The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-11-20
N!s;E
Z - ! f.
. COPYRIGHT. 1894. by Hi
BRET HhRTE.
PART II.
CHAPTER III.

Called to a general council of officers
at divisional headquarters the next day,
:, Brant had little time for further specu-
lation regarding his strange guest. But
a remark from the division commander
that he preferred to commit the general
plan of movement then under discus
sion to the memories rather than to
written orders in the ordinary routine,
seemed to show that his chief still sus-
pected the existence of spy. He there
fore told him of his late interview with
Miss Faulkner and her probable with
drawal in favor of mulatto neighbor.
The division commander received the
information with Indifference. ''They'r re
much too clever to employ hussy like
that, who shows her hand at every
turn-either as spy or 4 messenger of
. spies-and the mulattoes are too stupid,
to say nothing of their probable fidelity
to us. No, general. if we are watched, it
is by an eagle and not n knocking bird.
Miss Faulkner has nothing worse about
her than her tongue, and there isn't the
niggcr blood in the whole south that
would risk moose for her. or for any
of their masters or mistresses."
1t was therefore, perhaps, with some
4 mitigation of his usual critical severity
that he saw her walking before him
alone in the lane as he rode home to
quarters. She was apparently lost in
a half impatient, half moody reverie,
q which even the trotting hoof-beats of
his own and orderly's horses had not
disturbed. From time to time she
struck the myrtle hedge beside her
with the head of huge flower which
hung by it's stalk from her listless
hands, or held it TO her face as if to
inhale its perfume. Diminishing his or
DERBY by side path he rode gently for
ward, but to his surprise. without turn
ing or seeming to be-aware of his pres
ence, she quickened her pace, and even
appeared to look from side to side for
some avenue of escape. If only to end
matters he was obliged to ride quickly
forward to her side, where he threw
himself from his horse, flung the reins
on his arm, and began to walk beside
her. She ut first turned n slightly
flushed cheek away from him, and then
looked up with a purely simulated
start of surprise.
81 am afraid" he said. gently, "that
] am the first TO break my own orders
in regard to any intrusion on your pri-
vacy. But L wanted to ask you if
could give you any aid whatever in the
change you think of making" He was
quite sincere, had been touched by her
manifest disturbance, and despite his
masculine "reminiscences of criticism he
had an intuition of feminine suffering
that was in itself feminine.
Meaning that you are in a hurry to
get rid of me-" she said curtly, without
raising her. eyes.
Meaning that I only wish to eX-
pedite a business which L think is I'M
pleasant to you. but which, believe you
have undertaken from unselfish devo-
ton"
The scant expression of n reserved
= nature is sometimes more attractive to
women than the most fluent vivacity.
. Possibly there was also a melancholy
grace in his sardonic soldiers manner
that affected her, for she looked up
and said impulsively:
You think SOP
But he met her eager eyes with some
surprise. Il certainly do" he replied
feelings on finding your uncle's home
? in the possession of your enemies, and
your presence under the family roof
only sufferance. / can hardly be-
lieve it pleasure to you or a task you
a. would have accepted for yourself
alone"
.But,' she said. turning from him
wickedly, what if did it only to excite
my revenge; what if l knew it would
give me courage to entice my people to
carry the way into your own homes,
to make you of the north feel as feel,
and taste our bitterness?'
II could easily understand that too,"
he returned with listlcss GOODNESS, al
though don't admit that revenge is an
unmiXed pleasure even to 4 woman"
IA woman" she repeated, indignant
~. There is no sex in n war like this
You are spelling your flower" he
said quietly. 1T is very pretty-and Il
native one, too-not an invader-nor
even transplanted. May look at it?''
She hesitated. half rccoiling for an
instant. and her hand trembling. Then
suddenly and abruptly she said with Il
hysteric little laugh: Take it-then,"
and almost thrust it in his hand.
1t certainly was a pretty flower. not
unlike a lily in appearance, with a bell
like cup and long anthers covered with
a fine pollen like red dust. AS he lifted
it to his face to inhale its perfume she
uttered slight cry and snatched it
from his hand. 81
'There!" she said with the same ner-
vous laugh. II knew you would
ought to have warned you. The pollen
comes off so easily, and leaves a stain.
And you've got some on your cheek.
Look!" she continued. taking her hand
kerchief from her pocket and wiping
his cheek, 'see there!" The delicate
cambria showed n blood red streak.
"It grows in n swamp" she con-
tinuedsin the same excited strain, I'VE
call it dragons teeth-like the kind
that was sown in the story, you know.
We children used to find it and then
paint our faces and lips with it. We
called it our rouge. l was almost
tempted to try it again when I found it
Just now. 1t took me back so to the old
times"
v Following her odd manner rather
than her words, rs she turned her face
toward him suddenly. Brant was in
clined to think that she had tried it al
ready, so scarlet was her cheek. But it