The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-11-23


the general
"Would not trust me-" she interrupt
ed, impatiently. A tear glistened in her
eye.
I 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 I did not; cast
a glance at the weeping girl, threw
up my hands" and revealed the whole
story.
II 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 it as we'll as the rest of us.
I think it 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.
mo; 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 Sc
cret from me-a VOW I reigiously kept
until was besieged by the next wom
an.
PUNK had gone on, watch at eight
o'clock, and when I went out from
the warm fire into the cold moonlight
l saw him walking back and forth, &C.
casionally swinging his arms to keep
himself warm. I selected a round root
of a tree for a pillow, wrapped myself
in my blankets, and tried to sleep. But
the ill-humor I was in prevented. Added
to the cause which had produced it
was another. had given Margaret my
blanket, and was covered by one I used
under my saddle. During my rest it
was constantly a question whether I
should endure the cold or the odor of
horse.
I finally got some sleep, and when
PUNK called me at - o'clock shook
myself awake and turned out to assume
my watch. The moon, which was just
at the full, stood on the meridian, light
ing up the mountains, the valley, and
the river winding through the hills like
huge glow-worm. I have always had
an especial friendliness for the moon.
Tonight it's round face seemed to have
an amused quizzical look on it, as much
as to say: "That's very comical, your
letting her get your secret from you.
But don't worry over it, my boy; if
you had watched as many men fooling
women as have, you'd see that the
balance is on the other side.''
made up my mind to dismiss Mar
garet and the moonlight from my mind
and try to remember that had duty
to perform. l was especially anxious
to keep awake. But I was young, and
the young need plenty of sleep. With
out great care l would drop away in
spite of myself. So walked and swung
my arms and occasionally ran few
yards till I felt tired, then sat down on
the ground and fell to thinking of the
probable uselessness of our expedition.
1--WE have had our fighting and our
watching and our marching all for moth
ing" I muttered to myself I was get
ting drowsy. 1--WE have had our fight
ing"-the tree tops kept rustling-"and
our watching"-a thin cloud sailed
lazlly over the moon-"and our march
ing" This was the last word; slum-
Der came before I could repeat an
other.
| dreamed that l was up in tree,
cllnglng to branches tossed by the wind
l held on till sudden gust loosened
my grip, and I was about to fall,
when
A hand grasped my shoulder. Open.
ing my eyes, blinded by the rising sun,
l looked up. There, directly over me,
were the stern face and steel-grav ewes
of the general.
DO you know the penalty of sleeping
on post?"
l was too dazed to reply, but sat star.
ing at him, wondering if he had not
come up through the bowels of the
earth.
Il Will tell you," he added. 1T is
DEATH"
made an effort to rise, but his qrir
was On my shoulder and held me down
Where is your guide?"
I'm the cave, general"
"Are you sure?"
It'll stake my life on it,"
He took his hand away and stalket
to the cavern, while rose as quickl,
as my joints, stiffened by cold, would
permit, and followed him, entering di
rectly behind him.
Great heaven! Margaret was no
there.
"Fool!" he muttered, contemptu
ouk!y: J.
left her here" I exclaimed. IN,
Cog! where could she have gomez"
"Gone? To betray YOU" .'
started to give him the lie, but hi
glance and q movement of his hand t
his sword-hilt told me what the mu