The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-10-15
CHAPTER VIII.
AS THE DANCE WENT ON.

WILL
AS THE DANCE WENT ON.
He drew aside pretty Peggy Win.
ston, who was the occasion Of the
dance. DO you know aught," he
asked, "of a person by the name of
Godfrey Wcrthington?"
godfrey Worthington? Oh, yes,
nave known him all my life. Why,
he and Jane are sweethearts. Have
been for years, though they do say
her mother does not approve the
match, and was most glad when he
espoused the rebel cause that she
might have excuse for forbidding his
coming here. Did you not know that
you nearly captured him once? 1t
was last May, when you stopped at
James for breakfast. He was COM
ing to see her then, knowing, I sup
pose, that her father and mother
were from home and thinking it a
good opportunity to press his suit.
He was almost up to the house be-
fore he discovered your soldiers" :
Bessemer's brow grew black. So
this was the young brave who had
given him such q turn that fine
spring morning?
"'Twas just like Godfrey" the
girlish voice went on. "He is ever
doing daring things. 1t is for that
Jane loves him most, 1 think; though
he is handsome too-oh, so hand
some! I have heard it whispered
often that Jane is no less a rebel at
heart than he, but that she keeps it
concealed to maintain peace with her
~stepmother and Edward" -.
I'm truth, dear lady,, Bessemer an
swered, "methinks report doth most
grossly wrong Mistress Jane. None,
I am sure, could be more loyal than
she." But he ore himself away with
some troublous thoughts running
through his brain.
lie sought an early opportunity to
secure Jane by himself. "Come,
sweet MISTRESS" he said, 'and take a
stroll with me. I long to see if I
cannot brighten away that pensive
look upon your lovely face. What
solemn thoughts have been playing
havoc with your gayety to-night?"
Jane looked at him in some sur
prise. "Have I not been gay??" she
asked. 81 thought I had. I know of
no excuse for solmen musings un.
less, indeed, it be the solemnity of
contrasts, and, in truth, 1 could not
but think, as I watched this beauti.
full scene which you have conjured
for us tonight, what a medley our
life now is. This afternoon, from
my chamber window, I saw you take
past our house the prisoners you had
captured. Such sad, weary-faced
men they were, many Of them sorely
wounded and scarce able to walk
My heart bled for them; yet here to.
night We T. in the midst of music
and dancing, and they within a
shot Of it all. How cruel, how heart.
less it must seem to them"
"Methinks, madam" Bessemer an
swered, with a sheer born of his &C.
cumulated irritation, though policy
warned him Of the unwisdom OF
showing it, "methinks you show
most wondrous solicitude for these
rebels; and what think you I have
heard tonight? That you are one
at heart" i.
A merry look spread over James
face. If she could but keep hin
fencing with her upon the subjec1
of tory or rebel, she might prevenr
him from preaching the other sub
ject she dreaded, for she was not yer
prepared to say whether or not sht
would marry him.
"And SO you have found me out?'
she cried in mock dismay. "Ah, col
onel, what punishment will you met,
to me? Am I to be carried a cap
tive on II of your prison ships nov
lying in Charleston harbor? The,
say they are most unpleasant place.
to reside in. Or am l to be hung, o,
what??' MD.
Bessemer looked down at her, tn,
gravity of his face softening befor'
the sparkle in her eyes. 81 do no
know" he said, what punishment
could be great enough to mete on
to n who %withdraws so precious al
ally from the kings cause; however
with your permission, fair lady, w,
will leave that most serious question
for future consideration. Tell IN,
rather what you think of the sue
cess of my plan for keeping in goo'
humor tory %friends? Think you no
this entertainment will make til,
ladies wish the harder that we nigh
remain ~victors instead of those I'm
mannerly rebels and inspire OH
s~ympathizers among your neighbor
with renewed ardor? Come, swee
! enemy, give me your opinion"
Il doubt not you III right, col
onel," she answered saucily. "Me
5 thinks I have heard that it did indee,
. tax the fertile. brain of your genera
| and yourself to hatch schemes TO
keeping in line your tory allies; bu
my Aunt Susannah says such is eve
the handicap of a bad cause. Th,
enthusiasm of its followers, lackin.
| the fuel of Righteousness, soon smoul