The Irish standard., 1899-10-21

wished to keep the command together.
Besides, her guard might be either dis
persed or captured. In that case the
game would not be worth the CANDLE"
He looked at me, surprised that I
should dare to instruct him as to what
course he should pursue. Then he
amazed me by asking: ''What would
you do with her?"
II would put her on her parole Of
honor not to escape, and let her do as
she likes within the limits of the planta-
ton"
ga spy! parole!"
elf you will parole her, general, Twill
be responsible for her with my head"
'You would lose your head"
I am natural gambler; it is many
year since have staked penny, but at
that time I was considered the best
poller-playcr in the brigade.
81 will wager" I was beginning.
"No, no, lieutenant; I'm not in the
habit of gambling with my staff, and on
such a subject. Take her parole not to
escape or aid the confederate cause, and
I hold you responsible for it's keeping.
If she breaks it, will dismiss you from
my staff, try you by court-martial for
neglect of duty, and enforce the sever
est penalty the court will inflict."
"Done," cried. 81 Iaccept the terms"
Iwent straight to the house, and in
few minutes was with Miss Beach.
II have an important announcement
to make to you. The general has decid-
ed magnanimoisly to take your parole
to put You on your word of honor to
do nothing that will aid the confederate
cause, or to escape"
I pronounced the words with some
thing of iloursll-for l was delighted
as we'll as proud to have accomplished
the feat of gdining the generals assent
to my plan--and waited for her reply.
She stood for awhile looking down at
the floor in deep meditation.
"It is not the generals magnanimity
that grants this parole; it is yours"
"That doesn't matter. Even though
may have suggested it, the general is
still the one to act. In order that you
may understand his generosity, I must
remind you that the ordinary course to
pursue in the case of a spy caught as
YOU have been is to try him by drum
head court-martial and hang him at
sunrise the day after trial.
''Is that the way it's done?" she
asked, blanching.
| SIT is"
"What am I to do?"
I sat down at the table and wrote:
"T, Margaret Beach, in consideration
of being relieved from confinement un-
der guard, promise not to aid the con-
federate cause or attempt to escape"
She seized the paper eagerly, read it.
and signed it with impatient haste.
Her action impressed me With the sus-
picion that she only wished to get q
chance to save herself by flight. But
treat; indeed, were it not that shranli
from her disgrace, 1 would have hoped
she would go. took the paper to the
general, who declined TO read it.
AS 1 turned to leave him l remem-
bered that / had had no opportunity 1o
speak of having again seen the face at
the window.
General, little circumstance oc.
CURED to-day which suppose should
report"
"What is it?'
CT saw that face again."
"When?"
During the fight I got turned
round"
"Was it your horse that was turned
or is it your head that is turned?"
"I got turned round,'' went on, color,
ing, but repressing my anger, "and
looking up at the house, saw the face
"Indeed!'
In the single word he contrived tc
throw world of irony. "You have not
told me-" he added, whether his face
belonged to an old man, young man
or boy"
''To tell the truth, general, I couldn't
tell you whether it was man or woman
There was curl of the lip that would
have made me insubordinatc had
dared to he SO. "Lieutenant," he said
"have you ever had any severe illness?'
'No, general"
"Any accident? Did you ever fail
from your horse and light on the top o1
your head?"
"No, general"
"Well, if I hear any more of that face
I'll send you north on an indefinite
leave to recover your health in gov,
ernment hospital. You may 60"
I turned and left him. For the first
time it occurred to me that perhaps
after all, the face at the window might
be the creation of my'own fancy.
I selected good man and directed
him to occupy the room had slept in on
the night of our arrival at the planta.
ton. He was to go there after all were
asleep and remain awake all night. II
anything unusual occurred he was tc
call me. 1 chose room on the second
floor, and, after the house was still
went upstairs and to he'd.
My room was at the front of the
house. I could hear the burial parties
still at work, and see through a window
the flare of the torches on the leaves OF
the trees. The mystery of Margaret
Beach, the uncertainty of her fate, had
by this time so excited my brain that ]
could not sleep. No sooner would
drop off than n volley outside would
awaken me, and the knowledge that ii
was fired over some poor fellows grave
was by no means conducive to the re.
turn of slumber. However, oblivion
came at last.
At midnight was brought back tc
consciousness by the man had placed