The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-03-05

Enough of this! / am satisfied, Miss
Clay" the general said, decisiv ely. ~
have heard Of you before. You are in
our lines under assumed name; your
escort swallowed some papers.
would not use rough terms, but you arc
suspected as a spy. will send you to
Washington at dawn. This soldier is
in uniform. He will go, too; and he
may save himself by telling the truth.
Provost, separate these prisoners and
guard them securely-Fitzhugh, re-
main here"
A moment later and the cousins had
passed into the now DEMONSTRATING
snowstorm without, Evan hustled with
scant ceremony to the guard-fre, Miss
Clay guided by the provost-marshal
himself to solitary hut across the
road, half hidden in trees, but fast
whitening under soft fakes caught by
it into a drift. The major hustled about
the mouldy little room with the politico-
military punctilio of fresh soldier,
swinging his lantern up to the one win
dow to inspect it's security, trying the
creaking wooden latch of the door, and
swearing, not inaudibly, at the nimble
soldier trying to blow the wet and
smoking brush, piled upon the crazy
hearth, into blaze
Rather an awkward fix you're In, I
fear, miss he said, at length, turning
to Miss Clay. Circumstances certainly
seem dead against you. Of course
can't answer certainly for the general,
but should have this matter fully in
vestigated. l should send you to the
old capitol for court martial. We are in
the enemy's country, you sec; and the
safety of the whole command, no less
than the honor of the flag, demands full
investigation of your reasons for assum-
ing name. AS for your young man,
he certainly swallowed something; and
can testify, in person, that he almost
assaulted me in his effort to prevent
capture of dangerous dispatches. You
will be under close guard until daylight,
miss; but will await further instruc-
tons before disposing of you finally.
We will advance at-hem!-I mean, you
should try and make yourself perfectly
comfortable. Confound you, Lynch!
1--WE filed the room with smoker
A fit of coughing cut off the military
stump-speaker, and he stepped outside
for lengthy instructions to the sentry,
already pacing his post before the hut
The girl had dropped listlessly on the
one rickety stool in the room, seemingly
as oblivious to cold and to danger as to
the majors stream of talk. She was
very pale, but two red disks burned in
the rounded cheeks, her lissome figure
dropping and her gauntleted hands
resting carelessly in her lap, Only the
face moved, its gray eyes intent on va
cancy, but deepening in color as swift
thoughts chased each other through her
brain. Sometimes the lips moved
soundlessly, the color deepening in her
cheeks and her head half erecting, only
to droop again upon her bosom.
Not one word of reply came to the
busting majors rigmarole, and if the
girl even heard his words they con-
peyed no sense to her. Only did she
start from deep revery when the Irish
trooper, rising from his knees, said,
cheerily:
"Bedadl but there's darlin' av a
blaze! Bad luck to the broosh, but it's
blowed me out enthierly! Kape up yer
sperrits, miss! Theirs tn blanket to
kiver ye from TIL cowld; an ye'd better
catch a wink of shape, fur, yen be
called early, Dim belavin', Niver fear,
darlin'," he added, lower, "Oi'm fey
Their myself, an Oh know tn failins ay
a dochter. Bad cess to the majors
tonguew = his voice fell to whisper
''hes maxim av it woorse fur We, whir
it's hard enough, shure! Good night
miss; an don't lit the fire go low.
Plisant dhramesl'
THANK your the girl answered, with
deep breath, that was less sigh than
half-awakening. you are very good.
Who is the generals guide"
"Tention, Lynch!' sounded the ma
jor's voice from without. cease telk-
ing with the prisoner! cannot i'm
press you men with the fact that no
soldier should talk, under any circum-
stances, And you should learn from me
that"
Then the voice died away on the night
wind, leaving the snow-mufled tramp
of the sentry for sole companion to the
girls thoughts.