The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-08-14
ICONT1NUED.l
CHAPTER Ill.
A DEFINITE OBJECT.


my room one morning shortly after the
accidental reopenng Of my wound. My
impatience was not without cause. |
had gone south, as have said. with
two objects-to find my enemy and TO
gather Information. | had failed In
finding my enemy, but had gained n
complete knowledge of the points es-
sential TO the capture of north Ala
bama and was carrying II to the gen
eral on the day / was shot II had oc-
Cured to me before setting out that,
after finishing my military mission, |
might still wish to continue my search
for my enemy. Besides, there were
other contingencies, such as arrest or
Illness, which needed to be provided
for. | had therefore arranged that the
generals favorte scout should be at
Huntsville on the morning of the 1st
of April to receive any communication
i might find II necessary to transmit.
II were prevented from meeting him,
l was to send messenger and had de-
vised n code of signals by which he
might be recognized. The appointed
day was drawing near, ! was not able
to keep my appointment, and there was
no one at hand to whom I could in
trust the message.
chafed till had exhausted my small
store of strength. then threw myself
on my couch. Little Ethel came In
and, like soft ray OF sunlight break
ing through stormclouds. turned my
thoughts into gentler channels. She
held In her hand bouquet of flowers
which, II was easy to see. she intended
for me, but needed encouragement TO
offer. finally induced her to do so
and TO admit that she had been out
long while looking for them for me es-
pecially. tried to unloosen her
tongue, to induce her to coniide In me,
but In spite of all | could do she re-
malned shy. and there was ever present
that awe she had shown before of one
who had taken Il life.
"Why do you look at me In that way"
I asked.
She made no reply. casting down her
eyes at my brown hand. which held her
dimpled fingers.
"You mustn't dread me because am
obliged to fight" | continued. These
are wartimes. There are great many
soldiers In the land who think nothing
OF killing one another"
Don't theyT' She raised her eyes.
wide open with surprise.
"Of course war is cruel. but-but 1t
calls out much that is noble"
when they kill each otherT'
What puzzling questions to come
from such untutored lips! l was cast
ing about for some explanatory reply
when sudden interruption relieved
my embarrassment. A negro boy dash
ed into the room. through 1t and out
OF another door. He was followed by
the white boy l had noticed on the day
Of my arrival. who was screaming:
"Doggone yo'. Zac: I'll break every
bone In yo' consarned black bodyw
The words were scarcely out when
fugitive had vanished. Little Ethel
looked after him with frightened eyes,
evidently dreading catastrophe.
''Who's that" asked.
"Buck."
"Your brotherT
"Yes."
"Don't be alarmed. That's only a
boys passion. II won't amount to any
thing"
''He says such dreadful words"
"That's habit. He doesn't mean any
thing by It. But it's habit that should
be broken"
l soon got her quieted, and she pratt
tied about her dolls. her playhouses.
some pet rabbits and nook in the gar
den where she kept them. How slngu-
lar that war. which absorbed all about
her. should have no place In her mind.
Amid all the turmoil, the rumbling Of
cannon. the tramp OF men and horses,
bushwhacklng, skirmishing, battles.
this innocent little maid was strangely
out Of place. Her mother came in pres.
entity and took her away, fearing that
she would annoy me. was loath to
part with her. No healing balm had
been applied to my wound so soothing,
so grateful. as was her prattle to my
fevsred brain and chilled heart.
They had scarcely left me when
Buck stalked into the room, his boyish
fAce ~ free from passion rs IL he had
never been ruffied. He had made sew
eral attempts to visit me. notwithstand-
ing that he had been forbidden the
room. Seeing the coast clear, he slip
ped In unannounced and began fire of
questions.
"Does 1t hurtr'
my arm7 Yes. It hurts some"
I'm glad yo' plunked him"
"Why do you sympathize with me In
stead Of the otherf You have only seen
me Z few times"
This was too much for him to ex-
plain. could ses that he had conceIv-
- IN admiration for me. but he could
1T tell why.
'What did he try to kill yo' for be
<1r5eA
.Gs!l es.haps 4 wsssscsuss 1 my sz'