The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-07
THE ADVERTISERS # # ?
 .x .e DAILY SHORT STORY.N


| LOW roo1. The entlre vine was now gorgeous mass of purple blossoms.
 Hurry! Hurry!" she breathed.
 He nodded reassuringly, and wal soon ascending the vine, hand over Swinging himself. lightly on the root he parted the purple mass and wa. presently concealed in its thick folds | And he was not a moment too soon The hoofbeats grew clear and distinct and then struggling party or horse men dashed through the screen oI shrubbery. Mildred was bending ovel the heliotrope, apparently unconscious of their approach. When she looked up she started violently. The leader was approaching her. hat in hand. He | was not in blue uniform, as she had expected. but in her own beloved gray And he was smiling at her with the pleased recognition of an old friend. T hope you will pardon my in- trusion. Miss Mildred, he said. depre- catingly, but is is a necessary for | mality the war forces on us. We are | looking for Yankee officer who slipped away from us this morning He came in this direction, and l think intends to make his way over the mountains to the Federal camp. near Charlottesville. Of course he Is not In the house?"
 ''No, he is not in the house." she answered. in a voice which she scarce ly recognized herself, so strained and unnatural was 1t.
 She felt an almost unconquerable inn pulse to point toward the wistaria; to tell him that the man was there. in their very midst. She had so longed 10 do something for her country to make some sacrifice, like her father and brothers were doing. Now here was an opportunity and she was powerless. The man had come to her assistance: had accepted her protec- ton; had bound her hands, to all in- tents and purposes. Oh. how she hated himl
 The young officer saw the trouble in her eyes and mistook its cause.
 'I am sorry we frightened you," he said gently. We ought not to have appeared so suddenly
 He replaced his hat with regretful difference and turned to his men. A few quick words of command and they rode away into the woods. She watched them depart with fierce self loathing in her eyes.
 Hardly had they disappeared when there was g. violent shaking of the wistaria. She did not look up. but she knew the Yankee officer was approach ing.
 Go! go!" she cried in fierce whis- per- T did not betray you, but it was hard-hard! If they should come back l can scarcely answer for myself. Why did you come to me in false colors?' Tt was not intentional" gravely. T assumed this coat as an aid to my escape. But l had no thought of leav- ing the shrubbery until l saw those men driving away your cows. l am sorry that fate has ordained we should be enemies"
 He raised his hat courteously, but she did not look up. A moment later he. too. disappeared in the woods.
 In another April morning. seven years later. Mildred stood gazing ab- sently into the valley. The ruthless years of the war had made many changes. The colonel and his son now went into the fields and labored steadily through the long days of planting and harvest. and sometimes 1t was a matter of grave import whether the years income would meet | the years expenses.
 She was aroused by a quick, firm step on the lawn. A careless glance, and ther she recoied involuntarily. There was more beard. and the face had become bronzed by long exposure to the sun; out she recognized the strong. commanding figure and kindly eyes. For an instant she felt a return of the old bitterness; then she noticed an empty sleeve pinned to his chest. and the past was forgotten.
 II am glad to meet you again." he said. as he held out his left hand. And as he felt her cordial grasp, and looked into her clear eyes, he KneW that she had forgiven him his share in the great drama. T did not anticipate the pleas ure of this meeting. although I have often looked forward to such a oossi- bility." he went on. after a moment T called twice to see Colonel Blair am interested in mining. and under stand that his land Is rich in man. ganese."
 Colonel Blair Is my father; will you come in?" She turned and led the way toward the house. He often speaks about his manganese land, but unfor- tunately lacks means to develop it t"
 "I think we shall be able to make some arrangement about that. If your father Is willing I w.ll bring up an expert to examine the land.'
 few weeks later it became general ly known that a rich capitalist who had already opened several mines in the mountains. had formed a partner ship with Colonel Blair to work his land.
 By the end of the year the mine was in successful operation' and it's pros perity assured. Then the capitalist went away. The people said that now the mine was started 1t would he left to the management of Colonel Blair and his sops; the capitalist had larger mines elsewhere that would require his attention. But three months later he came back and began the erection of a large mansion on the mountain side When it was finished there was a quiet wedding, and the peoples looks of wonder changed to satisfaction, and they said 1t was Just what they had expected all along. 'i'MsTANCEs, by F. c. Waltz.