Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1898-10-20
HIS PLEASANT IETERLUDR.
A WARTIME TALE.

lie rode to tI1e entrance Of th,
house, AMI, STOPPING forward. rap
ped smartly at the door With th,
hilt Of his sword. Then be settled
himself in the saddle. whistlsd and
looked around ct the detail. blue,
coated men of the Federal cavalry,
sitting stolidly behind him.
He waited . few moments, and
then dismounted, whistling still,
his blue syes smilinz and dsneina
as though thirty miles over rough
country, and coming on the heels
of harassing march. were bns o
mere bagatelle. Again be knocked,
loudly, insistently. The corporal
moved heavily in his hot saddle, and
moistened his lips with his tongue.
In answer to the knocking the
still brooding house suddenly be-
came alive with stealthy footsteps
and secretive sounds, cautious
movements and discreet murmur-
ings. The lieutenant settled his
hat more jauntily and looked at his
dusty boots and ragged uniform
with a mournful air. Presently
light footsteps came down the un-
seen stairs, and paused on the 9TH
er SIDE of the heavy door.
"Who is there ?'' The voice was
so clear and sweet that the lieuten-
ant forgot his boots and smiled
again, and even the corporal paused
in the act of fiicking a A from the
neck Of his horse.
"A detail of the United States
cavalry. We want rest and shelf
en-" The lieutenant might have
had hopes for something infinitely
more pleasant than those common
necessaries, for bis voice was mel
lowed with grateful Difference.
Il am quite alone with my aunt
said the voice. Shall we be safe
in opening to You p
MADAME. answered tila liantens.
ant, swelling IN bis blue tunlc, We
are soldiers, but we are men,
The door was unbarred and
thrown open. The lieutenant aEept
his cap from his head and bowed.
He bowed with exaggerated hon.
age, for che voice was possessed by
a young girl every whit as sweet as
the cadence.
Il will not say you are welcome
she said, 'for you do not wear the
uniform which opens our hearts,
She spoke sadly, for the war had
been terrible in its results for her.
and her friends. Everywhere the
blue uniform was swarmiLg over
the Southern homesteads, into the
Southern homes.
He shrugged his shoulders.
'One must wear one uniform or
snosher,' he answered. Il was born
in tie North. The matter is q
mere accident 1t may have been
unfortunate for me-
Il think not she replied looking
gravely at him, thinking Of the sac
rifices made and making.
Il am by no means sure,' he smil-
ed, thinking of other things.
In another moment he went of,
his cap thrust back, whistling hap
py waltz refrain, to see to the hous-
ing of the horses and men-horses
coming first is his estimation, as
befitted cayalryman. Davis, the
corporal, and the six other men OF
the detail swore hard as they
loosened girths in the disused sta
BILE, bat the lieutenant went on
whistling.
In the evening he sat with the
girl and Eer aunt in the broad, cool
dining-room, smoking. He could
have dispensed with the aunt, but,
after all, she was silent, and knit
ted. Marjorie-he had discovered
that her name was Marjorie, with
a pleased sense Of its appropriate
ness-was not silent and she did
not knit. She sat by the low win
dow aud talked.
He vas very candid about biz
movements, boyish and fiippant,
The var had lift him entirely with
out personal animosity against any
one.
why did yon become soldier ?
Marjorie questioned, wonderingly
| for her hatred of the Northerner
was as the hatred of her kindred
very deep and very bitter.
sOh. don't know. Any fellov
would IN my position. l was
LAWYER. hated Law. The vs