Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-12-02

in her eyes and mistook its cause
Il am sorry we frightened you.
he said gently. We ought not /,
have appeared so suddenly
| He replaced bis hat With gratefu
Difference and turned to his men
A few quick words of command
and they rode away into the woods
She watched them depart with fierc,
self-loathing in her eyes.
Hardly had they disappeared
when thu was violent shaking %
the vie She did not leek ap
but she Knew the Yankee afficel
was approaching.
/ Il shall never forget your kind
ness. he began. gratefully.
Then he saw the look on her fac,
and stopped. She raised her arm
imperionsly.
Go! go.' she cried, in q fierc,
whisper. Il did not betray you.
but it was hard-hard !! IL they
should come back can scarcel,
answer for myself. Why did you
come to me in false colors?
He looked at her for a momenr
without speaking.
1T was not Intentional he said
at last. Il assumed this coat as al
aid to nv escape. But | had no
thought Of leaving the shru bber,
until saw those men driving ava,
your cows. am sorry that fat.
has ordained we should be enemies.
He raised his hat courteouslv.
but she did not look up. A mo
ment later he, too. disappeared in
the woods.
On another April morning. sev
en- years later, Mildred stood gazing
absently into the valley. The wis
taria was again in bloom, and the
dOgwoods and laurels we're much
the same. But the mansion was
gone, and in its place was a modest
one story cottage. The ruthless
years of war had made other changes
The plantation in the valley had
passed into new hands; the Confed
crate money for which Col. Blair
bad exchanged bis stocks and bonds
had become only a worthless curl
os:ty the colonel and his sons now
went into the fields and labored
steadily through the long days OF
planting and harvest aud some
times It was matter of grave i'm
port whether the years income
would meet tie years expenses.
She was aroused by a quick, firm
step on the lawn. A careless
glance, and then she recoiled in
voluntarily. There was more beard
and the face had become bronzed
by long exposure to the sun; bui
she recognized the strong com
manding figure and the kindly eyes.
For an instant she felt a return OF
the old bitterness; then she noticed
the empty sleeve pinned on his
chest, snd the past was forgotten
Il am glad tC meet you again. :
he said as he held out his left hand.
And as he felt her frank. cordial
grasp. and looked into her clear
eyes. he knew that she had forgot
ten his share in the great drama.
i did not anticipate the pleasure
Of this meeting. although have
often looked forward to such a pos
sibility,' he went on. after a mo-
ment. Il called to see Col. Blair.
| am interested in mining, and un-
derssaod that his land is rich in
manganese.
Colonel Blair is my father; will
you come in?' She turned quietly
and led the way towards the house.
He often speaks about his manga
nese land. but unfortunately lacks
the means to develop it.
Il think we shall be able to make
some arrangements about that. IL
your father is willing | will bring
up an expert examine the land
A few weeks later i. became gen.
orally known that the rich capita
list vino had already opened several
mines in the mountains had formed
partnership with Col. Blair to
work his land. Advertisements
appeared in the local papers calling
for mechanics and day laborers, and
then carload after carload of min
ing machinery begsn to arrive at
the little station at the foot of the
mountain.
By the end of the year the mine
was in successful operation, and