The Washington times., 1894-12-23


/ duct of Miss Faulkner with this later reve-
lat on. 1t was quite possible that the dis
patch box had bern purloined bv some one
else during her absence from the house-as
the presence of the mulatto servant in his
room would have been less suspicious than
hers. There was really Little evidence 10
connect Miss Faulkner with the actual out
rage. Rather, might not the real spy have
taken advantage OF her visit here 10 throw
suspicion uDou her? He remembered her
singular manuer-ihe strange insistency
with which she bad iorced.this flower upon
him. She would hardly have done so had
she been conscious OF lis la ing SO serious an
import. Yet. what was the secret Of Aer
manifest agitation? A sudden inspiration
fas bed across his mind a smile came upon
his lips. She was in love.
Inc enemy's line contained some sghing
young subatern with whom she was IL com
munIcatiop-an Tor whom she hal under
taken tnis quest. The newer was their Ian
guage OF corresp spondence. no doubt II *
piained also the Young girl anmos ty against
the younger ofiicers-his adYersaries; against
hImse.f-theiT commander. He had pre-
yiously wondered why. ii she were indeed
spy, she had not chosen, upon some equally
specious order from Washington, the heal
quarters oi the division com nander whose Sc
crets were more valuable This was explained
by the fact that sac was nearer the lines and
her lover in her present abode He had no idea
that he was making excuses for her: he be-
lieved himself only just. The recollection of
what she had said ofthe power OF love. albeit
II had hurt him cruelty at the time was now
clearer to him, and even seemed TO mitigate
her olfense. She would be here but day or
two longer; he could afford to wait without in
terrogatlng her
But as 10 the real intruder-spy or thief
that was another affair ana quickly settled.
He gave an order to the officer OF the day
peremptorily forbidding the entrance OF alien
servants or slave, within the precincts OF the
headquarters. Any one thus trespassing was
to be brought before him. The officer looked
surprised-he even iancied disappointed.
The graces OF the mulatto wonian's figure had
evid ntly not been thrown away upon his
subalterns
An hour or two later. when he was mount
ing his horse for a round Of inspection. he
was sur. rised to see NJ SIS Faulkner accompa-
MED 10y the mulatto woman runuing hur-
riedly to the house. He had forgotten mis-
late order until be saw the latter halted by
the sentries, but tue goung girl came dying
on regardless of her comaanion. Her skirt
was caught in one hand, her straw hat had
fallen back IN her flight, and was caught only
| by ribbon around her swelling throat; her
loosened hair lay in a black rippled loop on
one shoulder. For an instant Brant thought
that she was seek ng him in Indignation ut his
order but Il second look al her face. eager
eyes. and parted scarlet lips, showed him that
she had not even noticed him in the concen-
tration OF her purpose. She swept by h IN
into the hall; he heard the swish OF her skirt
ami rapid feet on the stairs; she was gone.
. What had happened-or was this another of
her moods
But he was called to himself by the appari-
tion OF a corporal standing before him with a
mulatto women-the first capture under his
order She was tai. well-iOrmed, but I'M
mistakahly show NJ the negro type. even in
her small features Her black eyes were eX
cited. but uninteiigent, her manner dogged.
but with the olst macy of haif-conscious stu
pidity. BCant felt not only disappointed but
bai a singular impression that she was not
the same woman that be hal first seen. Yet
there was the tall. graceful figure, the dark
proile, and the turhaned head that he had
once followed down the passage by his room.
Il. e., patrols-a civic home guard in the South
that Kept surveillance of slaves
Her story was stupidity simple She had
known missy" from chile. she tad just
trapSed over to see her that afternoon; they
were walking together when the sogers
stopped her. She had never teen stopped De-
fore. even by ''patter rollers Her old massa
(AIauly) had glib leaf 20 90 see Miss Josey,
and hadn't said notfin about no ''orders."
More annoyed than he cared to confess,
Brant briefly dismissed her with a warning.
AS he cantered down the slope the view Of the
distant pickets recalled the window In the
wing, and he turned in his saddle to look at
it. There il Ias-the largest aud most domI-
nant window in that part OF the building
aud within ii a distinct and vivid object. al
most filling the opening, was the vase of
| flowers which he had few hours ago re-
moved, restored to its original position. He
smiled.
The hurried entrance and CONSERVATION of
Miss Faulkner was now fully explained. He
had interrupted some impassioned message,
perhaps even countermanded some affec-
tionate rendezvous beyond the lines. And it
! settled the fact that it was size who had done
| the signaling. But would not this also
make her cognizant of the taking Of the dis
patch box? He reflected however, that the
room was apparently occupied by the mu-
latto woman; he remembered the calico
dresses and turban on the bed; and it was
| possible that Miss Faulkner had only visited
| it for the purpose OF signaling to her lover.
But the circumstance did not tend to make
his mind easier 1t was, however, presently
diverted by an unlooked-for accident.
As he rode through the camp a group Of
officers congrega'ed before large mess tent
appeared to be highly amused by the CONVEX
sation-half monoi0gue and half barangue-
OF a singular-looki1g individual who stood / n
the center. He wore ''slouch' hat. to the
band OF which he had impaired a military air
| Dy tne auuuon OF Sold cord, Dut the DrIm
was caught uD at the side in a peculiarly
| theatrical and highly artificial fashion.
| heavy cavalry saber depended from broad
| buckled belt under his black frock coat with
the addition OF two revolvers, minus their
holsters, stuck on either side of the buckle,
after the style of stage smugglers. A pair of
long enameled riding leather boots, with the
duty turned deeply over, as If they had done
tops for the representative of a cavalier, COM
| pleted his extraordinary eqIiipment The
| group was 80 absorbed in him that tney did