The Washington times., 1894-12-30

lhDcL nFEfhh Win lCO ALS@sE-
his whole threatened position spread out like
map before his eyes, the swift calculation OF
the time his men could hold the ridge, IN his
mind-eyen the hurried estimate of the pre-
cious moments he could give TO the wretched
woman before him-all this he was keeply
alive 10 as he graYely, even gently. led her
TO a chair and said in a critical and level
voice:
.'This is not enough Speak slowly. plainly.
must know everything. How and in what
way have you betrayed me2"
She looked at him mploringly-reassured,
vet awed by his gentleness.. "You won't be-
lieve mel You cannot believe mel But do
not even know: / have taken aHd exchanged
letters whose contents / never saW-between
the CoDfederates- and spy who comes 10 this
house-but who is far away by this time.
did it because thought yeu hated aad de-
epised me, because thought il was my duty
TO help my cause, because you said 1t was
war between us; but 1 have not spied on
yoa. Iswear it,
"Then how do you know of this attack"
be said calmly.
She Frightened. half timidly, half hope
fully There is a window in the wing of
this house that overlooks the slope near the
Confederate lines. There was a signal
placed in it-not by me-but know il meant
that as long as it was there the plot, what
ever il was. was not ripe and that no attack
would be made on you as long as ii was visible.
That much knew, that much the spy had to
tell me, for we both had TO guard that room
In turns. i wanted to keep this dreadful
tifing of until-until," her voice trembled-
'untiJ, she adde1 hurr. .edly, seeing his calm
ewes were reading her very soul, until I
went away and for that purpose / withheld
some OF the letters that were given me. But
this morning, while 1 was away from the
house. / looked back and saw that the signal
was no longer there. Some one had changed
il. / ran tack. but was too late. God help
me, as you seer
The truth flashed upon Brant. It was his
own hand that had precipitated the attack
But larger truth came to him now, like a
dazzling Inspiration. If he mad thus precipi-
tated the attack before it was ripe there was
q chance that it was imperfect, and there
was still hope. But there was no trace of
this visible in his face as be fixed his eyes
calmly on hers, although his pulses were
hating in expectancy as he said:
Then the spy rad suspected you and
changed it.
"Oh. nor' she said eagerly, 'for the spy
was with me and was frightened. too. We
both ran back together-yon remember
was stopped by the patrolin She checked
herself suddenly. but too late. Her cheeks
blazed, her head saDk-wilh the foolish dis
closure into which her eagerness had be-
trayed her.
But Brant appeared not to notice it. He
was in fact LnzZling his brain TO conceive
what information the stupid mulatto woman
could have obtained here. She must have
been. like the trembling. eager woman be-
fore mere tool Of others
Ibid this woman live here z" he said.
mo she said. ''She lived with the Manlys.
but had friends whom she visited at your
Generals headquarters"
With difficulty Brant suppressed start.
It was clear 10 him now. The information
had been Obtain at the division headquar-
tiers and passed through his camp as beng
nearest the confederate lines But what was
the Information. and what movement had he
preciptated? ? Ii was clear that this woman
did not know. He looked at her keenly. A
sudden explosion shook the house, n drift of
smoke passed the window-a shell had burst
in the garden.
She had been gazing at him despairingly,
wlstfully, but she did not blanch or start.
An idea took possession Of him. He ap-
preached her and took her cold hand A half
smile parted her pale lips
You have courage-you have dey3tion,"
he said, gravely. II believe you regret the
step you have taken. If YOU could undo what
you have done, even at peril TO yourself, dare
you do it2''
''Yes,a she said, breathlesslY.
'You are known TO the enemy. II / am
surrounded you could pass through the Con-
federate lines unquestioned.''
Yes, she said. eagerly.
"A note from me would pass you again
through the pickets OF our headquarters. But
you would bear a note TO the general that no
you or yours-it would be only word of
warning"
"And you" she said quickly, ''would DO