The Portland daily press., 1892-10-01
"Take this; you must not talk"

With look that carried volumes 0:
words, the sick man obeyed, closed hii
eyes, and, with sigh of infinite con
tent, yielded to the drug and slepr
again.
Then, still not turning her face. the
wondering woman whispered:
"What does it all mean?"
Taking her hand, with all the defer
ence of the cavalier, Stuart led Miss
Clay to the open room adjoining. There
his story was briefly told. The dispatch
Evan brought across had saved fata
surprise. Before the dawn of battle
morning, as the confederates lay in
,rif1epits, waiting the attack, firing
was heard in front. Soon FitzhugE
raced in, closely followed by federal
troopers That day he was in the very
forefront of the fight. When the enemy
broke, Charlton's troop was first te
mount, in close pursuit; rally, ano
they broke in turn, leaving their cap.
tain hemmed by hostile sabers. Like
lightning Fitzhugh cut his way to Charl.
ton, just as he fell pinioned by his
horse. Then Evan reached the pair
fighting on foot, just as Fitzhugh fell
The boy sprang from saddle, threw the
wounded man across his horse, and
brought him safely in, under very hail
of lead.
AS she heard this terse recital, the
woman's brain reeled; but will coerced
1t to calm at its close, and she gasped:
'sBut-all this fora spy"
"Yes-for nasnef" Stuart's eyes, CLINT.
ing as he recounted the fray, softened
to tenderness, as did his tone. '3Peyton
Fitzhugh, my lifelong friend. was sent
abroad at my request on delicate mis-
sion. He tooald not stay. Service here
secret as desperate in peril-was
needed; and that grand fellow yonder
risled halter hourly-bore obloquy
and insult from both sides-to serve the
cause
.sBut your order? That scar?'
Secrecy made the order imperative.
Thrice begged him to return, explain
and accept troop. He refused, until
I found better man. to replace him
there. That scar was made by my
notwithstanding him on a lonely night
ride, when deemed far away"
'And Capt. Charlton's story"
'sWas one of the strange ones he tells
after country parties, Miss Clay
Stuart's eyes were dancing in their
deep-blue depths again. ''But his gal
liant fghtredeemedh his gasconade, when
/ acted Joab to him and put him in the
front of the battle. But the council
meets in ten minutes. / must go:
Marse Robert does not stand delay.
I'll come this evening, when your pa
TENTS cured
His blue eyes were verify dancing q
airy Of the army of northern Virginia
'Lee's strong right hand" Fgos Regum
Arthurus-ran down the stairs as light
~ as a boy. And, bound to solemn
council with the president and corps
commanders as he was, his mellow bar
itone voice trolled out, not softly:
"If you want to have good time Join the cav
alryI',
With slow, quiet step Carolyn Clay
moved to the bedside once more, look
ing down long and earnestly upon the
face of the sleeper, now flushed with
healthier glow. Then. hiding her own
In clasped hands, she sank upon her
knees.
Presently the sun, peering through
the western window, FURNISHED the
girls hair to ruddiest gold. thence
touching softly the sick mans eyes.
Slowly they Enclosed, resting long
upon her, with equal doubt and yearn-
ing in them.
'sWhat day is it?' he asked, feebly.
''New Year day." She rose, speaking
very low.
"New Yearl Twelve months ago
you"
''Hushp' she whispered. "You mast
not tdszzEs.' -
"You gave your pledge" he went on,
feebly, ''a pledge to trust me unto
death!''
ST remember it." She turned away
her face, her voice very tremulous, but
very sweet. 'Spite of my will-spite OF
conscience-of everything, I kept that
pledge"
Weakly his hand crept towards hers,
resting there. "And this New Year
you will give me-Y"
Her grave, glorifed face. softly glow
ing, was turned bravely to his:
II will give you-myself!'
Gently, Loyalty, Carolyn Clay bent
down, and her lips touched softly the
scar upon his forehead.
And the sun of the New Year made
her hair halo over it.
(THE END.