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

20 coax her afIecCi0uS by catering 20 ner
taste for dainties- sweet crackers, pre-
served ginger and other Injuries not I'M
known to an officers table-and the
pretty gourmand was Toasted and petted
! to her hearts content. Buff her humble
slave and admirer imagined for an in
slant that her naive friendliness might
act as an opening to some intercourse
with the rest of her family he was des-
tined to disappointment.
What a fine network of dignifed, yet
exquisite, reserve these southern women
could weave around them! Day after
! day Captain Campbell found himself smil-
ing at it, wondering at it, chatting at it.
His enforced term of idleness in lonely
country house was a sufficient explana-
ton to himself of any interest he might
! take in his surroundings. Such an ex-
perience of boredom was enough to war
rant the degree of pleasure he began to
feel In the rare appearance Of a girlish
| form, or the sound of a fresh young
voice, which was not often audible.
Sometimes he enjoyed the privilege Of
seeing the grinning Nelse lead fine old
hunter around to one Of the side doors
of the mansion, and then he would watch
breathlessly the breezy grace with which
the Virginia girl swung to her saddle.
He learned in time that these afternoon
rides were not pleasure excursions They
were errands to the postofiice, about five
miles distant, upon which Nelse was
never trusted, and the captain soon sue
ceeded in approximating SO exactly the
period required for their performance
that the twilight was almost sure to find
him at his window in time to watch the
return-the thoroughbred skirnming over
the ground like a bird, while Glen's 1.-THE
body swayed easily to his magnificent
stride.
But never once did Captain Alan
Campbell gain an opportunity of speak
ing to her after their first meeting. Her
mother he saw almost daily, for her wom-
ans heart was not proof against the fact
that sufferer was lying under her roof,
and the wounded young sergeant, who
was wasting away with fever, had rea-
son to bless her tender ministrations.
For awhile the captain found himself
hoping that another gentle presence
might brighten the sick room, but Mrs.
Helen always came alone, and only once
did the captain meet his younger hostess
face to face. 1t was one evening when
Missy, entirely forgotten by her elders,
had made one Of her surreptitious visits
to the soldiers quarters, and there, over
come with drowsiness and an excess of
sweetmeats, had fallen asleep in Captain
Camphells arms. He could not bear to
walzen her, and so, with her unconscious
little head resting against his breast, he
strobe down the long hall and ventured
to knock at the door Of the family sitting
room.
1t was opened by Mrs. Helen, who
thanked him, with some gentle con-
fusion at her apparent oversight Of the
child. He was not invited to enter, but
over the lady's head he caught glimpse
of Glen, and was not slow to interpret
her quick indignant glance at her little
sister in such resting place. He had
seen that impatient brightness in her
eyes before, and he went back to spend a
restless night in the old ballroom, which
some whim had led him to choose as his
own and his wounded comrades sleep
ing apartment. He was beginning to
curse himself for the fancy. Averitable
spirit of unrest paraded the ghostly old
room. When the lights were extin-
guished, and the sick man lay quietly
sleeping beside him, mocking bird, In
the syringa hedge just below the open
windows, filed the night with melody,
and in the pauses Of his song the plain
tive cry Of the whip-poor-will echoed
across the wide lawn.
The air was filed with the sweet night
scents of languishing spring flowers, and
the captain, tossing on his couch, peo-
| pied the room with half waking farcies.
Once more the floor rang to the tread Of
dancing feet, and as the music throbbed
his own arms encircled slender shape;
or, in that allowed window filled with
shadows, while the moon hung low in
a tender sky, his clinging lips found
hers. In his dreams he shook with the
sweet agony Of the caress- and the next
morning he laughed mockingly at its
recollection as he made his toilet.
''Surely this languid air and this idle
life have fred my blood" he said,
stretching himself. 81 no longer won
der at southern sentiment. need ten
mile march through Virginia pipe clay,
under pouring sky, to shape me up
again. If my orders don't come this
week shall be a proper subject for irons
and court martial"
And at the Same early hour Glen was
in the hall beneath him, engaged in her
morning tasks Of sweeping and busting,
with Missy, elevated on one of the ta-
bles, gravely watching her.
Missy" said Glen, suddenly throw
ing down her brush and putting her
arms about the child, do you know
what mother sayss that you must
never, never go into the soldiers rooms
again. Do you understand me? Do you
know that they are bad, wicked men,
Missy; that they have taken everything
away from us, and that they are keep
ing Brother Frank away from home, and
poor mother breaking her heart about
him? And Missy" Glen's face darkened
as she lifted the child in her strong
young arms and held her up to the
draped portrait above them, "don't you
know that they killed Uncle Matt, our
dear fathers youngest brother?n Glen
It'd ks.ts n 80