The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-03-08


herself over and over 1--WE are mere
friends =" Mere friendsi' she used as
the watchword to pass the gates Of fir
tation. and for the rest OF the evening
she made Kendall happy and Stanley
wretched, and herself-well. she was
intoxicated with the wine of retaliation
and was radiant
II Will go home with Mr. Kendall if
you want to pack your field kit or to
get little sleep. she told the latter.
Stanley determined not to desert his
post. He would do his duty to the end
this once and never more
My kit Is packed. and do not ex-
pect to sleep tonight So. unless it is
your wish to dismiss me. shall re-
main. He was aggIessiveiy civil
Certainly. if You like" Miss Mere
dith said. 'but mean to stay until
the end. have the dance before the
last with Mr. Kendall. and can't mics
it. Stanley assured her that 1t was
lmmaterial to him if she chose to re-
main until daybreak; that he was en-
tirely at her service
But Miss Meredith did not remain
until daylight. At o'clock she went
home and sat in her room at the win
dow looking out into the night. There
was not sonnd in all the world. The
mountains rose, deeper shadows against
the shadowy sky. The stars twinkled
and glittered above the silentsgarrison
She could see quite plainly the barracks
across the parade ground. and there
was not light in any window Even
In the quarters of her fathers troop
there was no sign that the men were to
be marching at daybreak, and still from
the silence rang in her ears as they had
rung in the music's strains the bitter
words. "Mere friends. and still before
her eyes rose the picture Of those two
as she had seen them when she had gone
on her bare arms to shut it out. and for
long. long while che did not move.
When she looked up again. the bar
racks were gone and the black pile Of
the mountains was not to be seen. Over
all the land was tho darkness which
comes before dawn. and in her heart
was a hopelessness as blank. How dark,
how inky the night had growni It must
be very late. She was cold. but she was
not tired She would wait now until
morning In little time the house
would be astir. She must breakfast
with her father. She put a heavy cape
about her shoulders and went back to
the window. BY and by she heard some
one moving A match was struck in the
next room and a ray Of light shone
through the blinds There were heavy
footsteps that tried to fall softly upon
the stairs Every one fancied her asleep,
no doubt. A man came out from the
front door and went down the line She
could just zee the black figure in the
blackness for q moment. then it was
lost. and she only heard the echo Of
quick tramp on the board walk. By and
by the man came back again and into
the house. Her father opened her door
softly and tiptoed into the room.
II have staid up to take breakfast
with you. she hastened to explain.
''In ball gown. he said
AFTER or before o'clock it is cor
rect. she told him gayly.
STANLEY will be here" he said.
''For breakfast7'
''Yes gen. MoriaTty down TO mis-
quarters to ask him just now. It is half
past A. We will be ready in ten min
utes >
He went out, and the girl looked
sgain into the darkness, which grew
thicker before the dawn. "Mere
friendsl' Well, she would meet him as
a mere friend. She would have it to do
often enough in the dull future It
might be best to begin at once.
The tinkling of silver bell came to
her. sounding weirdly through the
night. and out of that night emerged
another figure It ran up the steps. and
the front door opened and closed She
drew the cape around her shoulders and
groped her way out Of her room. through
the hallway. down the stairs A candle
was burning in the lower hall She
went on into the dining room. A quar-
termaster's lamp sent out the uncertain
light that lamp always gives in the
early morning Her mother was pour
ing the coffee Her father and his firet
lieutenant were already seated. The
lieutenant rose.
'Good morning again." he said
cheerfully. He was too much filed with
remember his injuries. "You reproach
OuI BdImcutS WAtn tuo splcuuOE u your
attire. but our mission is to march on
to victory and not to be beautiful We
can only hope you will excuse us"
Certainly. and will even be so
gracious as to wish that the contrast
may prove seasoning to your bacon.
There was roaring fire in the great
fireplace. andashe threw back the cape
from her shoulders Her neck and arms
ehone white, and the lights glittered on
her hair. From the crown of her head,
with it's wilted flower. to the torn ruffle
Of her skirt she was in sad disarray
But Stanley thought her very beautiful.
and memory came suddenly back to
him
They talked gayly. for all that they
were quite unhappy Then Moriarty
the striker. reported that the first SER
geant was at the door and would like
to see the captain. The captain went
D-k c,,H h,o 60 fo11orua1 1Sv,,