The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-12-24
PART U.-CHAPTER III.

/
ton regarding his strange guest. But a
remark from the division commander that
he preferred to commit the general plan OF
a movement then under discussion to the
memories rather than to written orders IN
the ordinary routine seemed to show that
his chief still suspected the existence of
spy. lie, therefore, told SHIN OF his late
! Interview with Miss Faulkner and her
probable withdrawal in favor of mulatto
nciShbor. The division commander re-
| ceved the Information with Indifference.
They're much too clever to employ
hussy like that who shows her hand at
every turn-either as spy or a messenger
Of spes-and the mulattoes are too stupid,
to say nothing of their probable fidelity to
Us No, general, if We are watched it is by
an eagle and not by hooking bird. Miss
Faulkner has nothing worse about her than
her tongue, and there isn't the Niger
blood in The whole south that would riss
moose for her, or for any of their mas
ters or mistrcsses."
II Was,I therefore, parhane, with some
mitigation of his usual critical severity tina;
he saw her walking before him alone in
the lane as he rode home TO quarters. Snc
was apparently lost IN half-impaticnt.
nalf-moody rcYeric. which even the trot-
ting hoofheats of his own and his orderly's
horse had not disturbed. From time to
time she struck the myrtle hedge beside
her with the head Of a large flower which
hung by its stalk from her listlcss hands,
or held il To her fac" if TO inhale its
perfume. DsmissinE his orderly by a side
path, he rode gently forward, but to his
surprise, without turning or seeming to he
aware of his presence, she quickcned her
pace, ana even appeared 10 look from side
10 side for some avenue of escape. If only
to end matters, he was Obliged to roe
quickly forward to her side, where he
threw himself from his horse flung the
rgiYa an md 10,
her She at first turned slightly flushed
en-, tx away from INN, and then looked up
with purely simulated start of surprise.
Il am afraid" he said gently, that 7
am the first u break my own orders in
regard to amy intrusion on your privacy,
but ] wanted 10 ask you if ! could give YOU
an aid Whatever "a The chanse you thinks S
- ISM" lie was quite sincere. had
yTIVfa lie had an intuition OF feminin"
.uifer.nas that was in itself feminine.
Meaning that YOU IN a hurry TO get
rid of me-" she said curly, without rdis-
ing her eyes.
Meaning that I only wish to expedite
business -, think is unpleasant to
you bur pla 'A}elieve YOU have under
taken :, thBa1E IN devotion"
The Iai - cfae'ion of reserved ma
ture is" ~ '|HI ire attractive to women
tnan Il pe,. "aQe ,ent vivacity. Possibly
there wasvs u melancholy grace in his
sar5ionic soldiers manner that affected her.
for she looked up and saiu .mpulsiveiy:
you think SOP
But NJ met her eager eyes with some sur
prise Il certainly do" ne replied more
colby Il can imagine your feelings on
finding your uncIe's home in the possession
Of your enemies. and your presence under
the family roof only suferauce. l can
hardly believe it pleasure t. you or n
task you would have accepted Tor yourself
alone"
But" she said, turning from him wick
edly. 'whot if / did it only to excite my
revenge; what if l knew it would give me
courage 10 incit" my people t. carry the
war into your own homes, TO make You o.
the north feel as l feel. and tast, our BIZ
4 tcrness"'
/ Il could easily understand that. too ne
] replied with lstess coldn S., although |
! dent ADMIT that :eycnSc IS ar uhiAlNed
! pleasure even ID q woman
~ woman" she repeated Indignantly
/ 'Thcre Is no sex In "a war ike THIS.
i ..Nou are spoiliEg your flower he Said
quietly. ct is very pIetty-and hilN'
on, too-uot au invader-n'r even trans
planted May | look ut it,
Sine hc.itatad. halr ~ocoiGG@ for an instant
and her hand ,rclnblcd. Then suddenly and
abruptly she said with hys,eric little
laugh: "Tak7 it-theu," ana almost thrust
it in Ills aand.
1t certainly was a pretty Gowc". not unlike
a Hlv in appearance, with "A bel-iike Gun
and long anthers covered with a fine pollen
IKE red dust As n, lifted it to his face 20
inhalc its perfume she uttered slight crJ
( and snatched it from his h&nd.
"Thcrev' she sai5 with the same nervous
laugh. Il knew YOU would ought TO nave
warned YOU The Eollen comes off so easily
and leaves a stain. And you've got SONS
| ON your check Look" she continued, takln2
mr. handkerchief from her pocket and wip-
! in,r his check "see therc," The delicate
cambric showed q blood red streak
1T grows in a swamp she continued il
/ the SAME excited strain. I'VE call it dragon
/ treth-like the kind thai was soWn in the
story. you know We children used to fine
il and then paint our faces and lips with il
We called it our rouge. 1 was almost tempt
ed to try it again when found it just now
II took mo back to the ola times
Following her odd manner rather than hc'
N6rd- as she turned her face toward hin
, sudd My Brant was inclined 10 think tina
She had tried il already. so scarlet was ne
cheek Eut Il presently raled again undo
his cold scrutiny.
You must miss the old times" he said
( calmly. Il am afraid you found very lttl
OF them left, except in these flowers"
and hardly there" she said bitterly
..Your troops had found a way through tn
; marsh and had trampied down the bushes
Erant's brow couded. He remembers
that the brook which had run red durin
the nght had lost itself in this marsh. |
) Iid not increase his liking for this beauti
: III but blindiy vicious animal at his sidt
. ( ard even his mamentary pity for her wa
2 / fading fast. She was incorrlSlpie. me
Q vaIiscd on for "A few moments in silence.
6 You said, she began at last in gentle
! aud even hpstating voice, that your VIII
: was a southern woman.
:! - believe | did" he said coldly, as h
2 regretted if. -, ,. go,
i nl-tbe gospel according to St Lincoln. I
i : know." she went on hurriediy, as if cor
S oin,s of his irritation and seeking to ala
g = "She was a woman and loved you. an
:; thought with your thoughts ana sa" ON
|, I'm vour eyes Yes-that's the way Wit
:. ~ suppose we all do it, she added hi
l. tcrly. ;, -, ,,ra,
!, she had her own opinions sald 6rat
!. briefly as he recovered hinsel' aooido1
Nevertheless, his manner so ueVlueu