Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-10-04
copyright. 1893. BY J, P. Llppneo.. cAl

general to keep the secre1'1rom you
She did not encourage me in my self
excusing; she was silent.
Don't you?" I asked.
'No; I 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 religiously 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
I saw him walking back and forth, oc-
casionally swinging his arms to keep
himself warm. I selected round root
of tree for q pillow, wrapped myself
in my blankets, and tried to sleep. But
the ill-humor was in prevented. Added
to the cause which had produced it
was another. Ihad given Margaret my
blanket, and was covered by one I used
under my saddle. During my rest it
was constantly question whether I
should endure the cold or the odor Of
horse.
I finally got some sleep, and when
PUNK called me at 10 o'clock I 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. have always had
an especial friendiness for the moon.
Tonight its round face seemed to have
an amused quizzical look on 1t, 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; II
you had watched as many men fooling
women as I 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. was especially anxious
to keep awake. But I was young, and
the young need plenty Of sleep. With
out great care would drop away In
spite Of myself. soIwalked and swung
my arms and occasionally ran q few
yards till I felt tired, then sat down on
the ground and fell to thinking Of the
probable uselessness Of our expedition,
''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
I'M" tree tops kept rustAng-"and
our watching''-a thin cloud sailed
lazily over the moon-"and our march
ing" This was the last word; slum
Der came before I could repeat an
other.
dreamed that I was up in tree
clinging to branches tossed by the wind
held on till sudden gust loosenet
my grip, and I was about to fall
| when
A hand grasped my shoulder. Opsn
ing my eyes. blinded by the rising sun
looked up. There, directly over me
were the stern face and steel-gray eye,
Of the general.
"Do you know the penalty of sleepinl
on post2"
Twas too dazed to reply, but sat star
ing 1t him, wondering II he had no
come up through The bowels Of tn
earth.
II will tell you," he added. sit i
DEATH"
l made an effort to rise, but his gri]
was on my shoulder and held ns down
Where is your guide?"
I'm the cave, general"
Are you sure?"
"Tn stake my life on It,"
He took his hand away and stake,
to the cavern, while I rose as quickl,
as my joints, stiffened by cold, woul,
permit, and followed him, entering ID
rectly behind him.
Great heaven! Margaret was no
there.
"Fool!" he muttered, oontemptu
ously.
II left her here" I exclaimed. I'M,
God! where could she have gomez"
"Gone? To betray you"
1 started to give him the lie, but hi
glance and movement of his hand L
his sword-hilt told me what the mu
tinous word would cost me, and re
Trained.
Where did you come from, general7
From the plantation"
"What for?"
"What for2 Am to explain my act
to my subordinates? Well, under tn