The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-17

out TO the gallery. Just as / starte'
down the walk Ethel appeared. with Gu
rious eyes, and l paused TO take he
up and give her a parting kiss. l cas-
glance at Helen. There was intens
interest In her face, but among so man.
emotions | could not discover which pre-
dominated / went with the soldier
down 10 the gate, where / found m
horse. and, mounting, cavalryman oi
each side OF me. rodo away with th'
troop.
We proceeded up the pike for shor
distance, then, crossing the railroad
track, struck road which bent 10 th'
east.
Captain" l said. II don't like Tho
diection you are going IL your inten
tions were not murderou5, you would
take me 10 Huntsville and examine into
the charge against me. 1t appears thai
you are taking me into the country &c
dispose OF me-"
81 am on my way TO join my squadron
near Brownsborough. sir, where yo' vii
have an opportunity TO face yo'r accuser
II yo' are innocent. yoll have no trouble
Yo' can enlist in my company"
Thank you. Do / look like a mar
who would go begging for commits
sion?"
II beg yo'r pardon. sir" And he lift
ed his hat apolosetically.
/ had retained my GOODNESS thus far,
but l confess did not like the situation.
AS a southern man. used TO southern
people, / felt a certin confidence. yet II
II were known that / was Union Of
icer l would be put out OF the way
without benefit OF clergy. Who was
the man who had informed against me :
What did he know? The more
thought about IL the more intense be-
came my anxiety. Suddenly l looked up
and saw white tents. i knew at once by
the looks OF the camp that 1t contained
one OF two companies OF cavalry There
was a railroad bridge near by, crossing
what l knew to be Flint river. and
judged that the cavalry was guarding &
this bridge.
had forgotten my unluciSy wound and
was intent on the camp when, passing
under overhanging branches. stiff
bough scraped my arm. and / felt at
once that IL had been injured 4 told
the captain of my fears. and we halted
10 make an examination. Taking of my
coat. there, as / expected. was stain
OF fresh blood on my shirt sleeve
"Yous needn't trouble yourself TO muir
der me-" / remarked. THAT wound is
better enemy than all my others to-
Eether."
The captain cast glances about him
for a house. He had no intention of
numbering me or being party Indirectly
to my death. While he was making n
survey OF the surrounding country ! was
twisting my handkerchief above the
wound.
Can you get to that plantation?" he
asked
l looked up and saw large manor
house about half mile distant, with
its Ranking rows OF negro huts
Il can try it,"
We mounted and rode on and In a
few minutes passed into the gateway be-
tween imposing stone posts, proceeding
by a winding way TO the house. l was
glad 10 dlsmount and get inside the spa
cious hall out OF the sun. There l sat
down on an old-fashioned haircloth ma
nogany sofa.
A numbere OF white and negro children,
who were playing together as contented-
ly as II the pickaninnies were not the
properly of their fair skinned playmates,
stood gaping al me- A slim man with a
determined mouth, at the corners OF
which were marks Of tobacco tuice--he
turned out TO be an overseer-and equal
ly thin elderly woman. whom had heard
addressed as Miss Pinkley, and quad
room girl made up the group. i was Sit
ting with my head resting against the
sofa back, weak and despondent. Sudden
ly down the great winding staircase
came n young girl with a shapely petite
figure, pretty oval face and an olive
complexion, from which two almond
shaped eyes flashed at me and the group
about me with the quintessence Of aston
ishment Running her words together In
way peculiar TO herself. she asked:
whats the natter"
THE gentleman's bleeding from n
wound in the arm, Miss Jack, said the
quadroon girl
''Who is he? What is her Is he going TO
die?" She fired the words as II they were
bullets.
"Jacqueline," put in the elderly lady
called Miss Pinkley, don't ask so many
questions at once" Then she went up
stairs. remarking that she would bring
her smelling salts.
81 don't think I'm going TO die Just
yet" said. smiling encouragingly at the
young girl whose interest ] had excited.
II received n wound n few days ago and
have had very bad luck with II. Anything
that hits me never fails TO strike the ten
der spot"
why don't you lie DOWN. Cynthia, go
get pillows"
Cynthia, the quadroon girl was engag-
cd at that moment trying TO drive away
the children and did not at once obey.
Cynthia, go get pillows!" repeated
Miss Jaqueline, stamping her foot.
1t occurred TO me that this young girl
possessed an unbridled disposition. Gym
thia, who was doubtless used 10 her mis-
tress' way OF speaking. went for the pill
lows, and when they arrived Miss Jack
made me lie down, whether l would OF
not. and covered me with shawl
sprlnkling me all the while with such a
warm shower OF devotion that. despite
her irate order TO her maid, she quite
won my heart
Looking out through the hall door.
saw a fat man bestride a lean horse, with
, saddlebags. wiping the PRECIPITATION from
his face and riding mp TO tho galley. II,
dismounted and entered. putting FOL
breath. and proved 10 be country doc
tor. Putting on a grave face, he examine,
my wound critically and made great adj
at dressing and bandaging IL. then deliv
| cred the usual admonition. He departed
leaving mo lying on the sofa. Miss Jacl
beside me- ministering to wants that wer
not wanted devising schemes 10 meet re
quirements that were not required. Sud
| denly the two guards attracted her at
tention. They had been In the hall eve
since my arrival but had not until thi
moment excited her antagonism.
ex~N. a