Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-07
CHAPTER xxIv-Continued.


Edithe had begun to know before ever
they reachedx Havana that her growing
aversion toward Burnham was deserved.
Then came the episode Of Chalmers pub
lie accusation and affront: then the home
coming, the riots Of July, the speech he
never dreamed that she would either hear
or hear of-the speech whose manuscript
he claimed to have lost or left commence
ment day at the academy. Later he saw
that it was such an eloquent, stirring, pa
.trtotio thing to have at his tongues end,
and he memorized SO easily, why not use
Ut? He did, and it was the last pound Of
evidence she needed
+ In her bereavement and desolation, she
knew that Rex Ingraham's abrupt depart
ure, without word and at such a time,
meant that there was now gulf between
them that might exist forever. Well, she
deserved 1t.
Garden, coming back to the army in the
winter had much to tell. He had seon
Miss Raynor, he said, and she seemed
changed and older and very sad. She was
living quietly with the Satterlees at larry
town, to be near Mrs. Fairbanks, who
was in sanitarium of some kind" Wat
son was looking out for them. Burnham
had been writing begging letters from
Montreal but the secret and the class
had dropped him.
He was now major and A. I. G. at corps
headquarters, for the health of his own
general had broken down early this third
winter of the war and he had been sent
on diplomatic duty abroad Garden had
been to Brooksde, and Dallas had returned
from New Orleans on leave, because of
his sisters intirm health. THAT fool Ere
nier" had been exchanged and was re-
captured within a month, mixed up again
in some way. with that backyard Blunt"
and now Stanton was making 1t hot for
Premier, and the Langdons We're much wor-
ried. Frenier'S one topic of talk, said Car
bar ,bar
eyes, was Alice Langdon and her cold
ness to him who adored her.
Premier, in explaining Chalmers adven-
ture at Brookside, said he had found the
major in Washington; that he knew that
Chalmers and Agatha had been devoted low
ers; then had become estranged, and that
Alice was unhappy because of her sister S
sorrow. A brilliant idea occurred to him.
lie would bring Chalmers to Brooksde
There would be reconciliation, bliss. He
would appear as the good angel. Alice
would then, In access of gratitude and joy,
reward him, her adoring Edouard. He
demanded of Chalmers that he go with him
to Brooksde next evening, where Agatha
would meet him. Agatha would pine then
no longer. She so craved to see him. Chal
merS was inCredulOuS, but Premier insisted
Chalmers did not know of Frenier's being
suspected a spy. Premier led him, first.
to the barn-Whence they escaped just in
time to avoid Winn-then. by rear stair
way, to the upper floor. Then he had man
aged to her utter dsmay, to inform Alice
of what he had done, but before he could
see Agatha there came the provost marshal
and the soldiers. He had then been hidden
in a pantry in the wing where, after Chal-
mers' fearful leap, he had escaped without
a scratch, while Chalmers, deluded and in
nocent, striving to flee rather than bring the
inmates of Brookside to shame or suspicion,
had suffered for him.
Didn't the fool know Chalmers wife had
come to life again. asked Rex, gloomily.
Never dreamed of it,, said Garden. HE
was never, even before that episode, in
Chalmers confidence"
Again the cavalry rode breast deep
through the foaming fords and took the
old way into the wilderness. Again the
long blue columns fled through the forest
and Rex Ingraham drew rein at Burton 5
doorway; while the crash of Warrens vol
Ieys woke the ecrOes and almost drowned