The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-04-25


you the eonae my
hand II onld have saved Godd
knows how il happened lit was fate.''
In an instant Brant saw its truth In
stinctively and clearly But with tho |
revelation came that wonder full; calm- |
ness and perfect self possessipn which
never set had failed him 81 any ener
gency. With the .soundsof the increas-
the cannonade and its hitting position
made clearer. to his ears, the view ct |
his whole threatened position spread
out like . map before his eyes. tbs
swift calculation Of the time OF his men
could hold the ridge, in his mind 4
the hurried estimate Of the precious:mto- \
ments he could give to the wretched
woman before hiln-all this he'y7ss /
keenly alivet to- as he gravely, even
gently, led her to chair, and said tina
critical and level voice: l..
This is not enough!, Speak slowly,
plainly. I must know everything.
How and in what way have you tbe-
trayed me7"
Z; She looked lat him ,impsoringf
assured, yet awed by his gen0;eness.
"You won't believe mel! You cannot
believe me! But I do not even know;
have taken and exchanged letters
whose contents ]; neyer saw-hetween.
the confederates and spy vaa@ comes
to this house-but who is tfker1 away
by this time. / did it because Istht'ught
YOU hated and despised me. because 81
thought It was my, duty TOT help my;
cause, because you said it twas war
between us, but have spiedjon you. Il.
swear it!'' = =
'sThen how do: you lsnoavtof this,at-.
tack?" he said,s calmly.
She frightened, half timidly. half.
hopefully. tThere.is aiwindow fin the:
wing of this house that qverlooks the
slope near Observation-Disclosures There
was signal placed in tit-notfby me
but knew it, meant athat as kong as it,
was there the,plot, whatever itswas, was.
=. not ripe, and that notatfackfsvoud be
made on ou4as long as it was visible.
That much Ifknew, that n,nchsthe spy
had to tell jme, flor we tboth 'had to-
guard that room in,turns,t wantcdto
keep this, dreadful 'thingfof until---un-,
til,'' her voice trenbled until, = she
added hurrieday, seeing3his calm eyes
were reading ther veryssoul, until Z
went away, and forthatlpurlrose Iwith-:.
held some of theslettersEha weregdven
me. But this;morning; whiAe 4 was
away from the.house, L ooa1ed,back'and
saw that the s1gnal;wasano longer there.
Some one had changediit I ran back,
hut I was too1late, God thelp,me, aslyou
see!" p.' .a *e-t.s !:
The truth flashed, upon sBrant.- It
was his ownshandsthat had precipta ted
the attack! But IA larger truth came
to him now, like neutrality-suspicious..
If he had thus 'preci pitated the attack
before it was ripe, there was a chance
that it was imperfect, and there was
still hope. But there was,no truce OF
this visible in his'faee,; as he fixed his
eyes calmly on hers although his
pulses were hating as he
said: - - - '" !;
Then the spy:had suspected syou,
and changed it,
80, not" she said, eagerly. ''for fthe
spy was with me and was .f1ig hit edled,
too. We both ran back togeAher-you
Observation-Disclosures stopped blythe pa
troll" She checked herself Suddenly,
but too late. Her, cheeks blazed, her
head sank-witsa the foolish disclosure
into which her,eagerness.hadtb etrayed
her. y.
But Brant appeared MOTTO notice it.
He was, in fact, puzzfipg his brain to
conceive what information the stupid
nulatto woman cox11d shave obtained
here. His strengt h,:hisipositao a1 was in
scent to the enemy--tlletre was mot hing
to gain from him. Shesmust have been,
like the trembling. eager woman, before
him, a mere tool of others.
ssDid this woman live,hereJ?" he said.
"No." she said. ''She lived with the
Manlys, but had friends whom she
visited at your generals headquarters. .
With difficulty Brant suppressed
start. 1t was clear to him now. Ihe
information had been obtained at the
division headquarters and passed
through his camp as being nearest the
confederate lines. But what was the
information, andlwhat movement had
he precipitated? 1t was clear that this
woman did not know. He looked at
her keenly. A sudden explosion shook
the house, drift of smoke passed the
window shell. had burst in the gar
den. :. ..4,
She had been,gazing at him despair
ingly. wistfrllE, but she did not blanch
or start r. s.. ~
An idea too possession of him. He
anrroached her and took her cold hand.
A half smile parted her pale lips
s'You have courage you have devo-t
tion,' be said, gravely. 4 believe you
regret the step you have taken. Ifyou
could undo what you have done, even at
peril to yourself, dare you do it %;
eyes," she said. breathlessly.
"You are known to the enemy. If I
/. am surrounded you could pass through
the confederate lines I'M questioned"
''Yes,,' she. said. eagerly.
"a note from me. would pass you
again through thetpiclets of our head
quarters But YOU would bearfa note
to the general $thatlno but his must
see. Tt would not implicate you or
yours-itwould be.only word Of warn
ing" .s@
"And you" shelsaid, quickly. would
he saved! They would come to your
assistance! You would not then be
taken p
He smiled gently. Perhaps -who