Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-04
BY CYyrf>s Tos,nser1d BradI
Author of "Wsvsn With ahe Ship" 'HohenxoIlern'' ..s.>-.s "Ths. .luibercn TOuch." Etc. ....
Copyright 1908, by Cyrus TOpnssnd Brady

Until then you-we-wiII wait. I prom ise you on my word and honor, the Amman word, the honor of southern woman, that I shall be yours at that time-Robert."
 How sweet the unfamiliar name sounded in his earl
 ' My dear my dear," he cried, you send me away with such a hope in my heart, such an incentive before my eyes, as will make me a paladin of valorl And you have made me selfish too. shall fight now not so much for the south as for you"
 .No," said the girl; s'the land, our dear land, first of all"
 Nothing, nothing,' protested Dar- row vehemently, ''shall be first but you. And now, having won you, I must go''
 He stopped and looked wistfully at her.
 Take off your sword" she said soft ly. "Unbuckle it and hand it to me; the belt too.''
 Wondering, he complied with her re. quest.
 <, t.Now, stand there, stiN."
 As she spoke she circIed the belt about. him and clasped the buckle. Then she drew the sword from the scabbard and kissed blade and guard and then sheathed it and hooked it to the belt.
 'sNow. have girded you,' she said, @and you are my knight, mine and the south's."
 He was very close to her then.
 Mary" he said interrogativ and, not waiting for an answer, he swept her into his arms and almost crushed her against his breast.
 She struggled feebly, turned her head away, but he caught her cheek with his hand and before she knew it turned her face toward him and pressed a passionate kiss upon her lips. It was the second time a young man had kissed her.
 Before she could cry out or make re- sistance or utter a word he had re- leased her and rushed from the room. That kiss brought her to herself. It awoke the sleeping truth in her heart It was not like the other. There was agony in the thought. Must she be the slave to a passion for a traitor tn neY CCuESyyT was sne 10 break the honest heart of the young soldier who had gone from her full of hope and joy and elatfon? She swore in her soul that she would not She would make him happy. Yet, for all that, she laid her head in her hands and sobbed and sobbed as only a broken hearted woman can.
 The music in the streets called her to her senses again. As she had done on that never to be forgotten night, she resolutely dried her tears and opened the window and stepped upon the gallery. The soldiers were making a parade through the town before they marched away. They were far up the street now. The music came to her eaintly. The band was playing tDix- ie," tune which had thrilled and was to thrill half a continent with It's in- fectious melody and which was to be enshrined in southern hearts until the day of judgment should come.
 Presently the music stopped, and the cadence was kept up by the rattling of the drums. They were nearer now. The streets were full of people, black and white, richs and poor, high and low, cheering and shouting madly. It was sunny, brilliant afternoon. The lights sparkled upon the bayonets, flashed from the brass buttons gleam. ed on the officers swords. There was the regiment itself, some of the com panies already uniformed in the then unfamiliar Confederate grag, and fols