Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-08-24
CHAPTER VIII.
AS THE DANCE WENT ON.

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ston, who was the occasion of the
dance. DO you know aught,'' he
asked, ''of a person by the name of
Godfrey Worthington?"
Godfrey Worthington? Oh, YES. I
nave known him all my life. Why.
he and Jane are sweethearts. Have
been for years, though they do saw
her mother does not approve the
match. and was most glad when he
espoused the rebel cause that she
might have excuse for forbiddinU 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, l sup
pose, that her father and mother
were from home and thinking it
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 a 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, l think; though
he is handsome too-oh, so hand
some! ] 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 =,
In truth, dear lady," Bessemer an
swered, 'methinks report doth most
grossly wrong Mistress Jane. None,
l am sure, could be more loyal than
She" But he tore himself away with
some troublous thoughts running
through his brain.
he sought an early opportunity to
secure Jane by himself. Come,
sweet MISTRESS he said, land take a
stroll with me. l long to see if 1
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 l not been gay?" she
asked. 81 thought [ had. l know of
no excuse for solmen musings UNI
less, indeed, it be the solemnity of
contrasts, and. in truth, / could not
but think, as / watched this beauti-
full scene which you have coniured
for us tonight, what medley our
life now is. This afternoon. from
my chamber window, | 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 are in the midst of music
and dancing, and they within ear
shot of it all. How cruel, how heart
less, it must seem to Them
"Methinks, madam Bessemer an
swered, with sheer born of his ac-
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"
merry look spread over James
face. If she could but keep him
fencing with her upon the subject
of tory or rebel, she might prevent
him from preaching the other sub
ject she dreaded, for she was not vet
prepared to say whether or not she
would marry him.
"And SO you have found me out?'
she cried in mock dismay. "Ah. col
onel. what punishment will you mete
to me? Am 1 to be carried cap
tive on one of your prison ships now
lying in Charleston harbor? They
say they are most unpleasant places
to reside in. Or am [ to be hung. or
what:''
Bessemer looked down at her. the
gravity of his face softening before
the sparkle in her eyes. Il do not
know he said, what punishment
could be great enough to mete out
to one who withdraws so precious an
ally from the kings cause; however.
with your permission. fair lady, we
will leave that most serious question
for future consideration. Tell me
rather what You think of the sue
cess of my plan for keeping in good
humor tory friends? Think YOU not
this entertainment will make the
ladies wish the harder that we might
remain victors instead of those un-
mannerly rebels and inspire our
sympathizers among your neighbors
with renewed ardor? Come. sweet
enemy, give me your opinion"
Il doubt not you are right. col
onel, she answered saucily. she
thinks have heard that it did indeed
tax the fertile brain of your general
and yourself to hatch schemes for
keeping in line your tory allies: but
my Aunt Susannah says such is ever
the handicap of bad cause. The
enthusiasm of its followers. lacking
the fuel OF righteousness, soon smoul-