The Irish standard., 1896-04-18

He checked mi ilritated start With
difficulty II believe I did, lie aid
coldly, as he regretted it.
"And OF course you taught her your
Gospel the Gospel according to St
Lincoln. @, know she went on hur-
riedly, as il conscious Of his irritation
and seeking to allay II. "She was =
woman and loved you. and thought,
with your thoughts and saw only with
your eyes. Yes--that's the way with
us--l suppose we all do it." she added.
bitterly.
''She had her own opinions" said
Brant, briefly, as be recovered himself.
Nevertheless his manner ~ decidedly
closed all further discussion that there
was nothing left for the young girl
but silence. But it was broken by hex
In q few moments in her old contemptns
Gus voice and manner.
Pray don't trouble yourself 10 ~
company me any further, Gen. Brant
Unless, or course. YOU are afraid rnaJ
come across some of your--your sol
diers. promise you won't eat them
IL am afraid you must suffer rns
company little longer, Miss Faulkner
on account OF these same soldiers,"
turned Brant, gravely. "You may no.
know that this road, In which lnd
you, takes YOU through q Gordon ~
pickets- III you were alone you woulS
be stopped. questioned, and, failing IA
give the password. you would De ~,
tanned, sent to the guard house and
he stopped and fixed his eyes on he,
keenly as he added land searched"
You would not dare to search
woman" she said, Indignantly, al
though her flush gave way 10 slight
pallor.
"Ycu said just now that there should
be no sex In a war like this" returned
Braat, carelessly, but without abatins
his scrutinizing gaze.
Then 10 il war;" she said, quickly,
with white. significant face.
His look ot scrutiny turned 70 one "a
puzzled wonder. But at the same mo-
ment there was a Rash OF q bayonet IA
the hedge, 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 gerS
geant joined the group.
Miss Faulkner IS new to the camp.
took the wrong turning, and was an
Willingly leaving the lines when
joined her" He fixed his eyes keenly
on her now colorless face, but shedid
not return hts lools. "You will show
her the shortest way To quarters Is
A 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 hia
horse and rode awav as the young girl,
with proud. Indifferent step, moved
down the road with the sergeant. A
mounted officer passed him and Sc
luted--it was one Of his own staif.
From some strange instinct he knew
that he had witnessed the scene, and
from some equally strange intuition he
was annoyed by IL. But he continued
his way, visiting one OF two outposts
and returned by long detour to his
quarters. As he stepped upon the
veranda he saw Miss Faulkner al the
bottom of the garden talking with some
one across the hedge. By the aid W
his glass he could recognize the shape
~ figure OF the mulatto woman which
he had seen before. But by its aid he
also discovered that she was carrying
flower exactly like the one which Miss
Faulkner still held in her hand Had
she been with Miss Faulkner in the
lane--and IL so, why had she disap-
pcared when he came up2 lmpclled
by something stronger than mere GU
riosity, he walked quickly down the
garden, but she evidently had noticed
him. for she quickly disappeared Net
caring to meet Miss Faulkner again. he
rctraced his steps, resolving that he
would on the first opportunity per
sonally examine and interrogate this
new visitor. For If she were to talse
Miss Faulkner's place even In d subor-
dinate capacity-this precaution waz
clearly within his rights
He reentered his room and seated
himself at his desk before the dis
patches, orders and reports awaiting
him. He found himself, however, wnrk-
ing half mechanically. and recurring to
his late interview with Miss Faulkner
ia the lane. If she had any inclination
to act the spy, or TO use her position
here rs means of communicating with
the eDemy's e. lines, he thought he had
thoroughly frightened her. Neverthe-
less, now, for the first time, he was In
clined to accept his chiefs opinion OF
her. She was not only too clumsy and
inexperienced, but she totally lacked
the self-restraint of spy. Her nerv-
Gus agitation in the lane was due 70
something more disturbing than his
mere possible intrusion upon her conf
dcnce with the mulatto.
On the contrary, it seemed to be per-
sonal to himself. He recalled the sinr
gular significance of her question:
Then tits war ?" He recalled her strange
allusion to his wife; was 1T merely the
outcome Of his own foolish confession
on their first interview, or was IL a
concealed ironical taunt? Having sat-
iFfied himself that she was not likely to
inrperii his public duty In any way, he
was angry with himself for speculat-
ing further. But, although he still felt
toward her the same antagonism che
had at first provoked. he was conscious
that she was beginning to exercise q
strange. fascination on him.
Dismissing her at last with an ef1crt
hn Hrrre Ir.xI1 L. Il a l.