The Washington times., 1894-12-16

which his duty mace I'M erat We de hardly
dared 10 lhink OF the as days slaughter,
which, there was no doubt now. had been
due 10 the previous work ol the : " and how
his brigade had been selected y the il o ~ OF
fate to suffer fer and vet retrieve 1t. II she
hal hand in this wicked plot ought be 10
spare her? Or were his destiny and hers to
be thus mcnstrdusly linked together
Luckily, however tie exposure Of the chief
offender and the Timely discovery Of his pa
pers enabled the division commander to keep
The AHA discreetiy silent. and to euiojn eGual
secrecy on the part OF j aut. The latter. how
ever did not relax lis vigilance. an after tie
advance the next dag he made minute IN
specUon OF TIE ground ho WAS 20 occupy, its
approaches and connection with the ouilv-
ing country and the rebel lines, increas q the
stringency OF picket and seniry regulations,
ana exercised a rigid sarve.iianc' o; Dog-
combatHns and civilians within tie lue---
even TO the lowest anteener or camp fn!-
lower. Then be tufnrd his attention to the
house he was to occupy as bis headquarters.
1t was fine specimen of the old co,oE al
planters house with its broad SeEandas, its
great Ge;aa he'd Offices ard negro quartrr-.
amt rad Tins ar. escaped the raya@CS and
/ Tile ting % he war. Il had been occupied
! lY Its owner up 20 Il icw days heio.e the en-
gaccme:t. and so great hal been the conf
deEce OF the enemy in their success that II
had been usrd as the Confederate headguar-
ters on the morning OF the decisive battle.
Jasmine and rose. unstaiHed by the sulphur
o. guupCw1er. twIued around its ruined co.
U;nEs aud halt hid Il e recess ed windows the
: careless flower garden was stiii IN Its unkcI I
and unplucked luxuIiance. The courtyard he-
! fore the stables alone showed marks Of the
! late military occupancy, and was pulyerized
I by the uneasy horschoots ofthe waiting star.
+ But the mingled impress OF harbaric prodi-
( Cality with patriar,hal simplicity was still
/ there in the domestic arrangements of a race
! who lived on equal terms wlih strangers and
! their own servants.
The negro servants stli remained with q
cera!R eat-like fidelity 10 the ulace and
dapted themselves to the Northern invaders
1 with child-liEe enjoym nj Of the novelty OF
/ the change. BTant, nevertheless, looked them
! over With an experienced eye, and satisfied
/ Inns II OF their truStworttine-s: there were
/ the Usaal number of '.oys. gtay-haired and
and grizz.ed in Eoiy service, and the nam
mics and ''aunties OF lhe kitchen. There
were Two or thrpo rooms in the wing which
slil contained TIiyat0 articles. pictures, an /!
/ souvenirs OF the family. and young lady
| boudoir which Brant, with characteristic del
, icacy, kept caTe.ully isolated and intact IRON
his military household aud accessible only &c
the family servants. The room he had Sc
| lected for himself was nearest it-I small
| plainly furnished aparin eIt " III an almost
| conventuai simplicity in lis cold. white wal:
| and drapsriee. and the mar. oW, nUn-!Ike bed
Ii struck him 4 AT il mi hi have be onge5 tC
| some prm elder daughter or maiden aun
who had acted "a houseaeei er. as it CON.
manded tie wing and the servants Offices
with easy arces, 10 the central bail.
There followed a week of inactivity il
which Brant cit a singular resemblance IL
| this Southern mansion TO The o.d Casa a
Robes. The afternoon shadows of the derE
veranaas recalled the Old monastic gloom o
the Spanish house. which even the presence
OF 0ung;ng officer or waiting orderly cou!C
not entirely di>SipaJe, ami the scent OF thI
rose and jasmine from his windows overcamt
him with sad memories. lie began 20 cha
under this nagticn and long again for the eX
citenent OF the march and b.vouac, in Wnlci
for tine past four years he mad buried HI
past.
sHe was sitting one afternoon alone before
his reportsa nd dis atch s. when This Iniiu-
ence seemed so strong that ne halt impur
siveiy laid them aside to indulge in ionl
reyerie. He was recall ng his last day a
Rotles. the early morning duel with Iinck
ney, the return TO San Francisco, ana th
sudden resolution which sent him that day
across the continent to offer his services I,
the government. he remembered lis della,
in the Western town where volunteer regi
ment was being recruited his IN rance int
il as a private, his rapid selection throf Il
the force Of his sheer devotion ana inte igen
concentration. to the caata.ncY of his co a.
pany. his swift promotion on hard-fOugh
fields to the head of the regiment and the
singular success that had followed his resist
less energy, which lest him no time to thinl
OF anything but his duty. The sudden intru-
sion OF his wife upon his career. even in this
accidental and perpaps innocent way, hat
seriously unsettled h!m.
The shadows were growing heavier ant
deeper. il lacked only Il ew momen s OF tu
sunset bu.le when he WAS recalled to hlm
self by that singular instructive consci GUS
ness, common TO humanity, OF being intentl,
looked at. He turned quickly; the door be
h nd him closed softly. He rose and slipped
into the hall. The tall figure OF woman
was coming down the passage. She wa
erect and graceful, but as she turned toward
the door leading to the offices he distincll,
saw the gaudily turbaned head and blac
silhouette of a negress. Nevertheless h
halted q moment at the door of the mex
room.
''See who that woman is who just passed
Mr.. Martin. she doesn't seem to belong +
the house"
The young officer rose, put On his cap, anC
departed. In few moments he returned
''Was she tall, sir-of a good f. ure an
very straight?'
"Yes"
"She is a servant OF our neighbours, th
Manlys. who occasionally visits the servant
here. mulatto, think"
Brant reflected. Many of the mulattos an
negresses were of good figure, and the babi
OF carry ng burdens on their heads gave ther
, q singuIarly erect carriage.
The lieutenant looked at his chief
Have you any orders to give coneernin
her. general"
No said Brant, after q moments pause
and turned away.
The officer sml lied. 1t seemed a goods or
to tell at mess of this human weakness of hi