The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-13
CHAPTER III.
rNCOGNITO.

These kind people with whom I was
lodged persisted I'm considering me always
I'm danger. A doctor must needs be at all
times within reach. stripping OF n.
medical graduate must sleep in the same
room with me, the old gentleman was
constantly coming into the room TO ask IL
I wanted anything while his wife was as
tender and motheriy as II ! had been
her own SON. Even the servants We'd
with each other In waiting on me. and
when anything was ordered for me with
haste unusual to the negro they scram-
bled to see which one would bring II.
Only the girl who had brought me there
came and went as though i was an Or
d1nary person with an ordinary wound. to
be treated IN an ordinary manner.
All this attention and sympathy vex-
ed me beyond measure. What right had
I to ac,ept it,. Tennesseean. In arms
against the south. In search of a Confed-
crate enemy7 Yes. and more was ] not
the bearer OF information that would en-
able the hated Yankee 10 swoop down on
this fair region and reclaim II for the
Unionf The least suspicion OF my true
character would turn the devotion lavish
ed upon me TO contempt My very life
would be in danger. Poohl What cared i
for my life, except that ! dreaded to go
TO my long home detested by those who
had succeeded me. Besides. the informa-
ton possessed Information OF vital I'm
portance 10 the Union cause-must be car
ried northwsrd.
A crisis came soon enough. II was
evening, and I was reclining on my sofa
looking out upon the beautiful hills lying
to the eastward. The girl with the cool
head and impassive face was standing by
table rearranging books and bottles and
what not which had been In use during
the day Suddenly the door opened. and
my host entered. I saw at once by his ex-
haA NJ N
put him on his guard, or perhaps he had
been thinking. wondering what kind OF
person he was harboring. AZ any rate. he
came up and. drawing chair beside me,
began 10 talk. II was plain that he wish
ed TO ask me questions, but he was too
kind. too generous TO one In my condi-
ton, too hospitable, TO ask them direct
".
THE doctor tells me. Mr."-he began.
Upon my word, you have been with us
three days, sir. and We don't know even
your name"
''Branderstane. John Branderstane,,
am equally ignorant to whom / am In
debted for all this attention"
"Our name is Stanforth. sir. This Is my
daughter Helen. Mr.. Branderstane."
Helen inclined her head slightly, and
I raised mine far enough from the pillows
TO do the same
''Mr. Stanforth." said--there was graf
ituQe DOtn IN my voice anu III my YVES
whoever bears your name may hereafter
call upon me for any service, You have
placed me under an obligation which
Tut tut! You know our southern GUS
toms--we are nothing II not hospitable.
You are a southern man. OF course?"
"Of course" / spoke the words hesitat-
ingly.
your state7"
Tennessee"
East, middle or west?"
East"
Mr.. Sanforth paused. There was no In
formation as TO my sentiments In the fact
that / hailed from east Tennessee. More
than two-thirds OF the people Of that sec
ton were with the Union.
May ! ask sir" said my host, with
evident intention OF ending all doubt In
regard TO the side with which was af-
filiated, ARE you Union or Confeder-
ate sympathizer?
was about to declare myself an ardent
supporter OF the Confereracy when my
little friend Ethel, who had visited me on
the day was shot, appeared In the door
way. her blue eyes looked straight into
mine. Had my intended falsehood been
rammed back into my throat with the
butt OF revolver il could not have been
more efrectually stopped Then something
impelled me 10 turn my glance TO Helen.
She was about to pour liquid from
vial into a glass and had paused, her eyes
fixed on me intently.
MIR Stanforth" i said, you and your
family have been too kind for me TO de-
ceive you. / will not do that but IL would
not serve my purpose to declare myself.
You are an honorable man. SIR who
ever and whatever you are"', exclaimed