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

~ q ss ia
siand hsl fhand s dro 'l1eayi
side. Good Sod! you thought tha1 81
ssItoo. Il on takDught that i would asSrl
dice,nonifor another mani A. 81
Is 8 5a1xitsl me- said Bra1nt, quickly
~ twas foolish. But whether your
loskrsis . man or q cause, yoll have u
ia Jtswn q woman &. devotion. And iinres
p airing your fault you are showing
:1hore than o woman IS courag nov. Nh sta
81 ! To his surprise the color had sagain
mounted to her pretty checks, and even
a flash Of mischief shone in her blue.
eyes. It,would have been AN excuse
yes--to save q man, surely. Well, {
will go. lam ready" 81
ssOne moment, = he said, grare1y. "Al-
though this pass and an escortinsures
your safe conduct, there is an engage
+ sm,ent and some danger. Are yon still
ready to face it?'' 5s.
81 am" she safdtti proudly, turning
back q braid of her fallen hair. Yet
i moment she shesitated. Then She said,
Ina lower voice: lire you as readyto
iorgiye?" =.
s.In either case" hesaid, touched BY,
ln.r manner-"and God speed you"
r He extended his hand and left q
slightlpressure on her'cold fingers. But
they slipped quickly from his grasp,
and she turned away with heightened
cclor.
stepped to the door. One OF two
aids-de-camp, withheld by his orden
against intrusion, were waiting eagerly
with reports. The horse of mounted
field officer was paving the garden
turf. The officers stared at the young
girl.
ssTake Miss Faulkner with a flag ta
some safe point of the enemy's line
Shc is q non-combatant of their own
and will receive their projections"
He had scarcely exchanged dozeu
words with the aids-de-camp before
the field officer hurriedly entered,
Taking Brant aside he said quickly:
"'Iardon me, general, but there is "a
strong feeling among the men that this
attack is the result of some infornar
ton. obtained by the enemy. The wom-
ianyou have just given a safeguard to
tistsuspected, and the men are indig-
nant"
1.-THE more reason why she should be
conveyed beyond any consequences Of
their folly, ma or," said Brant, frigidly,
''and L 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 l would
suggest that it would he better to see
that my orders are carried out regard
ing the: slaves and men con1batantswh
are passing our lines from division
headquarters, where valuable informa
ition may be obtained, than in the SUR
VIGILANCE of q testy and ontspoken girl"
An angry flush covered the majors
cheek as he sa1rted and fell back, and
1srant turned to the aid-de-camp. The
news was grave. A column of the enc
my had moved against the ridge; twas
no longer possible to hold it; and the
brigade was cut off from it's conmupi-
cation with the division headquarters,
although as vet no combined movement
was made against It, Brant's secret
fears that it was an intended impact
against the center were confirmed
Would his communications to- the d.
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. Ue could easily hive 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 @ division OF SO
large an attacking column, and his re-
treat was still secure! It was this fact
that seemed to show a failure or i1nper-
fiction in the ene1ny's plan. twas pos
sible that his precipitation of the attack
by the changed signal had been the
cause of it. Doubtless some provision
had been made to attack him in flank
and rear, but in the unexpected hurry
OF the outset it had to be abandoned. He
could still save himself as his officers
knew, but his conviction. that he might
yet be able to support, his division conn
1nantler by holding his position logged
", but coolly awaiting his opportunity,
was strong. More than that, it was his
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 to ride through his
open ranks, he saw his files melt away
Lefore this steady current without
hinching. "." i@-
-. CHAPTER VI.
4 81 G., Anc,,1 ,As.a.,s :, 49,,