Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-07-29
PART II.
CHAPTER II.-CoNrINUED.

capped the ravages and billetting of the
war. 1t had been occupied by its owner
cp TO a few days before the engage
ment, and so great had been the con-
fidence of the enemy in their success
that IL had been used as the confederate
headquarters on the morning of the do
cisive battle. Jasmine and rose nm
stained by the sulphur of gunpowder.
twined around its ruined columns and
half hid the recessed windows; the care
less flower garden was still in its un-
kept and unplucllcd luxuriance. The
courtyard before the stables alone
showed marks of the late military oc-
cupancy and was pulverized by the
uneasy households of the waiting staff
But the mingled impress of barbaric
productivity with patriarchal simplicity
was still there in the domestic arrange
1uents OF race who lived on equal
terms with strangers and their own
servants
The negro servants stin remained
with certain cat-like fidelity TO the
place, and adapted themselves 10 the
northern invaders with child-like en-
Joyment of the novelty of the change.
Brant, nevertheless, looked them over
with an experienced eye, and satisfied
himslf of their trustworthiness; there
were the usual number of "boys.- gray
haired and grizzled in body service.
and the ''mammies'' and "aunties" of
the kitchen. There were two or three
rooms in the wing which still contained
private articles, pictures and souvenirs
OF the family, and young lady's"
boudoir which Brant with character
istic delicacy kept carefully isolated
and intact from the military household.
end accessible only to the family serv-
ants. The room he had selected for
himself was nearest it-a small, plainly
furnished apartment with an almost
conventual simplicity in it's cold, white
walls and draperies and the narrow.
nun-like bed. Ut struck him that IN
might have belonged to some elder
daughter or maiden aunt who had acted
as houselkeeper, as it commanded the
wing and the servants offices with
easy access to the central hall
There followed Il week of inactivity.
IN which Brant felt singular resem-
blance in this southern mansion to the
old casa at Robes. The afternoon
shadows of the deep verandas recalled
the old monastic gloom of the Spanish
house, which even the presence of n
iounging officer or waiting orderly
could not entirely dissipate, and the
scent of the rose and jasmine from his
windows overcame him with sad mem
cries. He began to chafe under this in
action, and long again for the excite
ment of the march and bivouac - in
which for the past four years he had
buried his past.
lie was sitting one afternoon alone
before his reports and dispatches when
this influence seemed so strong that he
half impulsively laid them aside to in
dulge in a long rcverie. He was re-
calling his last day at Robes, the early
morning duel with Pinclney, the re-
turn to San Francisco, and the sudden
resolution which sent him that day
across the continent to offer his serv-
ices to the government. lie remem-
bered his delay in the western town
where volunteer regiment was being
recruited, his entrance into 1t as q Dri-
vate, his rapid selection, through the
force of his sheer devotion and inteni-
gent concentration, to the captaincy of
his company, his swift promotion on
hard-fought fields to the head of the
regiment, and the singular success that
had followed his resistless energy
which left him no time to think of any
thing but his duty. The sudden intru-
sion of his wife upon his career-even
in this accidental and perhaps innocent
way, had seriously unsettled him.
The shadows were growing heavier
and deeper, it lacked only few mo-
ments of the sunset bugle when he was
recalled TO himself by that singular in
stinctiVe consciousness - common TO
humanity-of being intently looked ut.
He turned quickly the door behind
him closed softly. He rose and slipped
into the hall. The tall figure of a wom-
an was coming down the passage. She
was erect and graceful, but as she
turned toward the door reading to the
Offices, lie distinctly saw the gaudily
turbaned head and black silhouette of
n ncgress. Nevertheless he halted a
moment at the door o. the next room.
"See who that woman is who Just
passed, Mr.. Martin. She doesn't geeIn
to belong TO the house"
The young officer rose, put on his cap
and departed. In a few moments ne
returned.
WAS she tall, sir-of good figure
and very straight"
eyes"
"She is a servant of our neighbors,
the Manlys, who occasionally visits the
Fervants here. a mulatto, think"
Brant reflected. Many Of the mulat-
tos and ncgresses were Of good figure.
and the habit of carrying burdens on
their heads gave them singularly
erect carriage.
The lieutenant looked at his chief.
Have you any orders TO give con-
corning her, general9"
NO" said Brant, after moments
pause, and turned away.
The officer smiled. II seemed n good
story to tell at mess of this human
weakness of his handsome, reserved
and ascetic-looling leader.
n few moments afterward Brant was
interrupted over his reports by the al
inost abrupt entrance OF the officer OF
the day. His face was flushed, and it
was evident that only the presence of
lis superior restrained his excitement.
lie held a paper in his hand.