Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-17

ut tho west side Of the barn began slowly
revolving It was tight shut when passed
It. and Prince. ySss Old eoachmsn. came me
quarters. candle H. Hand to see what was
| the matter. He a4Idf nobody had been in
the barn since suppeEs dme-no soldiers had
9:sa IL @ saar sasi sSs vss
to the Porter mapsaCn.' No. he was sure
they weren't soidfefA, they were Just gen
tiemen,' he said Observe the distinction"
nor was her mother, who leaned forward in
her easy chair.
"Rut-the door?-what made itf' asked
the younger sister. and there was anxiety
WHO knows?'' satd Winn prince didn't
wish to explore-thought 1t might be ha'nts.
I took his lantern and looked IN. Nothing
there but the big carriage and the little
cart-nothing that could open the door. 1t
was your voice that7did 1t, don. you seer
The shrill. long-dtawn melodies Of the
tattoo had ceased The last echo OF the
rolling drums had died away and InGraham,
listening with only 'half-hearted interest to
the conversation, was suddenly aware OF
blight football behind him. Mrs. Langdon
had risen and joined the major and her
younger daughter at the vine-framed door.
A lamp was burning low in the big, old
ia shioned reception room or parlor. the dim
light shining at the curtained windows, but
the broad southern hallway was dark, and
Irgraham, turning his head and peering
into it's depths could see nobody; yet foot
steps, light, cautiousJ perhaps even steafhy.
he had heard beyond possibility Of a doubt.
What was that story Rex had heard while
he was convalescentin Notwithstanding
the President had said the day OF his visit
something about Winns being in worse
danger now than ever before because Miss
Alice had a jealous lover In the southern
army who was barely a dozen miles away?
Rex had treated 1t as camp gossip. He re-
| called Winn's asking him a few days since
whether he had ever seen Mr.. Premier since
that night at Wizards. Then VIM had
| told him later of Frenier's being an old
friend of the LangdOns' household. and that
Premier at the east side Of the stone bridge
in the midst of the hurly burly and retreat
after the battle. He had told him more,
that he believed Blunt and Premier both re-
manned there and had purposely Joined the
triumphant southerTers. Now. could 1t be,
thought Rex, that Premier was the south
ern lover the President had referred to-
and that Winn was In danger because of
might say, of Alice Langdon-because of
this and Premier? And all this time, these
three or four lazy. ianghd, selfish days, he
had been absorbed in his own chagrin and
fOrgetful OF his faithful comrade, Of Alice,
of anybody but himself and Editha, who
had spurned him.
And then Agatha Langdon's voice was
heard again in front, as she joined the trio
at the steps
Where do you suppose Blonde was7''
said she. I'm the cellar under the dining
room. He must have gone down the out
ward steps, and the lower door swung to
behind him." .'' -
That's where he was scouting then,
while 1 went back toward the barn and
Princes quarters" said VIM. Now, it is
after taps and time for me to get this in
terestlng invalid ,hadk to bed or the doctor
ready. Rex?' ''7'7|
Rex had been ready few moments be-
fore. Now he felt an odd but imperative
desire not to leave lust vet. and temn0rizpd
He would SO like. he said. to hear one song
again. even though Its title was a broad
hint to be Off. Would Miss Alice please sing
"Buenas NochesTh 1T was the first time
he had ever asked her or had shown es-
pecial interest in her music. Agatha look
ed In surprise and mute reproof at her
sister as the latter falterngly took the
guitar from the hands Of Maj. Winn and,
with unmistakabie tremor in her voice.
began. ii
Then all eyes turned toward the gateway
where stood the waiting ambulance, for
some one was coming swiftly I'D the gravel
walk, and an orderly was leading two
horses into the open moonlight, on Tie
farther side Of the lane. 1t was an officer.
a stranger to the household, but not to
Winn-an aid-de-canp of the brigade COM
mander, a classmate Of Rex at Columbia.
he who had so recently been active in In
grahams affairs. The song stopped sud-
denly at the clink of the spurs. Rex hoist
ed himself slowly from his reclining chair.
Winn stepped quickly forward.
What is It, Carden?" asked he knowing
full well this could be no social call.
Read that. muttered the aid, az he