The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-03-08

last with Mr.. Kendall, and can't miss
it. Stanley assured her that it was
irnmaterial to him if she chose to re-
main until daybreak: that be was en-
tirely at her service
But Miss Meredith did not remain
until daylight At o'clock she went
home and sat in her room at the wiz
dow looking out into the night. There
was not sonnd in all the world The
mountains rose, deeper shadows against
the shadowy sky. The stars. twinkled
and glittered above the silentsgarrison.
She could see quite plainly the barracks
across the parade ground. and there
was not light in any window. Even
in the quarters of her fathers troop
there was no sign that the men were to
be marching at daybreak, and still from
the silence rang in her ears as they had
rung in the music's strains the bitter
words. s.Mere friends. and still before
her eyes rose the picture Of those two
as she had seen them when she had gone
out upon the steps She bowed her head
on her bare arms to shut it out. and for
long, long while che did not move.
When she looked up again, the bar
racks were gone and the black pile Of
the mountains was not to be seen. Over
all the land was the darkness which
comes before dawn, and in her heart
was hopelessness as blank. How dark,
how inky the night had grownI 1t must
be very late. She was cold, but she was
not tired. She would wait now until
morning. In little time the house
would be astir She must breakfast
with her father. She put g heavy cape
about her shoulders and went back to
the window. By and by she heard some
one moving. A match was struck in the
next room and a ray Of light shone
through the blinds There were heavy
footsteps that tried to fall softly upon
the stairs Every one fancied her asleep.
no doubt. A man came out from the
front door and went down the line She
ccvld Just see the black figure in the
blackness for q moment, then 1t was
lost, and she only heard the echo Of a
quick tramp on the board walk. By and
by the man came back again and into
the house. Her father opened her door
softly and tiptoed into the room.
II have etaid up to take breakfast
with you. she hastened to explain.
..In ball gown. he said
After or before 6 O'Clock it is cor
rect >. she told him pavlV
..Stanley will be here" he said
.sFor breakfast
Eyes sent Moriarty down to his
quarters to ask him just now. It's half
past 4. We will be ready in ten min
utes.
He went out, and the girl looked
again into the darkness, which grew
thicker before the dawn. "Mere
friendsl' Well, she would meet him as
mere friend She would have it to do
often enough in the dull future 1t
might be best to begin at once.
The tinkling of silver bell came to
her. sounding weirdly through the
night. and out of that night emerged
another figure 1t ran up the steps, and
the front door opened and closed. She
drew the cape around her shoulders and
groped her way out of her room, through
the hallway. down the stairs A candle
was burning in the lower hall She
went on into the dining room a quar-
termaster's lamp sent out the uncertain
light that lamp always gives in the
early morning. Her mother was pour
ing the coffee. Her father and his first
lieutenant were already seated The
lieutenant rose
..Good morning again, he said
cheerfully He was too much filed with
the excitement of the occasion now to
remember his injuries '.You reproach
our garments with the splendor OF your
attire, but our mission is to march on
to victory and not to be beautiful We
can only hope you will excuse US
Certainly, and I will even be so
gracious as to wish that the contrast
may prove a seasoning 10 your bacon. :
There was roaring fire in the great
fireplace. andsshe threw back the cape
from her shoulders. Her neck and arms
shone white. and the lights glittered on
her hair. From the crown Of her head.
with its wilted flower. to Che torn Tuffle
of her skirt she was in sad disarray.
But Stanley thought her very beautiful.
and memory came suddenly back to
him.
They talked gayly. for all that they
were quite unhappy Then Moriarty
the striker. reported that the first ser
geant was at the door and would like
to see une captain. The captain went
out. and his wife followed him.
.Mauricia will take care of you.
she said to Stanley She had many
things to attend to.
And then a silence that would not be
broken came upon the two. Stanley
racked his brains for a sentence. Miss
Meredith sought vainly for words.
Stanley looked across the table at the
pretty. disordered head. Miss Meredith
studied the light effects on his brass
buttons and shoulder straps and the
knot Of the handkerchief that stood
him in lieu Of collar. Then she affect
ed to yawn. And still no words would
come. Speech and consecutive thought
were not.
And still the lieutenant watched the
sweet. tired face until the shadoweo
ewes turned and looked out Of the win
dow. A shutter was open, and Miss
Meredith saw that the darkness wal
passing, that the light and the dawr