Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-08-26
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PART II.
CHAPTER vI.-CoSrrNUEp.

his offensive position so long? a hasty
council with his officers showed him
that the weakness of their position had
already infected them. They reminded
him that his line of retreat was still
open-that in the course of the night
the enemy, although still pressing to-
wards the division center, might vet
turn and outfank him-or that their
strangely delayed supports might come
up before morning. Brant's glass.
however, remained fixed on the main
column still pursuing its way along
the ridge. 1t struck him suddenly,
however. that the steady current had
stopped. spread out along the crest on
both sides and was now ut right angles
with its previous course. There had
been a check The next moment the
thunder of guns along the whole hori-
zon and the rising cloud of smoke re-
vealed line of battle. The division
center was engaged. The opportunity
be had longed for had come-the des-
perate chance to throw himself on
their rear and cut his way through
the division-but il had come too late!
He looked AT his shattered ranks
scarce u regiment remained. Even as
n ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS attack would fail
against the enemy's superior numbers.
Nothing clearly was left to him now
but TO remain where he was-within
supporting distance, and await the is
sue of the fight beyond. He was put
ting up his glass when the dull boom
of cannon in the extreme western limit
of the horizon attracted his attention.
BY the still cleaning sky he could see
long gray line stealing up from the
valley from the distant rear of the head
quarters TO join the main column. They
were the missing supports. His heart
leaped! He held the key of the mystery
now. The one imperfect detail OF the
enemy's plan was before him. The sup
ports coming later from the west had
seen only the second signal from the
window-when Miss Faulkner had re-
placed the vase-and had avoided his
position. 1t was impossible TO limit
the effect of this blunderl If the young
girl who had thus saved him had
reached the division commander with
his message in time, he might be fore
warned, and even profit by it, His own
position would be less precarious, as
the enemy already engaged in front
would be unable to recover their posi-
ton in the rear and correct the blum
der. The bulk of their column had AL
ready streamed past him. If defeated
there was always the danger that il
might be rolled back upon him-but
he conjectured that the division com
mander would attempt to prevent the
Junction OF the supports with the main
column by breaking between them
hnV . l., 4
ing him. AS the last strapglers of the
rear guard swept by Brant's bugles
were already recalling the sLirmishers.
lie redoubled mis- pichets, and resolved
81 TO watch and wait.
q 1t was past midnight, when. without
undressing, he threw himself upor, las
bed in the little convent-like cell 20
snatch n few moments of sleep. It's
spotless, peaceful walls and dra peries
ahectcd him strangely as if he had
brought into its immaculate serenity
the sanguine strain of war. He was
awakened suddenly from n deep slum-
Der by an infinite sense of alarm.
HIS first thought was that he had been
summoned to repel an attack. He sat
up and listened. Everything was silent
except the measured tread of the sentry
on the gravel walk below. But the door
was open. He sprang to his feet and
slipped into the gallery, in time to see
the tall figure Of n woman gliding before
the last moonlit window at its furthest
end Tie could not see her face. but
the characteristic turbaned head of the
negro race was plainly visible.
He did not care TO follow her, or even
alarm the guard. If it were the spy or
one OF her emissaries, she was powerless
now to do any harm, and under his late
orders and the rigorous vigilance of his
sentinels she could not leave the lines
or indeed the house. She probably
knew this as well as he did; il was. there
fore, no doubt, only an accidental in
trusion of one of the servants. He re-
entered the room and stood for n few
moments 10y the window looking over
the moonlit ridge The sounds of dis
tant cannon had long since ceased.
Wide awake and refreshed bv the keen
morning air, which alone of all Gre
ated things seemed 20 have shaken the
burden of the dreadful Yesterday from
its dewy wings. nc turned away and
lit g candle on the table. IS he was
rebuilding his sword belt he saw
piece OF paper lying at the foot Of tAe
bed from which he had just risen. TAX
ing IL to the candle ne read i'm a rough
" scrawled hand:
you are asleep when YOU should be
on the march. You have no time to lose.
Before daybrcak the supports of the
Column you have been foolishly resist
ing VIII be upon you. From one who
would save you, but hates your cause"
For moment he was transGxcd. The
handwriting was unknown, and evident
" disguised. u was not the purport OF
the message that alarmed him. but the
terrible suspicion that flashed upon him
that u came from Miss Faulkner. She
had failed in her attempt to pass
through the enemy's lines-or she had
never tried to. She had deceived him.
or she had thought better Of her chiv-
olrous impulse and now tried 10 miti-
gate her second trcachery by this sec
ond warning. and he had let her mes
senger escape himl
He hurriedly descended the stairs. The
sound OF voices was approa ebiuor hin,