Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-02-09
CHAPTER Nv.
ACCUSATION.


The snowfiakes sifted down noise
lessly but larger and faster; the tread
of the sentry was softened almost into
silence; and the fire, now cracking
merrily on the old hearth, whirled the
SPARKS up the cracked chimney in dizzy
dance.
Carolyn Clay sat like a statue, her
chin resting on her hand, and her face,
now pale, swept by light or shadow, as
busy memory sent each from her brain
For the rencontre in the generals
tent had added other and far different
thoughts to anxious memory and eager
speculation on the outcome OF this adj
vecturc-the rrcst dangerous, so far,
thai ell her risky essays as a blockade
breaker had forced upon her
In all her previous tra1nps along the
Potomac trail-as in her '.hair-breadth
'scapes'' from patrol gunboats in cross
ing the we1l-watched river-Miss Clay
had escaped capture. Indeed, had the
operetta been written then, she had
certainly gained the sobriquet of THE
Mascotte, p" from her good fortune.
But now, added to the danger of sus-
picion for a spy was the trial of dar-
ling brother, loved beyond expression
of words, whose chances in his struggle
for life or death would be lessened by
her delay.
In the rapidly-forming Goals rose pic
lures of narrow cot in hospital
ward, fever-burned boy tossing rest
lessly upon it, and a stately form, worn
by watching and anxiety to semblance
of itself, leaning tenderly over him,
smoothing the hot pillow, while the
age-veined hand put the cooling draught
to his lips. And the girls sense could
actually hear the words of fervent
prayer go up, above the boys fair hair,
anon changed to cheering talk of sister
soon to come and bring relief
Quickly, unconsciously, memorys
camera had changed its slide, and in the
Goals before her the picture was of
gay ballroom of the previous year. It
was New Year night, the roads frozen,
and Richmond's best and fairest were
there-her bravest and her tenderest.
To dim nook, stairway half hidden
from the thrOng, came subdued hum of
distant voices, softened music Of waltz.
She hearde the very notes-low, sweet
and tremulous-and her breathing kept
time to the strain, Lanner's ''Romanti-
kerr And to that rhythm there had kept
strong, brave voice, tempered by deep
est feeling and resistless truth. as it
told anew 1.-The old, old story
a shiver ran through her 1.-the form,
the shining coils of rudy hair bert
lower on her breast, as Carolyn Clay
saw the woman in the Goals hesitate-
half yield; as she heard her own voice.
scarce protesting. giveits solemn pledge
20, IL rl-
always-to wait until the war was over,
but TO trust-untl the death
Then groan burst from her culver
ing lips. The cheeks that glowed-spite
CT captivity and peril, spite of watching
mother and fevered bairn-suddenly
sallowed, and the lips. thin-curved by
seorn, pressed tightly on each other,
and a cruel light of disdainf,-l hate
CLEANED from the hot gray eyes.
For now memory whispered OF that
gray, bitter cleaning ct headquarters
when the hints of men became certain
ty. Runor-coming as the wind comes,
whence no man Hsteth-crept through
the camps that he-Peytcn FitZhugh,
their pride and boast, though but three
months returned from Europe TO serve
his state-had ridden out OF the lines
without leave and was heard of 40 more!
Then-wcrse than news of capture-of
death itself,-that he, flower of Virgin
ian chivalry, had deserted.
OH the shame, the hidden horror of
it, Mono dreamed of his plighted love,
of her half-plighted troth; but Carolyn
Clay came OF a line to whom their own
disapproval was keenest Of all reproach.
And her heart hardened itself, even as
Pharaoh's of old, against the man who
had betrayed her-worse. himself
worst of all, his countryi
Nor was room left for doubt. Rumors,
strange doubts, crept in at first, then
came stories of disloya1 work. with
raiding federals; and, last, Capt Charl-
ton reported that, riding with gay