The Washington times., 1895-01-20
PART III.
CHAPTER lII-CoNCLUsIoS.

thing from the Boompolnter ln1uence, ana
that his interview with Susy was fruitless, he
knew that he must temporize. While he did
not believe that his old playmate would will
ingly betray him, he was uLeasy wien he
thought OF the vanity and impulsiveness
which might compromise him-or of a posi-
ble jealousy that might sock revenge. Yet he
had no reason 10 believe that Susy's nature
was Jealous or that she was likely to have any
cause but the fact was that the climax OF
Miss Faulkner's reappearance when they were
together affected him more strongly than the
real climax Of his interview with Sasy, which
was her oYer Once out Of the atmosphere OF
that house it struck him. too, that Miss Faulk-
ner WAS almost as much of an alien 10 il
himself. He wondered what she had been
doing there. Could it be possible that she
was obtaining information for the South?
But he rejected the idea dui :Ely rs il had
occurred TO HIM. Perhaps there could be no
stronger proof of the unconscious influence
the young girl already had over him.
He remembers the liyerleS OF the diplo-
matte carriage that had horne her away, and
ascertained without diiiicu ty that her sister
had married one OF the foreign ministers and
that she was guest in his house. But he
was the more as.onished to hear that she and
her sister were considered TO be Southern
Uniouists. and were greatly petteG in govern
mental circles for their sacrificing fidelity TO
the Gag. His informant, an official in the
State Department, added that Miss Mathilda
might have been 2 good deal OF a mad zap at
the outbreak Of the war. for he sisters had a
brother in the Confederate service but that
she had changed greatly. and indeed within
month. For he added, ''she WIS at the
White House for the first time last week. and
they say the President talked more 10 her
than to any other woman"
The indescribable sensation with which
this simple information filled Braut startled
him more than the news itself. Hope. Joy,
fear, distrust. aaa despair alternately thrilled
him. lie recalled Miss Faulkner's almost
aSonizing glance of appeal 10 him in the
draWing-room al Susys, and it seemed to be
equally consistent with the truth Of what he
had Just heard or some nlonstrous tfeachery
and deceit OF which she might be capable.
Even now she might be Il secret emissary OF
some spy within the Presidents family; she
might have been in correspondence with some
traIto- in the Bopmpointer clique. and her
implOring glance only the result of fear OF
exposure. Or. again. she might have truly
recanted after her escapaie at Gray Oaks,
and feared only his recollection OF her as the
gO-between OF spies. And vet 10th OF these
presuna! tions were inconsistent with her con-
duct in the conservatory. It seemed impos-
sible that this impulsive woman. capable OF
doing what he had himself known her 10 do.
and equally sensitive TO the shame or JOY OF
woman Of society who had so coldly reeog-
nized ana parted from him.
But this interval OF doubt was transitory.
The next day he received q dispatch from the
War Department, ordering him 10 report him
sci. for DUTY al once. With a beating heart
he hurried 70 the Secretary. But that official
had merely left Il memorandum with his as
sistant directing Gen. Brant 10 accompany
some fresh legies TO a camp OF occupation
near The front for Organization" Brant
felt chill OF disappointment Duties o. this
kind a been lett TO dubious regular army
veterans hurriedly displaced general officers,
and favored detrimeutals But il ii was not
restoration. il was no longer inactlon. aud il
was at least release from Washington.
Il was also evidently tie result Of some in
nuence but hardly that Of the Boompointers,
for be knew that Susy wished 10 keep him al
The Capital Was there another power al
work to send him away from Washington:
His previous suspicious returned Nor were
they Gissipatei VIXEN the chief OF the bureau
ulacad q letter before him with the remark
that il hal been intrustei to him 10y a lady.
with the reCu ST that it should be delivered
only into his own hands ''She did not know
your hotel address, but ascertained you were
10 call here. She said it was OF importance.
There is no mystery about it. general" con.
finued the Official with a mischieyous
gian at Braat handsome. nerpieXed face
"Gthough it's from very pretty woman
whom we all know
Mrs. Boompointer?n suggested Brant witt
affected lightness.
Il was a maladroit speech The Official:
face darkened. I'VE have not Vet become
postal department for the Boompointers
general" lie said. dryly. however grea
their in0ueLce elsewhere 1t was from rather
different style OF woman-Miss Faulkner
You will receive your papers later at youl
hotel aud leave tonight
Braut's uniucky slip was still potent enough
10 divert the official attention. or he would
have noticed the change in his visitors face
and the aDruptness OF his departure.
Once in the street. Brant tore of the en-
yelope. But beneath it was another, on
which was written in delicate refined hand
"Please do rot open this until you reacf
your destination
Then she knew he was Goingl And thi,
was her influence. All his suspicious agaiI
returned. She knew he was going near tht
lines. aud his very appointment. through
her influence. might be a pct to serve ne
ana the enemy. Was this letter which sh,
was iDtrUsting 10 him the cover OF missiv'
10 her Southern friends which she expected
him To carry as return Tor her own act 0
self-saeriilee? Was this the appeal she hat
been making 10 h!s chiyary his gratitude
his honor? The perspiration stood ia beads
on bis forehead. What defect lay hidden il
his nature that seemed to make him an eas1
victim Of these intriguing women? He ha(
moi even the excuse OF gaiiantry. Less sus
ceptlDte 10 the pOtenclcS OF Inc sex t1dn mos
men. he was still compelled TO bear that repu
tation. He remembered his GOODNESS 10 Mis-
Faulkner in the first days Of their meeting
and her effect uYon his sabaiterns. VIII
had she selected him froGs-amonc them, whel
she could have modelled the others like wax 4
her purposes! Why? And yet with tb'
question cane a possible answer that h'
hardly dared 10 think OF; that in its yer.
vagueness seemed TO Oh him with a stimu
hitting thrill and hopelulness. He quickene,
his pace. He would take the letter. and We
he master OF himself when the time came Il
open it.
That time came three DAYS later. in his tent
on Three Pine Crossing. As be broke open
the envelope be was relieved TO find that j
contained no other inclosure, and seemet
intended only for himself. II began ab
ruptly.
"When you read this YOU will understand
why did not speak to you when we met las
night; why even dreaded that you nigh
speak to me. knowing what ! ought to tel
you even at such place and moment some
thing that you could hear from me alone.
did not know you were in Washington, al
though i knew you were relieved; | had ~
way OF seeing you or sending 10 you before
and only came TO Mrs. Bopmpointer's part
In the hope OF hearing news Of you.
You know that my brother was capture
10y your pickets, in company with anothe
officer. He thinks you suspected the truth
that be and his friend were lowering nea
your lines to effect the escape OF the spy. Blu
he says that although they failed TO help her
she did escape or was passed through tn
lines by your connivance. He says that yo
seemed 10 know her; that from what Rose