The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-12-14
madam, or your own loyalty will be put

madam, or your own loyalty will be put
in question"
"And, pray, what can do?" asked
the girl drawing herself up to her full
height and looking at the English off,
Ger with scornful and Indignant eyes.
''You can tell them that there is no
one concealed in your house. He will
never dare to doubt your word"
"You would have me tell n lie to save
you--lnc, the wofaan you pretended to
love and wish to make your wife %
ut is a case of necessity-quick, they
are approaching on both sides. They
have been informed. 1t is trickl"
''Where will you hide?" asked the
girl. with an insulting emphasis on the
word hide"
'You will tell them that no one is
concealed in the house?'
Il shall tell them nothing but the ab-
solute truth--be quick
''Then there is but one place vhcrc
I will be safe,'' answered the captain.
"and there only if he be n gentleman"
Saying which, the captain darted up
tcr's own chamber.
He had no more than closed the door
when 1.-the, athletic young officer in
the partisan cavalry leaped over the
railing of the veranda and stood, en-
barrassed and hat in hand, bowling be-
fore tho young mistress of the man.
sion.
':PhoebeI" exclaimed the young sol.
der.
'"Would it not be better to address
me as your prisoner" answered Miss
Poindexter. IF am not mistaken, you
have surrounded my home with armed
soldiers and have come yourself on no
gentle Grand"
'Prisoncr Phoebe % answered the pa
triot captain. II would never wish to
hold you prisoner, save in the honda of
love. My presence here needs an ex-
PLANTATION and will make it. have re-
ceived information that On English Off
Ger Is visiting you this afternoon. 1t
is a matter of duty. I have been or
dered far in advance of the returning
troops of Marion and Sumter for the ex-
press purpose of catching some of the
officers at the garrison at Charleston
Off their guard; and expect to appear
at the very gates of that city before
am done and let them know that, far
from being defeated, as they suppose,
coats from the Carolinas and is chasing
CORVALLIS himself to the sea-
"VVhat romnnce!" laughed the
young lady.
Il wish had time for romance said
the officer; there could be no more de-
lightful opportunity. Only when this
war is over will be able to ask you to
reward a love that has been faithful
to you ever since we were children.
But to duty. Arc you harboring m
English officer here?''
"VVhy, of course am" she answered,
laughingly.
"This is no time for Joking" said
the captain. ''If he is not here, he cam
not have been gone very long time;
and if you delay me he may yet get
within the gates of Charleston"
"It seems to me that you are a trifle
difficult to-day" she replied. DO you
not believe me?''
"Of COURSE" he said, biting his lips
nervonsly. II shall have to search the
house." he continued.
20, we are quite used to it," she an
swered.
He ordered up his men and began d
systematic search of the mansion and
surrounding buildings. He himself,
however, stood inmovably in front OF
the door that he knew opened into her
private apartments, and permitted no
one to enter. The search was therefore
useless.
"well,' said she, teasingly, "why do
you not enter my own roo1n?''
"If he is an officer he should be gen
s,vered the captain. ''1ou have been
fooling me, Phoebe, in order to give him
a start. 1 do not blame you. He was
a guest, and you have but observed the
laws of hospitality, even though he is
an enemy to our country. Farewell
remember always I shall come to you
when this war is finished.'
'Why not come ght?
You will not wish to camp nearer
Charleston than this, am sure. Grand
mother, who is in town to-day, shop
ping, will be back by tea time, and you
can tell us all the news.''
"And may tell you something else?'
"Yes--without even waiting for the
war to end. And will tell you some
thing, too.' The young patriot turned
Then springing into the saddle he shout
ed the command: ITO horse, the road
to Charleston-ga1lop!" and was Off.
AS soon as he and his men were we'll
out of sight, the English artillery cap
tain made his appearance. II suppose"
he said, that am under obligations to
you-and yet 1 thought your truth
fulness would have been the ruination
of me-"
"And could you have admired or loved
q woman who had deliberately lied?''
'Well, that is rather an odd question.
If you had told an untruth it would
have been in a noble cause. All is fair
in love and war, you know"
ment."