The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-16

~ a " III CAAO " us
obey orders?
L neg your pardon a thousand times" he
cried. jamming the pistol into his pocket.
You are a brave gentleman and 1 am q
fool. Take me where you will; I'll go like a
lamb. You'll admit, however. that it is ex-
asperating to be going in the dark like
this"
1T is a very good thing that it is dark, -
said the soldier, quickly. The darkness is
very kind to us. No one can see US and we
can see no one"
L should say not. 1 haven't the ~faintest
idea what you look like. Have 1 seen you
at the castle?'
Yes, frequently"
Will you tell me your name?'
"You would not know me by name"
Are you an oficer?'
mo; / am new to the service"
Then I'll see that you are promoted. 1
like your staunchness How old are you?"
II am-er-twenty-two."
"Of the nobility"
my father was of noble birth"
Then you must be so. too. 1 hope you'll
forgive my r~udeness. I'm a bit nervous. Won
know"
II forgive you gladly"
"Devilish rough road, this"
"Devilish. 1t is a mountain road"
That's where we were, too"
Where who were?"
"Oh, a young lady and 1, some time ago.
1 just happened to think of it"
ut could not have been pleasant"
"You never made a bigger mistake in
your life"
"Oh. she must have been pretty, then"
"You are right this time. She is glorious
Pardon me. They usually are in such
adventures
b Jove. you're a clever one!'
Does she live in American"
That's none of your affair.""
"Oh!' and then there was silence be-
tween them.
"Inquisitive foolg' muttered Gren to him
self.
Fer some time they bumped along over
the rough road. jostling against each other
frequently. both enduring stoically and ST
lently. The rain was still falling, but the
thunder storm had lost it's fury. The craeh-
ing in the sky had abated, the winds were
not so fierce, the night was being shorn of
it's terrors. Still the intense, almost suffo-
eating darkness prevailed. But for the oc
c%asional touch neither could have told that
there was another person on the seat. Sud
denly Lorry remembered the lantern. II
was still lit with the slide closed when he
threw it on the seat. Perhaps it still burned
and could relic the oppressive darkness
if but for a short Ir.ne. He might, at least.
satisfy his curiosity and look upon the fac,
of his companion. Leaning forward he
fumbled among the traps on the opposite
seat.
81 think I'll see If the lantern is lighted.
Let's have 1T a little more cheerful II
here" he said. There was a sharp exclama-
ton. and two vigorous hands grasped hin
by the shoulder. jerking him back I'M
tremendously.
NO.! No! You will ruin ALL There must
be no light" cried the soldier. his voice
high and shrill.
But we are out Of the city"
Il know! 1 know But I will not perm,,
you to have a light. Against orders. We
have not passed the outpost expostulated
the other. nervously.
What the matter with your voice?"
demanded Lorry. struck by the change in il.
My voice?' asked the other. the tone,
natural again. Its changing. Didn't il en-
barrass you when your voice broke like
that?" went on the questioner, breathless-
ly. Lorry was now leaning back in the
seat, quite a little mystifed.
II don't believe mine ever broke like
that. he said, speculatively. There was no
response, and he sat silent for some time
regretting more and more that it was so
dark.
Gradually he became conscious of a
strange. u~naccountable presence in that
dark cab. He could feel a change coming
over him; he could not tell why. but he
was sure that some one else was beside
him, some one who was not the soldier
Something soft, and delicate. and sweet
came into existence, permeating the dark
ness with its undeniable presence. A queer
power seemed drawing him toward the
other end of the seat. The most delightful
sensations took possession Of him; his
heart huttered oddly; his head began to
reel under the spell.
WHO are you?" he cried. in a sort of &C.
stasy. There was no answer. He remem-
bered his match safe. and with trembling
eager fingers drew it from the pocket OF
the coat he was wearing. The next instant
be was scratching a match. but as it nared
the body Of his companion was hurled
against his and a ruthless mouth blew out
the feeble blaze.
"Oh. why do you persist?' was cried In
his ears.
Il am determined TO see your face" he
answered. sharply. and with a little cry OF
dismay the other occupant OF the carriage
fell back In the corner. The next match
drove away the darkness and the mystery.