Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-07-23
"A Fair
Blockade Breaker F!
CHATTER VI.
TRAITOR AND TRUE

TRAITOR AND TRUE
If Peyton Fitzhugh really desired to
take the midnight express for Washing
ton, MS were certainly very leisurei5
movements to reach it.
He lounged into the Maryland club
unusually empty, as it chanced,-lit a
cigar, and sat down with an evening
paper, glancing over its margin at every
one entering the hall beyond. Men
passed in or out, occasionally, until, at
last, tall, athletic man, bronzed and
careless in dress, entered the club and
strollcd into the billiard-room.
Laying aside his paper, the watcher
lounged into the same room, carelessly
taking a cue from the rack and testing
the balls on the nearest table.
"Hellol Peyton, old boyi"
"Why, Carroll Meredith Is that you?"
The greetings were simultaneous, as
their eyes met; and the last conner
grasped Fitzhugh's hand warmly, as he
queried:
''Where in thunder do you come
from2 Haven't heard Of you since we
parted in Paris last year"
"Yet I've been over here three
months, and been a good deal in socie-
ty-"
bdLnh bOCIcJy! SdELO4
Meredith, with perfunctory profanity;
adding, with largely-lacking respect:
Whats in it, anyway? A lot of green
girls and greener ships, or, worse yet,
old boys and girls playing young.
hate mutton dressed lamb fashion, Pey-
ton. Got sick of it long ago. BY GeorgeI
you're old'enough to know it all through,
too"
"Stopl No allusion to my age" Fitz-
hugh laughed. Come, let's have a glass
of wine to the jolly days in Paris"
"Um-umr" Meredith shook his head
rather ruefully. Cant do it, old boy.
Nerer drink anything now. Why, I've
tasted nothing but coffee since got
home. You know my love for it? Well,
I'm the moral bachelor of the club now"
you always were; but now you look
| it." the other laughed back.
That's exposure. Just back from q
duck hunt" Meredith retorted, with a
quick glance in the mirror. "That con-
founded nose of mine colored like a
meerschaum years ago; but am a regu-
lar Father Mathew, now"
well, try q carom game while we
talk" Fitzhugh proposed. ST suppose
your" morals won't blush If drink a
glass of champagne? I've been at a
swell musicale; but it was too union
there to suit my taste, so 1 slipped off
before supper. Carroll, why does Mrs.
Gray"
| The other man had crossed to the
rack. At the name, the cue he grasped
hung half suspended, as he wheeled
and stared at the speaker.
| Pardon me-" the other continued,
courteously. 81 had forgotten that
0ilmor Gray was your cousin. But,
really, to us the bluecoats must CRATE a
bit. suppose there's good reason for
it sometimes diplomacy. CONVEYANCE,
or what not; but I don't care for too
much of it myself"
Carroll Meredith glanced cautiously
and quickly about the room, then into
the hall, approaching the table as
though about to say something serious.
Then, suddenly changing his mind, he
asked, bluntly:
"Why didn't you go across, them
You're a Virginian, great rider and q
crack shot Mosby needs men; so does
Stuart. But perhaps my question is
mot the least in the world" Fitz-
hugh replied, suavely. "I've only
been back awhile, and I'm so deuced
lazy, you know. Besides, there's moth
ing doing across just now. In the
spring I will be in my native state
And, Carrolr'-he drew closer, looking
steadily in the others eyes, and his
voice grew vibrant, with solemn ring
in tiff the end does not show me
worthy of my name and race, may yor
all-may God Himself-curse the trai
tors grave in which lie."
The Marylander extended frankly
his strong, brown hand, as he said
warmly:
Pardon my awkwardness, Peyton
I'm blunt, rough fellow, not one O
you society men, but I'm man enough
70 recognize another when meet him