The Republican journal., 1903-01-29
A WAR TIME LOVE STORY.
From Gouverneur New Novel, "Aladdn O'Brien"
BY GOUvERNEUR MORRIS.
Copyright, 1902, by The Century Co..

cose fashion. His general desired to
make remark to another general and
writing it on a piece of thin yellow
paper, gave it to him to deliver. He
rode off to the tune of axes,-for
Maine regiment was putting in an hour
in undoing the stately work OF hun
dred years,-trotted fifteen miles peace
fully enough, delivered his generals re-
mark, and started back Then came
night and sticky mist. Then the impos-
sibility of finding the way. Aladdin rode
on and on, courageously II not wisely,
and came in time to the dimly discernl-
BILE outbuildings of a Virginia mansion.
They stood huddled dark and wet IN the
mist, which was turning to ram, ana
there was no sign of life in or ABOUT
them. Aladdin passed them and turn
ed into an alley Of great trees. BY look,
ing skyward he could keep to the road
they bounded. AS he drew near the
mansion itself a great smell OF box ana
roses filled his nostrlls with fragrance:
But to him, standing under the plllafed
portico and knocking upon the door,
came no word of welcome and no stir
of lights. He gave it up in disgust,
mounted. and rode back through the
rich mud to the stables Had he looked
over his shoulder he might have seen a
face at one of the windows of the house.
He found door of one of the stables
unlocked. and went in, leading his horse.
Within there was a smell OF hay. He
closed the door behind him, unSaddled,
and fell to cropping about in the dark.
He wanted several armfuls of that hay,
and he couldn't find them. The hay
kept calling to his nose, Here [ am,
here | am;" but when he got there, 1t
was hiding somewhere else. 1t was
like a game of blindman's s-butf. Then
he heard the munching of his horse and
knew that the sought was found. He
moved toward the horse, stepped on
rotten planking, and fell through the
floor. Something caught his chm
violently as he went through, and IN
pool of filthy water, one leg doubled
and broken under him, he passed the
night as TRANQUILITY as ii he had been
dosed with laudanum.
Aladdin came to consciousness IN the
early morning. He was about as SICK
as a man can be this side OF actual
dissolution, and the pain in his broken
leg was as sharp as scream. He lay
groaning and doubled in the filthy half
inch of water into which he had fallen.
About him was darkness, but overhead
a glimmer of light showed Jagged and
cruel hole in the planking of the stable
floor. Very slowly, for his agony was
unspeakable, he came to realization
of what had happened. He called for
help, and his voice was thick and utl-
resonant, like the voice of drunken
man. His horse heard him and neighed.
Now and again he lapsed into semi-un
consciousness, and time passed without
track. Hours passed, when suddenly
the glimmer above him frightened, and
he heard light footsteps and the cackl-
ing of hens. He called for help. In
stantly there was silence. ltcontlnued
a long time. Then he heard a voice
like soft music, and the voice SAID
"Who's there?"
A shadow came between him and the
light. and the fair face that was darken-
ed looked down upon him.
For Gods sake take care, he sad.
Those boards are rotten
You re Yankee are MT YOU: SAID
the voice, sWeetly.
'.Y es," said Aladdin, ''and I'm badly
hurt"
The voice laughed.
Hurt, are you?" it said.
Il think We broken my leg said
Aladdin. Can you get some one to
help me out of thls?"
Reckon you re all right down
there" said the voice.
Aladdin revolved the brutality of it
in his mind.
DO you mean to say that you re not
going to help me?" he said.
Help you? Why should 1?'
Aladdin groaned, and could have Kill
led himself for grOaning.
'If you don't help me- he said, and
his voice broke, for he was suffering
tortures, 'Ill die before long,
A perfectly cool and cruel "Well?"
came back to him.
you won't help me?"
''No."
Anger surged in his heart, but he
spoke with measured sarcasm.
Then" he said, twill you at least do
me the favor of getting from between
me and Gods light? If die, l may go
to hell, but I prefer not to see devils
lhis side of it, thank you"
The girl went away, but presently
came back. She lowered something to
him on a string Il got it out of one
of your holsters she said.
Aladdin fingers closed on the butt
of revolver.
III may save you d certain dlHOullt VI
hunger and pain" she said. when
you are dead, we will give it to one OF
our men, and your horse, too. He S
beauty"
Il hope to God he may began
Aladdin.
Pretty" said the girl.
She went away, and he heard her
clucking to the chickens. After time
she came back Aladdin was waiting
with plan.
Don't move," he said, cor you'll be
shot
''Rubbishr' said the girl. She leaned
casually back from the hole, and he
could hear her moving away and cluCk-
ing to the chickens. Again she return
ed.
"Thank you for not Shooting she
said
There was no answer.
Are you dead?" she said
When he came to, there was bright
light in Aladdin's eyes, for lantern
swung Just TO the left of his head.
Il thought you were dead, said the
girl, still from her point of advantage.
The lanterns light was in her face, too,
and Aladdin saw that it was beautiful.
won't you help me-" he said plain
lively.
'Were you ever told that you had
nice eyes?" said the girl.
Aladdin groaned.
49,