Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-05
CHAPTER XXI.

MARY AMMAN LEARNS THE TRUTH.
 %%AARY AMMAN had changed
 ME greatly in this period. With
 out surrendertng single con-
 viction, where she had de spised, she admired; where she had hated, she respected; where she had thought she had forgotten, she remem- bered; where she remembered, she lovedl Yes, she was still devoted to the youth and would cheerfully have died for it. She had many time longed that she were man to draw a sword pg carry a musket in defense of hen country. She would not have hesitated a moment between love and duty, she thought. but she had come to realize that, while duty may restrain, it is,, liter ail, love that makes the supreme appeal And the outward and visible shape which that supreme appeal took before her he&rt was not that of Oar row, to whom she was betrothed. but If Payton, mvhom she had rejected. She loved hint Tn spite of her pride, an spite of her cause. in spite of her will, h spite Of everything, she loved him!
 No one in Mobile had heard from 6oyd Reytpn since that day hs dropped But Of their existence years before. But shs had loved him with growing inten- sity ever since. To be sure, she had en- gagged herself to Darrow. She had per- suaded herself in his presence that she pouid do tt with safety, she had tried Do blind herseaf to the truth, and she had elung to that engagement with desperate tenacity during the interven- Ing years. But her eyes were opened, and she realized all too soon that the he binding her to Darrow was merely pne of honor and respect.
 It was pity that this was so, for DHrrow had shown himself most ad- had been placed. He had developed grandly. From major of his regiment be had risen to the command of an Alabama brigade, and in all the des- perate fighting of the Army of North ern Virginia he had borne a splendid and heroic part. The state rang with praise oe the young paladin. Alabama was proud of him; Mobile rejoiced to claim him.
 There was something quixotic yet admirable about the young mans posi- kion on the subject of home coming. Mary Amman had promised herself to him when the war was over and he could come home victor, and until that time arrived he had promised to let her alone. He would do it. He would keep that promise If it broke his heart Like Uriah of old, he believed his place to be in the battle line.
 Frequent letters had come to her from him as the exigencies of his service permitted. Quaint, charming letters they were, too, manly, modest, humorous in way, through them run ming the clash of arms, the echo of moving squadrons, the roar of battle, and all of them carrying to her the deep and mighty current of love and consecration of his great, devoted heart. She was the master theme in all the voices the crowded years played in his soul. Without her he was noth- ing, one of thousands as brave and strong as he With her he was hero. The realization of that fact had kept her to her engagement He had scarce < " gone before she wished it broken.
 Darrow was no less admirable than Peyton. True, he had not been com pelled to make any such sacrifice as the other had, but he had done what he conceived to be his duty with a direct simplicity that was admirable. But what Of all this? It was noth- kg If paEroM had heen lowered