The Irish standard., 1896-05-09

sound OF cough in the invading mist.
He made hurried sign to the oncom-
ing figure to follow him, ran ahead and
halted at last in the cover of a hack
ma-tack bush. Still gazing forward
over the marsh, he steadily held out
his hand behind him, as the rustling
skirt came nearer. at last his hand
was touched--but even at that touch
he started, and turned quickly.
1t was not his wife, but Rose!-her
nulatto double! Her face was rigid
with fright, her beady eyes staring in
their china sockets; her white teeth
altering. Yet she would have spoken.
flush" he said, clutching her hand,
in a fierce whisper. "Not Il world" She
was holding something white in her
fingers; he snatched itquiclSly. TWAS
note from his wife-not in the dis
guised hand of her first warning, but
in one that he remembered as il it were
voice from theirpast.
Forgive my disobeying you to save
you from capture, disgrace or death
which would have come to you where
you were going!l I have taken Roses
pass. You need not fear that your
honor will suffer by it, for if am
stopped shall confess that L took it
from her. Think no more of me, Clar-
ence. but only for yourself. You are in
danger"
He crushed the letter in his hand.
"Tell me-" be said, in a fierce whisper,
Selling her arm, and speak low. When
rifl Won 1aoyo horOss q
"sholy-just now!" gasped the
frightened woman.
He flung her aside. There might be
still time to oyertake and save her be-
fore she reached the picket lines. He
ran up the gully and out on to the slope
towards the first guard post. But IA
miliar challenge reached his ear, and
his heart stopped beating.
"Who goes there?"
There was pause, a rattle of arms,
voices, another pause-a Brant stood
rooted to the spot. Then the voice rose
again, slowly and sclearly:. "Pass the
mulatto woman!"
Thank God! she was saved! But the
thought had scarcely crossed his mind
before it seemed to him that binding
crackle OF sparks burst out along the
whole slope below the wall, charac-
teristic yell, which he knew too well,
rang i'll his ears, and an undulating
line Of dusty soldiers came leaping like
gray wolves out of the mist upon his
pickets. Ee heard the shouts Of his
men falling back as they fired; the
harsh commands Of few officers hur-
rying to their posts, and knew that he
was hopelessly surprised and SUR
rounded. &.ss4, J. ssf$ E .ffsss
He ran forward among his disorgan-
lied men. To his CONSERVATION no one
seemed to heed him! Then the re1nem-
brance Of his disguise flashed upon
him. But he had only time to throw
away his hat and snatch sword from
a falling lieutenant beforea scorching
flash seemed to pass before. his eyes
and burn through his hair, and he
dropped like a log beside his subaltern.
4 An aching under tile band age around
his head, where the spent bullet had
grazed his scalp, and the sound of sim-
possible voices in his ears were all he
knew as he struggled slowly back to
cons s, BUSINESS again. Even then it still
seemed q delusion. for he was lying IN
the hospital Of the head qlarte Els, with
officers OF the division staff around him,
and the division comman del. himself
/ standing by his cot. and re gArding him
with an air OF grave But - 81 unlsintlly
concern. But the wounded man felt i1i-
:stinctively that it was not HE effect
of his physical dftion. ard 4 ssnse
sof g shame came sud- b over him,
which was not q issii Iatetl BY Ills snpe.I
rior;s words. For;, tiiohina n
others aside, the ma III & tc,easra
over his cot. and said ss
'ntil q few mon
AS Tint yoll had 50 Il
8 hi q
I'M