Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-06-03

academy was subordination of the mill !
tary TO the civil authority.
well, go ahead. You're boss, I s'pose.
1 can only follow. What d'you want me
to do?' said Close.
'I want you 10 search that house and
get those men," was Parmelee's an
swer.
And then there was another moment
of oppressive silence; then sudden start
and alarm.
Down the Tugaloo road to the south,
at the farthest corner of the fence
which surrounded the Walton place,
there was a'pathway leading through
the brush 10 the level bottom" below.
Somewhere in this direction, but be-
vond the corner, only q few seconds be-
fore. had been heard sound like that
of a bray nipped suddenly in the bud
of a mules essay at vocalism checked
summarily with a club. At this point
where road and pathway came together
Lambert had posted Private Green,
reliable soldier of many years eXpe-
rience, and when Green challenged
there was reason for 1t. Low and stern
his voice was heard distinctly at the
listening camp: "Who comes there"
followed almost Immediately by the
sharp order: Halt! Halt, or l fire"
Waiting for no order, Lambert was
off like a dart, Burns following with a
lantern. Again came the cry: Halt
but the promised shot was not heard
Even when running at speed past the
gate of the Walton place, the young
officer could not resist quick glance
at the dark facade of the old homestead.
Already a light was dancing along the
portico, another cleaning at an upper
window.
"What's the matter, sentry" he
painted, as he came upon the dark figure
AT the turn of the road. Green, with his
rifle at ready" was peering into the
gap in the tangle of shrubbery.
"Some one was coming up there, sir,
and ran the instant / challenged.
ought to have let him get up to me and
then halted him, but had regulations
instead OF sense in my head said
Green, New Englander with propen-
sity for talk. "He's out o harms
way"
But Lambert waited to hear no more.
With Burns at his heels he sprang down
the dim pathway, and had not gone 80
yards before he came upon some strug-
Cling object crashing into the brush
towards the stream. Haiti" he
shouted, and, while something halted,
other something's, with muttered oaths,
went plunging on. He heard a splash,
hoofs Gathering over gravel, the lash
ing of a whip, and then all was still
across the dark open space through
which flowed the sluggish branch"
But here among the bushes were two
wondering quadrupeds, one mule
with broken bridle-rein, the other, as
Burns lantern speedily showed,
Cherokee pony-both saddled. A cor
poral came running to join them,and in
n moment the beasts were led back to
the road way, where Close and Parmelee
by this time stood ready to receive them.
One glance was all the latter needed.
"What did tell you, captain?" said
he, in triumph. THAT is Wal Scrocgs
own pony, and the masters hiding there
Mt the Walton place"
Ten minutes more and a strange, sol
emn scene was being enacted at the
head of the steps leading up to that
broad, vine-covered old porch, whose
dingy white columns loomed dim and
ghostly in the glare of lantern and cam
die. The door was thrown wide open,
and on the worn coping-stone, calm,
dignified, erect, even though leaning
heavily upon her cane, lighted candle
held high over the shimmering gray of
her well-poised head, her stately, slen-
der form garbed in some dark clinging
robe, stood the mistress of the house,
the clear-cut, pallid face standing forth
against the black background of the
hallway like some exquisite cameo, the
thin, sensitive lips quivering just a
trifc at the dropping corners OF her
firmly-set, almost colorless mouth. In
front of her, his brown head barred, his
burly form nearly concealed in his light
blue overcoat, an almost pleading
look in his soft brown eyes, was Close,
the hero of a score of battles. On his
right, folded and notwithstanding
documents extended in an unsteady
hand, also with uncovered head, stood
Parmelee, representing the majesty of
the law. To the left of the commander
and a pace retired, buttoned to the
throat in the uniform of his rank and
girt with sash and belt, stood young
Lambert, obedient to orders. Behind
them, and almost at the top of the steps,
armed and equipped, n sergeant and two
soldiers of the guard. Back, farther
down the steps, still others were
grouped, the fixed bayonets cleaning
in the light of the two lamps, one held
by the amazed woman at the threshold,
the other swinging from the gloyed
hand of the sergeant of the guard.
What you say, sir, is absurd-impos-
sible. At no time, under no circum-
stances" Mrs. Walton was saying,
"could the gentleman you name be Sc
creted in that room"
Madam" replied Close, his deep
voice trembling, nobody can feel more
sorry about this than do. I'd rather
go through the whole war over again
than be here on such an errand to-
night, but--a soldier must obey his or
ders. saw him, madam, at that win
dow. These gentlemen saw
Gentlemen! Gentlemen, sir, never
would connive at such an outrage. That
Is my daughters room-Miss Esther
Walton's."
Dead silence for n moment, solemn
and impressive indeed for Close TUNED
helplessly to the supporters on his
right, unable to face such majesty OF
confidence and conviction, unable TO
say the words that could sound only
like insult intensified. Twas Parmelce
whose sense Of duty rose superior to
exalted sentiment.
Madam" he began, stepping for
ward, ''these papers are full warrant
for my notion. know two men to be
secreted here. !, too, saw one at that
window, and the law must take its
course"
'Stopl" she cried. 'I have said that
was my daughters room. One of your
party, at least, hns the appearance Of
d gentleman. Lieut.. Lambert, is it
possible that you-that any graduate
of West Point-can stand here and per
init such outrage as this? Would you
allow your sisters room to be searched
for-oh, my God! nothing we have had