The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-25
CHAPTER XIV.

Madge by the bride. surveying the bat
tlefield. He heard gun fired from the
crest OF the ridge so important to both
armies. He turned and saw the shell il
sent whitl In spiral. screeching above
the heads Of two officers, evidently of
high rank. standing in a field near the
center OF the horseshoe. One Of them,
large. massive man, he recognized az
General Thomas The other was the
commander of the newly arrived diyi-
sion. AS Maynard looked the latter rode
away He was going with orders to re-
take the ridge.
Maynard had not seen General Thorn
as for months Indeed he had met him
but few times since tho days when lie
was the generals favorite scout Re-
membering his disgrace, he was about to
go away, not caring, in his altered con-
dition, to meet the man for whom of
all the army he felt the greatest rever-
ence. But the general turned before he
could do SO and looked in his direction.
IL was too late to go away unobserv-
ed, and Maynard felt desire TO discov-
or if there We're not something, after all,
in this great soldier SO great that he
could afford to give him kind word.
He walked toward no spot where the
general stood.
What are you doing here, my man?"
said the commander of all there was
left, Of the Army of the Cumberland
storniy. seeing the begrimed Maynard
IN private's uniform and not recogniz-
ing him. why are you not with your
regimentf"
Il have no regiment. general"
"Your troop, then?'
Il have no troop am not a sol
dior"
"Who are you?'
MARK Malone"
The sternness on tho generals face
slightly relaxed. "Ah, Colonel May
nard. Pardon me. did not recognize
you"
mo, general. / was Colonel May
nard. i am now private citizen. I
would be g'id to assume my old scout.
',g name. Mark Malone. "
II heard Of your--nisfortune. l re-
GREETED it doubly, remembering your
services when you were scouting"
Yes, general. Then my services had
some value. was fitted for a scout
a spy. You thought I was fitted for
something better and advanced me. l
was vain enough TO think you right /
did not know myself. AS spy Ineeded
no conscience l was not subservient to
auy principle. When as a brigade COM
n.aDder l was obliged to choose on high
er ground failed In the choice have
proved myself unworthy OF your conf
dencc. have sunk to the level from
which / started"
The general did not reply He was
watching the newly arrived division
getting into position.
You connived at the escape Of
Gpy. ] think?" he said presently.
"Worso. assisted in that escape"
"A woman, was she notf'
"Sho was, general. "
"Hm. 1t isn't pleasant task to
shoot woman. Yet soldier must do
his duty I"
Maynard did not reply.
Colonel. tlc-o is going TO be q weak
spot there, would like you TO go and
see that thst gap is closed. Ny staff are
all away, as you see, on some duty. ALI
Never mind They arc marching by the
1ank, sec. Now it's all right
Ho was 30 intont upon the forming of
the limo t.lat for moment Maynard
thought ho had forgotten his presence.
s'Who was tl,is womanY" the general
asked presca.ly.
"You rcascrl her when went to Chat
tanooga Co bring you information Of
Jragg's movements 10 Kentacky I me,
a Confederate oflicer--a Captain Fitg
Hu2h--who twice gave rae my life?'
"fos, yog, remember. They'ro stand
ing welf Down thogein the center and
with SO itllo anpnpntion They'll get
their nowi cartridges presently from
those broufyhts by the reserve division
The ammunition comes as oppurtunely
as the men, +"
"Thoy no making good fight every
where" observed Maynard.
Let me see You say you were call
ed upon 10 shoot a woman She was
some relative TO this Captain"--
Nov, Colonel Fitz Hugh. A sister.
THAT made it pretty hard for you,
colonel. But soldier must do his du-
ty."
Have the Confedoratos possession Of
that ridge, genoralg"
THE 81
And are our men going to retalze it?''
They're goiug TO try"
Maynard swept his eye over the posi-.
ton .
They muct take IL. "
The general shot a uuicl, glance m
tho DEGRADED ol9ccr..
You think il impoTtantT'
TIE fate of this part of an army
II can't bo called whole ono--deponds
upon it.
You arc right colonel. We must
take that ridge or before nightfall bo
flying over this fold liEo the right and
center, or what Is worse. he captured.
This is not the frat time I have obSorv.
cd that vOrr cVo ia fu,fio fo~ ,vor