The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-10-19

"a faint and sweet as the shy and mod
est wood violet's. She noted his silence
and his haggard eyes. She noted the
intent gaze, and the color mounted
straightway to her forehead
"And have you no word. of greeting
for me?" she blithely laughed, striving
to break through the awkwardness Of
his reserve, "or are you worn out with
your night watch as officer of the day."
He fairly started. Had she seen him
then? Did she know it was he who
stood beneath her window; he who leap.
ed in chase Of that scoundrel; he whd
stole away with that heavy telltale lad
der? And knowing all this, could she
stand there smiling in his face, the i'm
carnation Of maiden innocence and
beauty? Impossible! Yet what could she
mean?
'How did you know had so long
vigil?" he asked, and the cold, strained
tone, the half averted eyes, the palloi
of his face, all struck her at once. In.
stantly her manner changed.
"Oh, forgive me, captain. see you
are all worn out, and I'm keeping you
here at the gate. Come to the piazza and
sit down. I'll tell papa you are here, fol
know you want to see him." And she
tripped lightly away before he could re-
ply and rustled up the stairs. He could
hear her light tap at the colonel's door
and her soft, clear, fiutelike voice.,
Papa, Captain Chester is here to see
YOU"
Papa, indeed! She spoke to him and
of him as though he were her own. lie
treated her as though she were his flesh
and blood--as though he loved her de-
votedly. Even before she came had mob
they been prepared for this? Did moi
| Mrs. Maynard tell him that Alice had
become enthusiasticall devoted to hei
stepfather and considered him the most
| knightly and chivalric hero she had eveI
seen? He could hear the colonel's hearty
and loving tone in reply, and then she
came fluttering down again.
"Papa will be with you i'll five min
utes, captain. But won It you let me give
you some coffee? It's all ready, and you
look so tired, even i'll. "
Il have had bad night, " he answer
ed, "but I'm growing old and cannot
stand sleoplessness as you young people
seem to- "
Was she faltering? He watched hef
eagerly, narrowly, almost wonderingly.
Not q trace Of confusion, not sign OF
fear, and yet had he not seen her and
that other figure?
81 wish you could sleep as do,
was the prompt reply II was in the
land Of dreams 10 minutes after my
head touched the pillow, and mamma
made me come home early last night
because of our journey today. You know
we are going down to visit Aunt Grace,
| Colonel Maynard's sister, at Lake Sab,
Ion, and mamma wanted me to be look.
ing my freshest and BEST" she said,
"and never heard q thing till reveille. +"
His eyes, sad penetrating, doubling,
yet self doubling, too, searched het
very soul Unfinchingly the dark orbi
looked into his, even pityingly, for she
quickly spoke again:
Captain, do come into the breakfas,
room and have some coffee. You have
not breakfasted, Pm sure
He raised his hand as though to repel
her offer, even to put her aside He
must understand her. He could not be
hoodwinked i'll this way.
Pardon me, Miss Renwick, but did
you hear nothing strange last night OF
early this morning? Were you not dis.
| turbed at all?''
II? No, indeedr' True, her face had
changed now, but there was no fear i'll
her eyes. 1t was look of apprehension,
perhaps of concern and curiosity min
gled, for his tone betrayed that some
thing had happened which caused him
agitation.
"And you heard no shots fired?''
"Shots! MOI Oh, Captain Chester,
wat does it mean? Who was shots Tell
nd now, with paling face and wild
apprehension i'll her eyes, she turned and
| gazed beyond him, past the vines and
the shady veranda, across the sunshine
of the parade and under the old piazza,
searching that still closed and darkened
window
"Who?" she implored. her hands
clasping nervously, her eyes returning
eagerly to his face
at was not Mr.. Jerrold. ~ he answer.
| ed coldly. He is unhurt. so far as shot
is concerned ~
"Then how is he hurt? Is he hurt at
ALP" she persisted, and then as she met
his gaze her eyes fell, and the burning
blush OF maiden shame surged up to her
forehead She sank upon seat and GOV.
cred her face with her hands
II thought of Mr.. Jerrold naturally.
He said he would be over early this
morning" was al she could find to say
81 have seen him and presume he will
come. To all appearances, he is the last
man to suffer from last nights affair,
he went on relentlessly, almost brutally.
but she never WINGED 1T is odd you
did not hear the shots. / thought yours
was the northwest room-this one, " he
indicated, pointing overhead.
$50 it is, and l slept there all last
night and heard nothing-not thing.
Do tell me what the trouble was. -
Then what was there for him to sayi
The colonel's footsteps were upon the
stair, and the colonel, with extended