The sun., 1903-02-15

She marked the soft infection OF his
speech. suspicion crystallistng In her
mind.
al spy! You're Rebel spyi-
He quivered beneath the lash OF the
word :,
Don't" he pleaded amely. ID mt
call it that. We call it secret service.
The boy stood before her with bowed
head; he seemed very young. most untit
for y perilous mission Presently she
queried, her tone still one Of loathing 80
How did y9g get in' How long nave
Il came in last night, TO escape the storm.
The kitchen door wa unlocked, you KNOW
The Yanks moved sooner than l was look
ing for" He faltered ut went on: They
mighty nigh caught me; must nave s;w;ns cnasr' nst
SO slipped of near here and sent him on,
He smiled at the recollection OF the trick'
You must CO.
His look was an appeal. ,,,,
Instantly she commanded 'or III
rouse the house"
IF I'm caught-and can't escape now
you know what II means2'
They will kill you for a spy. Her
voice was harsh and cold
They'll shoot me-" he said simply
you deserve II" 80
-Do your Yankee spies deserve it?'
She turned upon him Indignantly,
"How dare you!" she hamd. How
darr you ask mc 10 be traitor to my coun-
try? Who are 70 what are Sou.LyoII !.
your life to me compared with the wenar
of my country Go! Are you coward as
well as a spyf'
I'm no coward In h,rc-l reckon you've
said enough; III 60. His voice shooK
SLIGHTLY.
Lilo seemed to him most sweet, Just IN u
h, had seen 40 little OF ii. hnd PLANNED to
do so mu h 'hlt was great and noble. 10
be cut "a now He saw hinfen
as h.. hid seen so many ohnrs; . r"ns n.
most still - Oh. wcll at lcas, h
could die like man.
Hr drew himself toce,her, his hand pm
n, doorknoo. tn din outside came veiy
loudly to his car. And now, from far IN
boom- boom OF cannon. .,
The battlc's on" he cried his tore thrill
ayou are here spying! whom you might
bc fl ,,hting with your regiment.
Don't say any more lam gong now
He paused with hope in mis- cycs.
She had Undergone a swift revusloh
of feeling There hid come oetora rd hr
bro,h her in like position. But 'h,n Fred
would never be a spy. But II h were Or
dered' Would h. not hive TO do as hn
supcriors IN ought best Her own
brother h ii for a spy!
you to your death, even II you are Rebel
.I'd ra,h,r CO." hc told her proudly
@,han stay dospised." 80.
-Bu, but what can you expect. sir!
4But--Oh considerl Can't you under.
stand that I'm doing this for tho love OF
my country. my people. Our cause IL as
real to us. believe me, az Ia yours TO you.
You Y9u,why you'd d. do inv any,h.ns yG,,ls Tor your
-You Yankees don't seem to comprehend
that we of the South are fighting Tor things
"a sacred to us As you hold yours our
homes. our mothers ard sisters. our tights
Il am not spy because ! want to be be On, a9,I
a Cotton. and the Coltons are known a.
gentle men. But | would do worse, were
il necessary and called upon!'
He stopped short, trying to control him-
| self. He had not thought TO defend him
self; he had not tried to justify his course,
but he wanted Il Is sirlto understand. Some,
how it seemed worth while that she should
be made to understand.
.Then YOU dicin't-do this because you
| wanted to?- she breathed softly, with
| sonnet hing very near to an eagerness in her
aNo; but I volunteered. I had to, you
| see. They called for a volunteer, and no
one else answered. So had to-
| And they let you go?'
-Of course
But you're only a boy"
aI'm i9-old enough to die, | reckon.
| an and not to be missed much. I'm only
| a Second Lieutenant you know, but they
| promised me Captains commits sion
| Not be missed? Isn't there any one
who cares for youI No mother. no sisters!
| NO, no mother. I've sister, but mother
| she's gone
| the tears that file q his eyes she did Zee
| him turn away to hide them and heard the
| 1uavcr in his voice Motherless herself. the
| girls heart went out 20 he boy.
| Pm so sorry" she said. tendcrlv.
| Thank you"-wiIh gulp thai sen the
hot f.sh OF boyish shame to his checks.
We'll, | better he going now.
| Wait, and III slip down stairs and Se'
you something TO eat. You're hungry
| aren't you?"
VERY. / haven't eaten since yesterday
afternoon. I've been busy, he eooed,
| smi,ingiy.
| Pro mise me you wont run away:
NO fear oi that But, remember. YOU are
furnishing aid ara to Stn eneny c,,!cd p,
| the door and looked back with Just the
| slightest touch Of coquetry, You are
| prise ner of war. You are my prisoner,
| But when the gallant words cam" 10 hls
| lip she was gene.
| n, began to pacc The Aoor in,pGtiently.
| his blood as fire in his veins. O, hat he
| might lie Wonder. even in tn. thick OF the
| fight with his command rather than here
| III safety-and CO ged!
| How long sne was' Whit II shN should
play him false? He pau'"d. frowning, and
| dug I'll. hiids d ep Tito hi. pockets. Ten
| he s,ni"d. ne saw hcr again a. sEe hid
| stopped tncre AZ N door to s'y, You are
| my prson"r,'- dainty, bewit' hing, a per-
fection Of girlhocd
| A CLEAN Of white in tho N ,dow or The
sofa cauth' his eye h'r h1ndker hicf.
! Ho stopped and picked IL ur. holding it
| gingerly in his hand. wondering al it's sheer
| texture. damp w|h hNr recent fcarS.
Poor little girl, Whit could have made
hr so ui.hlppy? A swceth"ar, gone to
| II. front? Some wor, hlcss Yankee. doubt.
| loss. He felt extremely vindicivc toward
| HIS imaginary lover.
| Then QUICKLY. and wi h )ut pramed' alton q,
| h raised the hNndker, hef TO his lips. He
hardly was conscious of whlt h had done
and he questioned not why. but stood spell
bound Ivy he subt le fragrance. tho dcsire.
| When n" looked UP again, rous"d by nor
| ont rance. he saw hrr beside The door. ono
hand still on inc knob. the other aoldine a
| plate heapcd wit n food. nh" was pa lc ard
| shaken, trembling, her breath coming IN
shor, gasps. hor eyes wide and terrified
| Fc dropped his hand to mis- side. crushing
| the hi, Of cambric in his palm.
Quick" she cried. you must hurry.