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

i
enects and private property that still
renamed there, or to take or carry o,,,, ,
such property, and invoking all neces.
sary aid and assistance from The Ir,,;,.,a
states forces in such occupancy. Itwa,
countersigned by the division com.
hander. 1t was perfectly regular and
OF undouoted authenticity. He had
neard oil passes of this kind--the terror
OF the army-iSsued in Washington un.
uer some strange controlling influence
ana against military protest. but he did
not let his subordinate see the uneas;.
ness with which il filled him.
snow her in. :" he said. quietly.
but she had already entered. brushing
scornfully past the officer, and drawing
her skirt aside as il contaminated a
very pretty southern girl. scornful and
red-iipped, clad in gray riding habit,
ana still carrying her riding whi,,
eIenched ominously in her slim, gaunt-
letted hand.
You have my permit in your hand. .
she said, brusquely. hardly raising her
eyes to Brant-"I suppose it's all
straight enough, and even il il isn't. |
don't reckon to be kept waiting with
those hirelings."
our permit is straight enough.
Miss Faulkner" said Brant, slowly
reading her name from the document
before him, but rs IL does not seem TO
include permission to insult my officers
you will perhaps first allow them to re-
tire He made sign to the officer.
who passed out of the door. AS IL
closed he went on in a gentle. but coldly
unimpassioned voice. II perceive YOU
are southern lady, and, therefore. /
need not remind you that il is not con-
sidered good form TO treat even the
slaves of those one does not like unciy-
lily, and i must therefore cxpect that
you will keep your active animosity for
myself"
The young girl lifted her eyes. She
had evidently not expected to meet n
man so young, so handsome, so refined.
and so coldly invincible in manner.
stu less was she prepared for that kind
OF antagonism. In keeping up her pre-
concerted attitude toward the north
ern hireling" she had been met with
official brusqueness, contemptuous ST.
lence or aggrieved indiguation-but
nothing as eXasperating as this. She
even fancied that this elegant but sar-
donic-looking soldier was inwardly
hooking her. She bit her red lip. but
with scornful gesture of her riding
whip said:
Il reckon. that your knowledge of
southern ladies is, for certain reasons,
not very extensive"
Ion, L \
marrying one"
Apparently more exasperated than
before she turned upon him abruptly.
You say my pass is all right Then l
presume / may attend To the business
that brought me here"
Certainly, but you will forgive me if
L imagined that an expression of con-
tempt for your host was part of it,
He rang n bell on the table. 1t was re-
sPonded TO by an orderly "Send all
the household servants here"
The room was presently filled with
the dusky faces of the negro retainers.
Here and there was the cleaning OF
white teeth, but n majority of the as
sembly wore the true negro acceptance
of the importance of "an occasion. -
One or two even affected an official and
soldierly bearing. And as he fully ex-
pected there were several chances of sig
nificant recognition of the stranger.
You will give" said Brant, sternIy.
every aid and attention TO the wants
of this young lady, WHO is here to repre-
sent the interests of your old master.
AS she will be entirely dependent upon
you IN all things connected with her
visit here, see to- il that she does not
have to complain to me of any inatten-
tion-or TO be obliged TO ask for other
assistance"
AS Miss Faulkner, albeit trife paler
in the cheek, but as scornful as ever.
was about TO follow the servant from
the room, Brant stopped her with a cold
ly courteous gesture:
You will understand, therefore, Miss
Faulkner, that you have your wish, and
that you will not be exposed to any
contact with the members of my mill
tary family, nor they with you"
Am / then TO be n prisoner in this
house-and under free pass of-your
president" she said, Indignantly.
by no means. You are free to come
and Fo and see whom you please. I
have no power TO control your actions.
But have power to control theirs"
She swept furiously from the room.
That is quite enough to fill her with
a desire to hirt with every man here. -
said Brant to himself, with faint
smile, butt fancy they have had a taste
enough OF her quality" Nevertheless,
he sat down and wrote few lines TO
the division commander, pointing out
that he had already placed the owners
private property under strict surveiI-
lance, that it was cared for and per
fectly preserved by the household scrv-
ants, and that the pass was evidently
obtained as subterfuge. To this ne
received a formal reply regretting that
the authorities of Washington still
found 1t necessary 20 put this kind of
risk and burden on the army in the
field, but that The order emanated from
the highest authority and must be
strictly obeyed. At the bottom Of tho
page however. was a characteristic
line in pencil in the generals own hand :
Not the kind that is dangerous" A
flush mounted Brant's checks. as il IL
contained not only a hidden but Il Ter
sonnl significance. He thought of his
own wife.
Singularly enough, n day or two later