The San Francisco call., 1903-12-27

: and tired Of the whole business-the
war. the South, General Beauregard.
l Fanny Glen. everything. everybody!
Suddenly he heard footsteps. the clank-
ing of a sword. a word or two ex-
changed between the sentry and a new
t conner in the corridor. Some one turned
the handle Of the door. 1t was opened.
Sempland instantly stood at attention,
t then folded his arms with great dignity.
expecting, OF course. to confront some
one sent to fetch him to the opening
session of the court. General Beaure-
gard was remarkable for his promptness
and celebrity, and he had declared that
the young man should be tried imme-
diately He had wondered already at
the unnecessary delay. But no stern
featured, dIgnif1ed official presented
himself. instead OF which Sempland's
astonished gaze fell upon the small fig
ure Of a woman.
The door was instantly closed and
locked behind her without a word OF
explanation from those outside, and the
two were alone in a locked room for the
second time in twenty-fOur hours.
There was a difference in the situation
that morning, although the man did not
know it. On this occasion Fanny Glen
He could not see her face, as her veil
still remained down, yet there was no
mistaking ner form. Indeed ne felt
that had it been midnight he would
have recognized her presence. His
heart leaped within his breast at the
sight of her He thought it beat so she
might almost have heard il in the per-
feet silence that had fallen between
His fire
ward her and take her in his arms once
more. Above all his troubled conclu-
sions OF the night before the recoIlec-
tion of that instant when he had hsld
her so closely still remained dominant.
In her presence he almost forgot every
thing but that. Yet he looked at her
impassively for a moment, bowed
slightly, then turned and walked de-
Hberately to the other end OF the room.
resuming his station at the window
looking out to sea.
She had an excellent view of his hack
The beating of his heart did not mani
fest itself outwardly after all To her
gaze he appeared as impassive, as quiet
as motion1ess. as if he had been cut out
OF iron like the grated bars. It was a
most unsa usfactOry beginning to what
must prove an important interview
They played at cross purposes indeed.
he mad sacrificed himself to save her
she had sacrificed herself to save him
and here they were both prisoners an
parently and things were as unsettled
as ever.
Poor Fanny Glen was infinitely
more surprised at the sight of her
lover than he had been at the sight Of
her. Not until she had fairly entered
the room and the door had been
closed behind her had she realized
that she was not aIone-that he was
there. She stood rooted to the SPOT.
waiting TO see what he would do. Had
he followed his first impulse, which
would have been to sweep her to his
breast he would have found her un-
resisting submissive, acquiescent. The
kiss which had been given her last
night still trembled upon her Inns. II
was for the taking, she was his for
the asking.
There was something very sttra..-
tive, after all, in her possible MARTYR
dom which gave her not a little COM
fort. She was surprised that Semplar.d
had not been Immediately summoned
to the generals presence when she had
been put under guard. She supposed,
however. that the delay was due to
some military technicality, and she
imagined that the next moment would
see him called from the room in her
presence. And she would be lef.
alone. most miserably, forIornjy alone
to face her fate
Being a martyr is certainly a fine
thing. but the position loses half fts
charm unless people know it. To
complete her melancholy satisfaction.
he-and he considered himself the
martyr, not she-must recognize II.
If he would only turn and speak to
her. This silence. this immobility, OH
his part, was Unbearable.
She coughed gently and took step
or two across the floor toward nan.
He gave no sign that he heard ner.
How cruel he was, So despotic so
determined. so masterfuI, She aborn-
mated a masterfuI man. She couEhed
again, and this time a little more en-
phaticaIly. Still no attention 1t was
discourage
There was a small mirror upon the
wall OF the room. Her eye, IN accord
ance with an instinct feminine, fell
swiftly upon 1t. She lifted her veil
to see how far the experiences she
had gone through had affected her
most potent talisman.
"Heavens!" she thought, what a
frighti''
To take OF her hat was the work OF
a moment. Her swift, subtle fingers
busted themselves with her rebeIlious
curls. Another glance reassured her a
little. She felt more confident She
coughed again, but as before. he did
not move.
Mr.. Sempland," she said softly at
last in sheer desperation.
He turned on his heel as suddenly as
IL he had been moved by a spring and
faced her. He had been longing for a
chance to recede from his position.
Miss Glen" he answered with de-