Owingsville outlook., 1896-12-31

your safe conduct, there Is an engage
ment and some danger. Are you still
ready to face ito"
IL am" she said, proudly, turning
back braid of her fallen hair. Yet
a moment she hesitated. Then she said.
in lower voice: Are you as ready TO
forgive"
"ln either ease" he said, touched by
her manner-"and God speed YOU"
lie extended his hand and left a
slight pressure on her cold fingers. Hut
they slipped quickly from his grasp,
and she turned away with n heightened
color.
He stepped To the door. One or two
aids-de-camp. withheld hy his order
against intrusion, were waiting eagerly
with reports. The horse of mounted
field officer WAS paving the garden
| turf. The officers stared at tine Young
girl.
Take Miss Faulkner with IA flag TO
some safe point of the cnemy's line.
She is n non-comhatant of their OVID,
and will receive their protection"
lie had scarcely exchanged n dozen
words with the aids-dc-camp before
the field officer hurricdly entered.
Taking Brant aside he said quickly:
"l'nrdon me, general, but there is "A
strong feeling among the men that this
| attack is the result of some iufurma-
tinn obtained by the enemy. The wom-
an you have just given a safeguard to
is suspected, and the men are indig.
uant."
The more reason why she should hr
| conveyed beyond any consequences OF
their folly, major" said Brant, frigidly.
'and | look To you for her safe CONVOY
There is nothing in this attack to show
that the enemy has received any in
formation regarding us. But | would
suggest that il would he better to see
/ that my orders are carried out regard
| ing the slaves and men combatants who
are passing our lines from division
headquarters, where valuable informa.
| tion may be obtained, than in the sur.
yeillance of a testy and outs, pken girl
An angry flush covered / he ma iOr's
| cheek as he saluted and fell back, AMI
/ l!rant turned 10 the aid d-de-camp. The
news was grave. 4 column of the enc.
my had moved against the ridge; il was
no longer possible to hold il; and tho
| brigade was cut off from its communi
cation with the division headquarters.
although as yet no combined movement
was made against il. Brant's secret
fears that il was an intended impact
against the center were confirmed
Would his communications To the di
vision commander pass through the at
tacking column in time?
One thing puzzled him. AS yet the
enemy, after facing his line, had shown
no disposition, even with their over
whelming force, to turn aside TO cover
| him. He could easily have fallen back
when it was possible to hold the ridge
no longer, without pursuit. His flank
and rear were not threatened, as they
might have been by n division of so
large an attacking column. and his re-
treat was still secure! IL was this fact
that seemed TO show n failure or imper-
fection in the enemy's plan. 1t was pos
| siblc that his precipitation of the attack
by the changed signal had been the
cause of il. Doubtless some provision
had been made to attack him in fans
and rear, but in the unexpected hurry
of the outset il had to he abandoned. He
could still save himself, as his officers
! b 'ew, but his conviction. that he might
| Nrr 90 able to support his division com
.naHirr by holding his position logged
! .' bat coolly awaiting his opportunity,
/ - as strong. More than that, it was HE
temperament and instinct.
Narrowing them in flank and rear.
contesting the ground inch by inch, and
holding his own against the artillery
sent to dislodge him, or the cavalry
that curled around 10 ride through his
| open ranks, he saw his files melt away
'efore this steady current without
Rinching.