The Jersey City news., 1902-08-02

an enormous turban, Aunt Martha,
with her $50 pounds of flesh, deemed
herself chaperon for princess.
Honey" said the old creature, "ef
yo' ma AMT to kslow nothin' bout dis
business wild de cap'n yo' can't go till
10 o'clock. BY dat time ole miss ii be
snoozin' away in her bed, an we can
crope away unbe,znownst.
every well, Aunt Martha"
can, honey, faint nothin' wrong
what we gwine do, but to keep meddle-
some folks from taikin' yo' better wear
thick VEIL"
By 10 o'clock the stiffness Of night
had settled down upon the little coun-
try town, and the young girl crept out
of the gate with her faithful attend
ant and glided along through the dark
est and least frequented streets toward
Captain Adams quarters. If her heart
continued to throb as tumultuoCsly
when she arrived in his presence, she
feared that she might not be able to
tell her errand.
When they reached the barrack, they
were stopped hs sentinel.
"Halt" said the soldier. "Who comes
there"
Mary Edgewood's heart almost stop
ped beating, and she could not utter
sound. That she would be halted by a
sentinel had never occurred to her.
"Who comes there, say?" repeated
the soldier.
Somebody to see dc cap'n,' said old
Martha, stepping forward in front of
Mary.
"Who is it?'' said the sentinel, still
barring the way.
sMr. Soldier, we don't want no fool
ishness," said the old negress, swell
ing up as only negro can. "It's a
lady OBJ de quality what's got pressin
business wild de c,p'n."
"Who is this lady Of quality?" per-
sisted the sentinel.
Look a-hyer. Mr.. Soldier man, it's
de lady OBJ quality what nussed de
cap'n when he was sick an brung
him back to life, an if yo' don't let
her pass yo' gwine git yo'se'f in trou-
bic. yo' sholy is.'
The sentinel laughed and gave way,
and as the young girl and her attend
ant passed him he politely directed
them where he said they would find
the captain.
Adams did not occupy his Office in
the evening, but the room across the
,1r.01
that morning during the officers ex-
animation of Black Jake. This apart
ment, though far from luxurious in it's
appointments, was fitted up with some
regard to comfort. 1t contained q pair
Of easy chairs, a lounge and q number
of rugs. The walls were adorned with
few good pictures and decorated
with several articles of bric-a-brac,
mostly of a military character. At the
moment Of Mary Edgewood's visit the
owner of the apartment was sitting in
one of the easy chairs smoking his
pipe and never dreaming of the great
honor about to be paid him.
Come in," he called out in response
to Aunt Martha's knock.
( 1t was his orderly, he tfio1ght, and
did not turn his head.
"Well, what do you want?"
Captain Adams began Mary
Edgewood.
The officer sprang to his feet as If
he were electrified.
Miss Edgewoodl" he exclaimed, and,
stepping quickly forward, he placed
chair. into which the young girl sanh
trembling from head to foot.
sThank yo, sab" said old Martha to
the captain, with courtesy; then.
turning quickly to her young mistress:
Thar-thar, honey, set right still an
reposc 80 SET. Dar amt a bit OBJ hur-
~, not a bit in de world.
Let me bring a glass Of water"
said Adams, hastily fetching goblet
Of ice waiter from an adioining ROOM