The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1896-07-30
coPrR,cHr. ,s~. ~ Bsss HAsss.

very little of them left, except in these
flowers"
"And hardly there, !" she said bitterly
''your troops had found why through
the marsh and had trampled down the
bushes"
Brant's brow clouded. He remem-
bered that the brook which had run red
during the fight had lost itself in this
marsh. 1t did not increase his liking
for this beautiful but blindly vicious
animal ut his side and even his mo-
mentary pity for her was fading fast.
She was incorrigible, They walked on
for few moments in silence.
'You said" she began at last in q
gentler and even heeitating voice, ''that
your wife was southern woman"
He checked an irritated start with
difficulty. 81 believe / did," he said
coldly, as he regretted it.
"And of course you taught her your
Gospel-the Gospel according to st.
Lincoln. O, / know" she went on hur-
riedly, as il conscious of his irritation
and seeking to sllay it. "She was a
woman and loved you, and thought
with your thoughts and saw only with
your eyes. Yes-thats the way with
us-I suppose We all do it" she added,
bitterly.
"She had her own opinions" said
Brant, briefly, as he recovered himself.
Nevertheless his manner so decidedly
closed all further discussion that there
was nothing left for the young girl
but silence. But it was broken by her
in few moments in her old contemptu-
Gus voice and manner.
pray don't trouble yourself to &C
company me any further, Gen. Brant.
Unless, Of course, you are afraid may
come across some of your--your sol.
diers. promise you won't eat them"
Il am afraid you must suffer my
company little longer, Miss Faulkner,
on account Of these same soldiers" re-
turned Brant, gravely. "You may not
know that this road, In which | find
you, takes you through a Gordon Of
pickets. II you were alone you would
be stopped, questioned, and, failing to
give the password, you would be de.
tanned, sent to the guard house and"
he stopped and fixed his eyes on her
keenly as he added 'and searched"
"You would not dare TO search
woman!" she said, Indignantly, al
though her flush gave way to slight
pallor.
"fou said just now that there should
be no sex in war like this" returned
Brant, carelessly, but without abating
his scrutinizing gaze.
''Then it is war" she said, quickly,
with white. significant face.
His look of scrutiny turned TO one OF
puzzled wonder. Rut ut the same mo-
ment there was flash Of 5ayonet in
the hedge, a voice called halt and
soldier stepped into the road.
Gen. Brant advanced, met the salute
of the picket with few formal words,
and then turned toward his fair com.
panion, as another soldier and SER
geant joined the group.
miss Faulkner is new to the camp,
took the wrong turning, and was un-
willingly leaving the lines when
joined her." He fixed his eyes keenly
on her now colOrless face, but she did
not return his look. you will show
her the shortest way to quarters" he
continued to the sergeant, "and should
she at any time lose her way you will
again conduct her home-but without
OBTAINING or reporting her."
He lifted his cap. remounted his
horse and rode away as the young girl,
with proud. Indifferent step, moved
down the road with the sergeant. A
mounted officer passed him and sa-
luted-it was one Of his own stat.
From some strange instinct he knew
that he had witnessed the scene, and
from some equally strange intuition he
was annoyed by it But he continued
his way, visiting one or two outposts
and returned by long detour to his
quarters. As he stepped upon the
veranda he saw Miss Faulkner at the
bottom Of thegarden talking with some
one across the hedge. BY the aid Of
his glass he could recognize the shape
ly figure of the mulatto woman which
he had seen before But by it's aid he
also discovered that she was carrying
q flower exactly like the one which Miss
Faulkner still held in her hand. Had
she been with Miss Faulkner in the
lane-and IL 30, why had she disap-
pcared when he came up? ImpeIled
by something stronger than mere GU
riosity, he walked quickly down the
garden, but she evidently had noticed
him. for she quickly disappeared. Not
caring TO meet Miss Faulkner again. he
rctraced his steps. resolving that he
would on the first opportunity per-
sonaliy examine and interrogate this
new visitor For II she were to take
Miss Faullsnerls place even in 0 subor-
dinate capacity-this precoption was
clearly within his rights.
He reeutered his room and seated
himself at his desk before the dis
patches. orders and reports awaiting
him. lie found himself. however, work
ing half n,echanioaIi,. o,,,l ,e..,..-: