The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-12-15

THE MIDNIGHT WATCH.

THE MIDNIGHT WATCH.
Dismounting and leaving the horses
in charge of Mellodew, we entered the
habitation provided us by nature, an
irregular-shaped area perhaps &c feet
across at the broadcast part, and nearly
as high overhead. In corner we found
ashes, and. just above, an opening in
the roof blackened by smoke, through
which came a small bit of daylight In
the center was a rude table composed
of boards set on upright forked boughs
PUNK and ] at once set about gather
ing wood, and soon had u cheerful fire
burning. I assigned the cave 10 Mar
garet until such time as we might need
concealmeut and made bed of boughs
for her, which covered with blankets.
When all was ready we left Margaret
to rest, and, cutting more boughs, set
them upright between contiguous trees,
thus improvising an Enclosure in which
to conceal the horses, putting them in
charge of Mellodew, who was directed
to procure forage for them.
We were now in prime condition 10
L
| dividing the watch between us day
and night PUNK, being merely n non
Commissioned officer, while was n lieu
tenant, insisted on taking the whole
night watch, giving me the day, but in
an army of two, with girl for reserve
we did not dare trust Mellodew-l
did not consider rank of any impor-
lance. | therefore divided the watch
into four hours each, and took the al
ternate watches myself.
After supper / remained in the cave
for awhile, sitting beside the fire with
Margaret. There was plenty of dry
wood which PUNK and / had gathered
during the day, and heaped ON enough
TO make rousing flame. Indeed, the
place would not have been habitable
without a continuous fire, and il was
arranged between PUNK and myself
that whoever was on watch should keep
it burning. l had my brierwood pipe,
cut from laurel root during a cam
paign in western Virginia, and, as Mar
garet did not object, 1 enjoyed a COM
Portable smoke. There was splendid
draught, and both the smoke from the
fire and that from the pipe rose readily,
passing out of the natural chimney.
"What are we to watch for?" asked
Margaret, suddenly.
1.-The passage of trains"
81 know that. For what further OBJ
ject?"
81 am not permitted to tell"
"My life depends on our making a
discovery. Surely l should know what
it is"
81 would gladly tell you, but, you see,
the general"
would not trust me-" she interrupt
ed, impatiently. A tear glistened in her
eye.
l could never stand woman's tears.
thrust my hands in my pockets and
strobe back and forth in the cave, vain
ly endeavoring to steel my heart to do
my duty. Had left the cave | might
have succeeded, but | did not; / cast
glance at the weeping girl, threw
up my hands" and revealed the whole
story.
81 should not have told YOU this"
concluded, but it seems absurd to trust
you SO far as to guide us here, and not
trust you with the object of our COM
ing, especially since if the move is made
you must see il as well as the rest of us.
l think il very unreasonable of the
general to keep the secret from you"
She did not encourage me in my self
excusing; she was silent.
Don't you?' l asked.
"No; l think the general was pru-
dent. There was no use in telling me
what might not need to know"
This bit of feminine Inconsistency
and ingratitude fell upon me with such
crushing weight that, without reply TO
her thrust, ! got up and went outside,
cursing my folly and vowing that no
woman should ever again extract a Sc
cret from me-a VOW l religiously kept
until l was besieged by the next wom-
| an.
PUNK had gone on watch at eight
o'clock, and when 1 went out from
the warm fire into the cold moonlight
l saw him walking back and forth, oc-
casionally swinging his arms to keep
himself warm. / selected a round root
of tree for pillow, wrapped myself
in my blankets, and tried to sleep. But
the ill-humor was in prevented. Added
TO the cause which had produced it
was another. l had given Margaret my
blanket, and was covered by one l used
under my saddle. During my rest ii
was constantly a question whether l