The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-08-02

wounded comrade among them in par
ticular. This was to be done in that
curt, businesslike manner which be-
fitted Union officer upholding his
government when addressing rebel.
And behold, a pair of beautiful eyes,
which had looked up fearlessly into his
own, had suddenly changeds his tactics.
The charms of the room into which he
had entered completed the transforms
ton he was undergoing.
There was little in it to attract a ma
rauding soldier--there was much that
appealed to the refinement of 4 man
who in camp and bivouac had longed for
all the sweet amenities of home, and
been none the less brave for the longing
He reveled in the scent Of the pine logs
Pickering softly on the hall hearth and
mingling their perfume with that of the
violets and primroses upon the quaint
old tables He even longed to touch a
bit of feminine laeework which was re-
fected in the polished surface of one Of
them, upon which it lay. When he rose
at the entrance Of the lady of the house
he bent before her with even greater
reverence than that with which her
daughter had inspired him. Surely she
resembled his own mother, perhaps not
in feature, but in that exquisite likeness
of expression which all tender mothers
bear to each other.
Madam" he said, 81 have no apology
to offer for my intrusion but the fortunes
of war. Your woods afford but a sorry
asylum at this wet season, and a wounded
fellow officer under my charge is afraid
of suffering from the effects of exposure.
must ask shelter for him and for my
men,
He was not wholly unprepared for the
gentle courtesy of her reply.
'tThere are number Of vacant rooms
in the house" she said "They are at
your disposal. Perhaps you had better
look at them to ascertain If they are
sufficient for your force. IF not, may
be able to make other arrangements as
my family is small. | will send some
one to show you over tho house."
1t was well that he could not hear the
troubled discussion which followed be-
tween mother and daughter in the next
room.
II am most unwilling, Glen
ssBut, mother, / am not at all afraid,
and there is no one else; your going is
out OF the question. Maum Betsey woilld
never mount the stairs with her 'jints,'
and Nelse would betray US on the first
landing. Set your mind at rest. Missy
shall go with me-"
And so it came to pass that Captain
Campbell presently found himself fol
lowing a slender figure, which held q
lighted candle high in one hand, up a
winding stairway and along wide hail.
with Missy toiling patiently in the rear
1t was strangely silent procession. His
guide fitting on, with such quick, light
footsteps before him, said nothing but q
few words Of explanation as they entered
one misty, closed up room after the other;
but he was sufficiently occupied in noting
the poise Of her head, the turn of her
rounded wrist, the scant, soft folds Of
the gown that chung to her young Shape
It was of some faint gray stuff-a moth
eaten heirloom of her mothers, If he had
but known it-and her only adornment
was cluster of carnations which Missy
had fastened at-her sisters threat q half
hour ago. He thought he had never seen
colors so artistically blended
This is the ballroom, " she said, sud
denly stopping before double door and
throwing it open for him to enter. It
was with pang that she did SO. OF all
the rooms in the house it was in this
that she had dreamed the sweetest day
dreams. It had been used as a school
room of late years, and an old blackboard
and some forlorn desks in one corner
still bore witness to this proclamation, but
a raised platform at one end for an or
chestra attested its true character, and
the floor was as smooth as polished ivory.
There was tradition in the family that
Washington had once danced minuet
upon its honored boards, and that here
Lafayette had bent the knee in stately
courtesy to some fair ancestress of the
Helens, but in all Glen's young girlhood
it had never echoed to the footsteps of
any dancers save those with whom her
fancy had peopled it.
"What fine old roomE" said Campbell
adiniringly. He inpulsively put out
one foot to try the polished surface, and
at the same time Missy, with her short
skirts daintily Lifted in her chubby hands
and her charming head held smilingly to
one side, advanced toward him with pref
ty mincing steps. He looked up, hoping to
see her sisters severe young mouth relax,
but there was sudden whiz, the candle
was dashed from her hand, and they were
in utter darkness. Glen uttered faint
cry, there was scream from Missy, and
for one brief moment the captain felt
that these two young creatures shrank
toward him for protection, but Glen soon
recovered herself.
at was only bat" she said calmly,
and sure enough, when the candle was
found and relit, the ugly creature, scared
from some dusty hiding place, was seen
circling and swooping over their heads.
But they had had enough of exploring.
AS they retraced their steps the captain
insisted upon holding the candle and
leading the way, and Missy chung con
fidingly to his hand, in spite Of her sis
ters whispered circumstances. Wher
they reached the head of the stairs the
small witch put up her arms with a plea
to be carried" which could not be re
| sisted. and before Glen cG,1ld iy1tar1,ost