Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-18

you?" he cried. "Ah. how fortune has blessed me with her smile this morning in directing me hither and permitting me to renew an acquaint- ance so delightfull", He raised her hand to his lips as he spoke with gallantry of which few were greater masters.
 Jane swept him 8 deep courtesy, while an ironical smile played about her lips. q feel honored that Col. Bessemer should remember me-" she remarked.
 "Remember you2 As though I could forget you," he exclaimed in a low tone. "Your image is engraved too deep upon my heart for that It is true, I had forgot-nay, I could never have known, for 1t would be impossible to forget aught which concerned you-that your home was in this vicinity, and to come thus unexpectedly upon you is the hap piest moment of my life"
 The cynical smile did not leave Jane's lips. She had listened to Col Bessemers fiowery speeches before; yet she was a woman, and she could
 
 she was saying to herself, "I wonder how many women he has spoken to thus since I met him last in Phila- delphia?" -..- ---.
 But permit me, dear lady, to have the honor of presenting my officers to you" He turned towards those who had accompanied him as he spoke. They had remained in a lit tie knot around the door while he was greeting Jane, and about their mouths reflection of the smile her lips had worn. They also had seen their commander kiss the hands of beautiful women, before, and while they could not hear the speeches he poured into her ears, they could i'm agine somewhat the purport of them. The breakfast was a good one, for the plantation was large and we'll looked after, and there was always enough in it's storehouses to feed a regiment. There were great plat ters of broiled bacon and chicken fried in that delicous style which has descended as a heritage to the south from those colonial days; there were venison steaks and sugar-cured ham; there were plates piled high with golden-brown biscuits and hoecakes: there were the syrup of sugaf-cane, l and berries fresh from the garden beds; there was an abundance of milk and cream and butter; there were coffee and tea-all set off with the brightest of silver and china that had been brought from over the seas and was wen-nigh priceless, so prec- ious that none but the hands of the mistresses of the house were allowed to wash it. ,E A bountifuT, attractive repast, and one the British officers were in mood to enjoy to the full; nor were they minded to be interrupted at it, yet such was destined to be the case, for, as-they sat at table, volley of shots was heard and great commo- ton ensued.
 Bessemer and his companions sprang to their feet and rushed to the door with such impetuosity that 1 it was we'll the table was the stout piece it was, else it must have been 1 overturned in the excited jostling. Outside, the soldiers. who had been lolling at ease upon the ground eat | ing the rations they carried, had started up and stood at attention. Bessemer, red with excitement and full of energy. as was his wont, or dered his horse and, jumping into the saddle, clove the air with quick commands. Into this confusion there dashed single horseman clad in the blue-and-yellow continental uniform. Jane, standing within the broad side-porch, watching the scene with interest and not little curios- ity to know the cause of the tumult, turned pale when her eyes fell up on him. '...
 Surrounded by redcoats, who were bringing their muskets to their shoulders to fire, the horse1nan swept the lines with his eyes, saw a thin place in their formation. spurred his horse towards it, and lifting the ami mal until 1t seemed to literally spring over the heads of the astonished soldiers, dashed forward, not forget ting, as he passed the porch where Jane stood, to lift his hat and wave his hand.
 The girl, with white face, strained her eyes to gaze after him as he disappeared in the cll1np of woods to the left of the house amid a Etorm of bullets.
 1 CHAPTER II. ~ l