The Irish standard., 1896-04-18

der some strange controlling influence
and against military protest, but he did
not let his subordinate see the aineasi-.
ness with which it filed him,
SHOW her in" ne said, quietly.
But she had already entered, brushing
scornfully past the officer, and drawing
her skirt aside as if contaminated. A.
very pretty southern girl. scornful and
red-lipped, clad in gray riding habit
and still carrying her riding whip
clenched ominously in her slim, gaunt-
letted hand.
'You have my permit in your hand"
she said, brusquely, hardly raising her
eyes to Brant-''I suppose its all
straight enough, and even If it isn't,
don't reckon to be kept waiting with
those hirelings."
Your permit is straight enough
Miss Faulkner" said Rrant. slowly
reading her name from the docnment
before him, but as it does not seem to
include permission to insult my officers
you will perhaps first allow them TO re-
tire lie made a sign TO the officer,
who passed out of the door. AS il
closed he went on in gentle. but coldly
unimpassioned voice IL perceive you
are a southern lady, and, therefore,
need not remind you that it il not con-
sidered good form to treat even tho
slaves of those one does not like alnciv-
lily, and / must therefore expect that
YOU will keep your active animosity for
myself"
The young girl lifted her eyes. She
had evidently not expected to meet a
man so young, so handsome, SO refined,
and so coldly invincible in manner.
Still less was she prepared for that kind
of antagonism. In keeping up her pre-
concerted attitude toward the north
ern hireling" she had been met with
official brusqueness, contemPtuous si-
lence OF aggrieved indignation-but
nothing as sxasperating as this. She
even fancied that this elegant but sar-
donic-looking soldier was inwardly
mocling her. She bit her red lip, but
with a scornful gesture of her riding
whip said:
Il reckon that your knowledge OF
southern ladies is, for certain reasons,
not very extensive"
Pardon me. j have had the honor OF
marrying one."
Apparently more exasperated than
before she turned upon him abruptly.
You say my pass is all right. Then
presume / may attend to the business
that brought me here"
Certainly, but you will forgive me il
l imagined that an expression OF con-
tempt for your host was part of it.
He rang a bell on the table. 1T was re-
sponded TO by an orderly. "Send all
the household servants here"
The room was presently filed with
the dusly faces of the negro retainers
Here and there was the cleaning OF
white teeth, but a majority of the as
sembly wore the true negro acceptance
OF the importance of IAN occasion
One or two even affected an official and
soldierly bearing. And as he fully ex-
pected there were several glances of sig
nificant recognition of the stranger.
"You will give said Brant, sternly.
every aid and attention to the wants
Of this young lady, who is here to repre-
sent the interests of your old master.
As she will be entirely dependent upon
you IN all things connected with her
visit here, see to it that she does not
have to complain to me of any inatten-
tion-or to be obliged to ask for other
assistance"
AS Miss Faulkner, albeit trife paier
in the cheek, but rs scornful as ever,
was about to follow the servant from
the room, Brant stopped her with cold
ly courteous gesture:
You will understand, therefore. Miss
Faulkner, that you have your wish. aud.
that you will not be exposed to any
contact with the members of my mill
tary family, nor they with you"
Am 1 then to be prisoner in this
kouse---and under q free pass of--your
PRESIDENT she said, indignantly.
by no means. You are free to come
and go and see whom you please. I
have no power to control your actions.
But have power to control theirs
She swept furiously from the room.
THAT IL quite enough to fill her with
desire to firt with every man here"
said Brant to himself, with a faint
smile, "butI fancy they have had taste
enough of her quality" Nevertheless,
he SAT- down and wrote few lines to
the division commander, pointing out
that he had already placed the owners
private property under strict surveil-
lance, that 1t was cared for and per-
fectly preserved by the household serv-
ants, and that the pass was evidently
obtained as a subterfuge. To this he
received formal reply regretting that
the authorities of Washington still
found it necessary to put this kind Of
risk and burden on the army in the
field. but that the order emanated from
the highest authority and must be
strictly obeyed. AT the bottom of the
page, however was a characteristics
linein pencil in the generals own hand:
Not the kind that is dangerous. "A
flush mounted Brant's cheeks, as if it
contained not only hidden but 4 Der.
sonal significance. He thought OF his
own wife.
Singuiariy enough, a day or two later.
at dinner, the conversation turned
upon the intense sectional feeling of
southern probably induced by
their late experiences, and Brant, at the
head of the table,, in his habituaI abb
stracticn, was scarcely following the
somewhat excited diction OF Col
Strangeways. one of his staff. ''No. sir
reiterated the indignant warrior. "take
my word for it. southern woman isn't
IN he f.11S4ad ~, th;S ,><,,,>< ..~Lo4t-1.. ]. N