemen" he said, 1T is in
deed a blessed privilege to see Nortl
ern face in this unhappy country, wher
it is a crime to remember that one one
swore fealty to the stars and stripes.
Both officers shook hands with him.
''You are Northerncr?" the Maio
asked.
Yes, by birth and education, but tn
best years of my life have been spent i
Tennessee and Georgia, and othc
Southern States, for a soldiers pat
you know Is ever a wandering one"
"A soldiers, you say? Have you eve
served?"
Am / not serving now, friend? Ar
we not both soldiers-you of the swort
] of the crosse
'Oh, yes, exactly did not look a
II in that light, Mr.. -" he paused 10
the stranger to fill up the blank.
abel Green, or As the simple fol