The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-30

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in the ranks need not be quite a fool. .
There was such flash of insolcnce
in her manner that Frank started in
panied surprise.
Il am really very sorry to seem SO
stupid he said, coloring crimson, but
think you are little hard on me-"
so do l.. she said, with a light
laugh, for her moods were as change
able as an April sky, and very rude
and unladylike also. Pray. forgive me. .
Nay he declared, heartily; Il
have SO much to thank you for that
forgiveness is out of the question. Now,
to turn to pleasanter subject. may
ask the name of the fair Samaritan who
has done so much to-day for sweet char
ity's sakc?''
Meaning me? OF course you NAV.
Perhaps You would like my whole
autobiography 1t would not fill an
encyclopaedia. so you need not look
alarmed Then she continued. with a
pretty serio-comic earnestness that fas-
cinated her listener: My name is
Mary Lasccllcs. ! was born Of rich
but respectable parents on a plantation
in the southern part of Kentucky.
where have spent the greater portion
of my brief but brilliant life. Our fam
lily, which is rather old. migrated into
the Bluc-Grass state from Virginia.
little previously. | believe. with Will
lam the Conqueror from Normandy into
England-some time previously. again.
with Noah to Mount Ararat. Beyond
that am told that the family records
are trifie obscure. but we have every
reason to suppose that the roots of our
genealogical tree run right down to
Adam and Eve, the original founders Of
our race.
Then you have not always lived in
tanned by her badinage.
Not l. indeed. We are simply on a
visit here-grandma and taking care
of my brothers house in his absence on
business"
She did not explain to him that the
business which called her brother away
from home was the command Of a regi-
mcnt Of irregular Confederate cavalry.
at that moment doing dashing service
with Price in Missouri.
And. may ask the young soldier
queried. blushing and stammering like
schoolboy. how. with such surround
ings. you have retained your loyalty to
the Union? thought that"
Nay. don't let me sail under false
colors. she interrupted. Il am heart
and soul worshiper of the bonnie
blue flag. and would give every drop of
my blood to see your whole host of
into the sea-
Then why in the name Of Heaven
did you succor us?" Frank asked. dazed
at her revelation.
a mere woman's within, she replied.
jauntily. II saw you struggling against
fearful odds. and could not resist the
impulse to come to your rescue. | shall
be sorry for it presently, of course. but
meanwhile let us forget that we are
enemies"
And your grandmother" Frank
gasped. lis she too "a
"A rebel? Certainly. Now. sir. you
had better go and show your Northern
chivalry by telling your commanding
officer what hornets nest you have
fallen into"
II would rather my tongue were cut
out" the young man declared. hotly.
NO. Miss Lascelles. we are making
war on men. not women. and there is
no clause in our code of honor which
demands the necessity of betraying
those who have bcfriended u.s."
+" Code of honor in band of high
way robbers-really, Mr.-ah. par
don me. you did not favor me with your
name-thank you-Mr. Besant-what-
avery amusing-idea:'
The young beauty's insolence only
called a smile on the face Of the good
humorcd soldier.
Nay. Miss Lascelles." he said. sooth-
ingly, ''let us keep our quarrels for the
battlefield. You can not provoke me
to fight you, SO your taunts are hardly
generous.
A pert reply rose to her lips. but ere
the words could be uttered the clatter
of a horses hoofs rang on the paved
streets. stopped opposite the house. and.
AZ both the young people ran to the
window. Frank saw tall. robust man
with long black hair dismount and
fling the bride to a negro boy.
He was startled at the deathly pallor
of the girls face.
Quick" she cried. for Heavens
sake let me hide you somewhere-it