The Washington times., 1894-12-30

saEed They would come. to your essistance!
You would not then be ia Sen?"iA>
He smiled gently. "Perhaps-who knows?"
He sat down. and wrote hurriedly. This. !"
he said, banding her a slip of paper.F'is q
This note" he continued, handing her Il
sealed envelope, ais for the General. No one
else must see it, or knowof it-not even your
over-should you meet him.
"My loyer!" she said Indignantly. with a
flash of her old sayagery. .What do you
mean? / baye no loveri"
Brant glanced at her flushed face. 81
thought" he said quietly, THAT there WAS
someone you cared for in yonder lines.-some
one you wrote to. 1t would have been an ex-
cuse--"
He stopped as her face paled again and her
hands dropped heavily at her side. "Good
God you thought that, tool You thought
that l would sacrifice you for another MANI"
Pardon me, said Brant quickly; Il was
foolish. But VIII ,ther your lover is a man or
cause, 7on have shown awoman's devotion.
And IN repairing your fault you are showing
more than womaa's courage. now"
To his surprise the color had again
mounted her pretty cheeks, and even flash
of mischief shone in her blue eyes. "Itwould
have been IAN eScuse-yes-tos save d man,
surely. Well. j will go. / am ready"
"One moment" he said gravely. "Al-
though this pass and an escor. insure your
safe cond ct there is an engagement and
some danger. Are you still ready to face ii?''
II am. she said proudly, turning back a
she hesitated. Then she said in lower
voice: 'Are you as ready to forgiven"
I'm either case.'s he said, touched by her
manner-''and God speed you."
He extended his hand and left a slight
pressure on her cold fingers But they slipped
quickly from his grasp. and she turned
away with heightened color.
He stepped to the door. One or two aides
de-eamp. withheld by his order against in
trusion. were waiting eagerly with reports.
The horse or mounted field officer was paw
ing the garden turf. The officers stared at
the young girl.
''Take Miss Faulkner with a flag to some
safe point OF the enemys lins. 3 She is nom
combatant of their own, and will receive
their protection"
He had scarcely exchanged dozen words
with the aides-de-camp before the field Of
fieer hurriedly entered. Taking Brant aside.
he said quickly: pardon me- General. but
there is a strong feeling among the men that
this attack is the result of some Information
obtained by the enemy. The woman you have
just given safe guard TO is suspected and
the men are indignant.
The more reason why she should be con-
veyed beyond any consequences of their folly.
Major" said Brant, frigidly. land i look to
you for her sale convoy. There is nothing in
this attack to show that the enemy has re-
ceiyed any information regarding US. But
would suggest that ii would be better to see
that my orders are carried out regarding the
slaves aud non-combatants who are passing
our lines from division headquarters. where
valuable information may be obtained, than
in the surveillance OF a testy and outspoken
girl
An angry flush covered the majors cheek
as he saluted and fell back, and Brant turned
to the aide-de-camp. The news was grave.
A column of the enemy had moved against
the ridge: IL was no longer possible to hold it,
and the brigade was cut of from its commu-
nication with the division headquarters, al
though as yet no combined movement was
made against it. Brant secret fears that it
was an intended impact against the center
We're confirmed. Would his communications
to the division commander pass through the
attacking column in tiIne2
One thing puzzled him. As yet the ebemy,
after facing his line had shown no disposi-
tion, even with their overwhelming force, 10
turn aside to cover him. He could easily
have fallen back, when it was possible to hold
the ridge no longer, without pursuit. His
flank and rear were not threatened. as they
might have been by division of SO large an
attacking coluhB,- and his retreat was still
secure II was this fact that seemed to show
failure or imperfection in the enemy's plan.
1t was possible that his precipitation of the
alta, tx by the changed signal had been the
cause OF it. Doubtless some provision had
been male TO attack him in flank and rear,
but in the unexpected hurry OF the onset it
had to be abandoned. He could still save
himself, as his officers knew. but his convic-
ton that he might yet be able to support his
division commander by no ding his position
doggedly, Tut coolly awaiting his opportunity,
was strong. More than that, it was his
temperament and instinct.
narrowing them in flank and rear, con-
testing the ground inch by inch, aud holding
his own against the artillery sent to dislodge
him, or the cavalryt that curled round to ride
through his open ranks, he saw his flies melt
away before this steady current without
tiinchlng.