Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1899-05-26

E.cs:cgc. &c was sacnser.rg Thought
fully homeward after recovering his re-
voiver. happy at his good fortune and
wondering over the future. when. in
passing through the spacious. shaded
grounds, he raised his eyes and cav the
young lady seated on one Of the rustic
benches scarcely 90 PAGES away
She was looking toward him and, as
che caught his glance. nodded and al
most unconsciously made room for him
A singular thrill stirred the officer as
he raised his cap, and slightly quicken
ing his pace. placed himself at the side
Of the young lady.
A touch Of summers softness lin
gered IN the air. but the shapeiy shout
ders were infolded in light shawl and
the head covered by hat trimmed by
her own hands with taste that would
have won compliment in Paris itself
She even carried parasol. which was
folded wh;so sho Esed tho sharp point
to dig the ground at her feet. some
times ty way OF emphasis and again
with no purpose at all.
After u few words the young woman
said:
1T seems inhospitable. lieutenant,
after your brief stay with us for me to
urge you to leave. but l am compelled
TO do 80. -
when | have received 60 much
kindness from your family. there can
be no such thing as inhospitality on
your part
MY words sound very like it How
else can they be ccnstruedl"
She had begun gouging the soft
ground near the point Of one Of her tiny
shoes with the tip of her parasol aud
looked upward and sideways at him
with faint smile.
1.-The motive must be tho interpreter
Yonr words are prompted by the same
feeling that led you and yonr mother to
extend hospitality when il was sorely
needed.
The gentle face became thoughtful
and after moments silence Sha said
in a lower tone
lyon speak the truth. for you are in
danger.
such has been my situation from
the first
But the danger has become immi
nent Despite the care we have used il
haS become known that we are shelter
ing Union officer under our roof
And thereby have placed General
Eldridge in n false position
lit is not that He is too chivalrous
to object In truth he would have been
displcased had we ftSled in our duty.
but there are others who do not think
as he does
mot Masters and Ackersl'
Their treatment of you does NOT
warrant your distrust. .
The oiiicer's face flushed and he made
haste to apologize.
1T does not. but they might be obey
ing the orders of others understand
that since the Union army has passed
through this section there are many
Confederate cavalrymen lowering on
the outskirts at the rear Of the force
picking Of stragglers Some Of them
are in this noighborhood.
"They are and mean to pay You Z
visit
''Bnt am already prisoner.
..And yet confined III no prison.
The words meant a good deal. Lien
tenant Oakman felt that the most chiv-
alrous enemy would have been justified
In ob5ecting to the privileges he eu-
joyed.
Miss Eldridge. could have carried
out my wish ! should have left this
lovely home several days ago
She had resumed her gorging OF the
earth at hcr feet. and for minute
seemed absorbed in the progress she
was making Then again she turned
her face sideways and asxed with .
bright smile:
"Whyy''
The officer would have been spitted
before telling all thst WAS in his mind
~ am entirely recovered from my
wound and could-have gone before this.
Instead am in the unworthy position
Of an ablabodied soldier lingering in tho
rear when his country needs the service
of every ono Of its sons :
She did not respond until she COM
pleted digging n ragged orifice a little
farther in front of tho hem of her dress
Then. still surveying the tiny pit. she
said:
Not your country. but your sec
ton
''No. allow me-mine-your country.
for suck 1t IL and shall be- to the end Of
time
How many southern girls would have
permitted these words TO pass unrebuk-
ed To the majority. it would have
proved the spark to the powder maga-
zine
Suppose he had uttered them to Mis-
HaTimanf But no-ihe suprosition
was incredible
He was frightened By his own tcmer-
ity and looked questioningly at her.
The gonging of the pointed wood had
excavated u symmetrical oriiiee in ths
dirt. Several grains were flung over tie
toe of the Cinderellalike shoe. She fiirt-
ed them of aud continued digging Us
IN n al ty d..Gvi,a E.~