The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-02
CONTINUED ]
CHAPTER VII.
UNDER THE TREES.

wondering over the future, when. in
passing through the spacious. shaded
grounds, he raised his eyes and saw the
young lady seated on one Of the rustic
benches scarcely 20 PAGES away
She was looking toward him and. &:
she caught his glance. nodded and a
most uncon>ciously made room fo7 him
a singular thrill stirred the officer a. !
he raised his cap. and, slightly quicken. |
ing his pace, placed himself az the side |
of the Young lady
a touch of summers softncSs lin. |
gcred in the air, hut the shapvlv shuul-
dcrs were infold"d in a light shawl and
the head covered 10y a hat trimmed hv
he' own hands with n taste that would
have won "A Compliment in Paris itself
She even carried Il paraSul, which was
folded, while she used the sharp point
TO dig the ground at her feet, some.
times Ey way OF emphasis and again
with no F@rpOS" at all.
After Il few words the young woman
said:
at seems inhospitablc, lieutenant.
after your brief stay with us fer me to
urge you to leave, but | am compelled
to do SO.
"Whcn | have received so much
kindness from your family, there can
bo no such thing as inhospitality on
your part.
"My words sound very like it How
else can they be cCnstrucd?"
She had begun gouging the soft
ground near the point Of one of her tiny
shoes with the lip of her parasol and
looked upward and sideways at him
with I. faint smile
1.-The motive must be the intcrprctcr
Your words are prompted by the same
feeling that led you and your mother to
extend hospitality when it was sorcly
needed "
The gentle face became thoughtful,
and after Il moment $ silcnce she said
in n lower tone
"Iou speak the truth. for ) III arc in
danger &"
''Such has been my situation from
tho first
But the danger has become immi.
nent Despite the care we havo used it
has become known that we are shelter
ing Union officer under our roof "
And thereby have placed General
Eldridge in II false position "
at is not THAI llo is too chivalrous
to object. in truth he would have been
displeased had wo failed in our duty
but there arc others who do not think
as he does.
mot Masters and Ackers?'
''Thcir treatment of you does not
warrant your distrust.
haste to apologize.
"lt does not. but they might be obey
ing tho orders of others. | understand
tAlat 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 >'r%rylcrs Some of them
are in this nciShhorhood "
''Thcy are and mean to pay II a
visit
but am already prisoner
'And yet confined in no prison.
The words meant a good deal Lien.
tenant Oakman felt that the most chiv-
nlrous enemy would have been justified
In objecting to the privileges he en-
joycd.
Miss Eldridge, could have carried
out my wish should have left this
lovely home several days ago"
She had resumed her gonging Of the
earth ut her feet, and for minute
seemed absorbed in the progress she
was making Then again she turned
her face sideways and asked with a
bright smile
"Why?"
The officer would have been spittcd
before telling all that was in his mind
81 am entirely recovered from my
wound and could have gone before this
Instead am in the unworthy position
of an ablcbodied soldier lingering in the
rear when his country needs the service
of every ono of its sons
She did not respond until she com.
plctcd digging n ragged orifico little
farther In front of tho hem Of her dress
Then. still surveying tho tiny pit. she
said:
mot your country. but your sec
ton.
''No, allow me--mine-your country,
for such it is and shall be to the end of
time
AA'" hittiy eouthclll SlIIS would nave
permitted these words to pass unrebuk-
cd3 To the majority. it would have
proved tho spark to the powder maga-
zine.
Suppose he had uttered them to Miss
Hartmann But no-the supposition
was incredible.
He was frightened by his own tcmcr.
ity and looked questioningly at her.
The gouging Of the pointed wood had
excavatcd u symmetrical orifico in tho
dirt. Several grains were flung over the
toe of the Cindorollaliko shoe She hirt.
"a them off and continued digging, as
It prompted by II definite purpose. Her
face was grave. but she remained 81.
lent.
"Have my words given offenseY'
asked the lieutenant with pang of self
reproach. while studying tho perfect
profile before him,
mo could not respect you were
your sentiments different"
What a superb creature she was-a
true daughter Of tho south and with
tho chi n lru of Golo6iu or ,uL,, x,,.,,, -, =.