Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-08-16

said the girl, with rising color in her
cheek and an angry light in her eye.
Your very anxiety to go forward
necessitates my preventing YOU
1t was strange picture, one that aft
er long years of peace often recall as
typical of the many incongruities of
war; the men in the ranks sitting in
their saddles in the various positions by
which horsemen contrive to relieve
their strained muscles, the horses, some
lowering their tired heads, others rest
lessly biting their bits, or nibbling at
the grass growing beside the road; the
young general thought him an old
man then-his eyes fixed on the delicate
face of the woman, in such marked con-
| trast with his own. Yet of all these de-
tails, one recall far more wildly than
the rest-a tear on the girls cheek,
which the rays of the setting sun caused
to sparkle like diamond.
But there was only this tear to mark
her woman's weakness, for she sat de-
fiant in our path. In twinkling the
general broke her down with q kindly
tone that had been natural to him be-
fore his troubles. but which was rarely
heard now:
"Come, Margaret, go with us. won't
you?"
Turning her horses head, she rode
back as peacefully as child. But
there was an evident constraint be-
tween her and the general, for, beyond
an inquiry from him as to her mothers
health, and a reply that she was still
an invalid, no word passed. We trotted
on, wondering at the strange meeting
and what would come of it, u continued
beating Of hoofs and clanking of sabers
behind us. untilwe reached plantation
in the confer of which stood a square
house, in its front one of those porticos
with Ionic columns in vogue during the
"fifties." The yard included something
like dozen acres, and was surrounded
by high picket fence. The general,
the girl and entered the gateway and
rode up to the house.
And now happened something which,
had I not looked up at the very moment
did, would have turned the whole cur
rent of this story, perhaps rendered it
not worth the telling. What put itinto
my head I know not. might as well
have cast my eye on the well-house,
OF on a rock jutting out between
the trees, OF an old darby back
in the road scraping the dirt off
ia hoe. or o couple of mules feed
ing. saw all these, and there was
nothing strange in it, for they were on
level with my eye; but what was
strange was that ! should have Looked
up at certain window in the top story
of the house in the very nick of time 10
see the slats In the shutter turn, and a,
ashen face with startled eyes quiclsl,
sweep our party and rest an instant u
our prisoner. Then the Stats wer,
turned again. It was all done SO quick
ly that could not tell whether hat
seen man OF woman. Quick a
thought flung glance at the girl be
side me. She was white as death.
spurred to where the general wa
about to dismount.
Something wrong, general" point
ing to the house.
What do you mean?"
'Some one concealed up there. lisa,
face at a'window, and a look between
it and the girl"
At the moment my brother aide-de
camp. Walter Bland, came riding int
the place. and the general ordered hir
to bring sergeant and half a doze
men and surround the house.
go upstairs" the general said to me
land find out who is lurking there"
ITO BE CoNTINuED.)