The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-11-17

had forced this flower upon nm. Snc
would hardly have done sc had she
been conscious of it having SO serious
an import. Yet what was the secret.
of her manifest agitation? \ sudden
inspiration flashed across his mind; Il
smile came upon his lips. She was
in love!, The enelny's line contained
some signing young subaltern with
whom she was In communication-and
for whom she had undertaken this
quest. The flower was their language
of correspondence. no doubt. 1t ex-
planned also the young girls animosity
against the younger oiicers-his adj
versaries: against himself-their COM
mander. He had previously wondered
why-!f she were indeed %spy-she had
not chosen-upon some equally spec
ious order from Washington - the
headquarters of the division COM
mander, whose secrets were more val
liable. This was explained by the fact
that she vas nearer the lines and her
lover in her present abode. He had no
idea hat he was making excuses for
her-he believed himself only Just. The
recollection Of what she had said
of the power of love-albeit it had hurt
him cruelty at the time-was now
clearer to him, and even seemed to nit
igate her offense. She would be here
but q day or two longer; he could
afford to wait without i~nterrogating
her.
But as to the real intruder-spy or
thief-that was another affair. n
quickly settled. He gave an order to
the officer of the day peremptorily for
bidding the entrance of alien servants
or slaves within the precincts OF the
headquarters. Anyone TINS trespas=
sing was to be brought before him. The
officer looked surprised-he even fam
mulatto woman's figure had evidently
not been thrown away upon his sub
alterns.
An hour or two later, when he was
mounting his horse for a round of in
spection, he was surprised to see Miss
Faulkner. accompanied by the mulatto
woman, running hurriedly to h house.
He had forgotten his late order until he
saw the latter halted by the sentries.
but the young girl came flying on re-
gardless OF her companion. Her skirt
was caught in n hand, her straw hat
had fallen back in her flight, and was
caugt only by a ribbon around her
swelling throat her loosened hair lay
in a black rippled loop on one shoulder.
For an instant Brant thought hat she
was seeking him In Indignation at his
order, but a second look at her set face;
eager eyes and parted scarlet lips
showed him that h had not ever no.
ticed him in the concentration Of her
purpose. She swept by him into the
hall; he heard the swish of her skirt
and rapid feet on the stairs; h was
gone. What a h~appened-or was this
another OF her moods?
But he was called to himself by the
n =. - I -, ~ - ~ ,,-n .pt ~ ~ =, - hl .1E
fore him with the mulatto woman-the
first capture under his order. She was
tall, well formed. but Enthusiastically
showing the negro type, even in her
small features. Her black eyes were
excited, but unintelligent, her n
logged, but with the obstinacy of half
conscious stupidity. Brant felt not only
disappointed, but had q singular i'm
preston that she vas no the same
woman that he had first seen. Yet there
was the tall, graceful figure. the dark
profile and the turbared head that he
had once followed down the passage by
his room.
Her story vas stupidity simple. She
had known missy from a chile! She
had just trapsed over to see her that
afternoon; they We're walking together
when the sojers stopped her, She had
never been stopped before. even by
"patter rolIers.''. Her ole massa MAN
ly) had glib leaf to go see Miss Josey,
and hadn't said muffin about no Or
.ders."
More annoyed than he cared to con-
fess. Brant briefly dismissed her with a
warning. AS he cantered down the
slope the view of the distant pickets re-
called the window In the wing and he
tarned in his saddle to look at 1t. There
1t was-the largest and most dominant
window in that part of the building
and within 1T, q distinct and vivid OBJ
ject, almost filling the opening, was
the vaEe of flowers which hi had a few
hours ago removed, restored TO its
original position. He smiled. The hur-
ried entrance and CONSERVATION of Miss
Faulkner was nov fully explained. He
had interrupted some impassioned mes
sage, perhaps even countermanded
some affectionate rendezvous beyond
the lines. And it settled the fact that
1T was h who had lone the signaling.
But would not this also max her cog
infant of the taking of the dispatch
box? He reflected, however. that the
room was apparently occupied by the
mulatto woman; he remembered the
calico dresses and turban on the bed;
and 1t was possible that Miss Faulkner
had only visited 1t for the purpose of
signaling to her lover. But the circum-
stance did not tend to make his mind
easier. 1t was, however, presently d.
verified by an unlooked-for incident.
AS he rode through the camp a group
of officers congregated before a large
mess tent appeared to be highlyamused
by the conversation-half monologue
and half harangue-of n singular-look-
ing individual who stood in the center.
He wore a 'slouch hat, to the band of
which he had impaired a military Dir
by the addition of Il gold cord, but this
brin a caught up at the side in q
peculiarly theatrical and highly nrtif-
cial fashion. A heavy cavalry saber de-
pended from a broad buckied belt un-
der his black frock coat. with. the adj
dition. of W revoivers. minus their
holsters, stuck on either side of the
buckle, after the style OF stage SNUG
glers. A pair Of long enameled leather
riding boots. with the tops turned
deeply over, as If they had once done
duty for the representative Of a cav
alier, completed his extraordinary
equipment. The group We're SO abb
sorbed in him that they did notperceive
the approach of their chief and his
orderly. and Brant, with a sign to the
latter, halted only a few PAGES from the
central figure. His speech was u singu-
lar minslins Of high-fiown and exalted
cpfthets and !nexact RECOMMENDATION
with occasional lapscs of western slang.
We'll. / amt %purtendin' TO n
st~ratutegical smartness, and / didn't
eradicate at West Point as one of
these Ap%ochryphat engineers: I don't
do much talking about flank move
ments or 'recognizances in force or
'Ehellcn skirmishing,' but when it
comes down to square Injin ightin'.
1 reckon / kin have my say. There are
men who don't know the army con-
tractor" he added. darkly, who mebbe
have heard of Red JIM / don't mem
ton names, gentlemen, but only the
other day q man that you all know says
to me: II I only knew what you do
about scoutin' / wouldn't be wanting
for information as / do. / amt going
to say who 1t was, Or break any ccn-
:1deaee between g~entlemen--by saying
how many stars he had on his shout
der strap. but he was a mar who knew
what he was saying. And I say ag'in,
gentlemen, that the curse of the north:
ern ARMY Is the want Of properscoutin.