Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-27
|N AXYIAD41
||y1 FHE HI IN NORTH D! |
Ky .@ss.@~1B7 RA"D'InARRlsH ~
RANDALL PARRISH

of the overwhelming masses of the enemy.
but 1 noted that the officers of the staff no
longer heSitated to voice frankly the pre-
valling sentiment that the vast and uu-
equal struggle was now rapidly drawing
10 It's close. No attempt was made to con-
ceal our weakness, nor to disguise the fact
that We were making last desperate
stand 1t was evident to all that nothing
now remained but to fold our tattered bat
tie flags with honor
Directly opposite me, at the long and
rather scantily furnished mess table. was
seated a captain of infantry. quite foreign
In appearance-a tall. slender man, wearing
a Hght-coiored mustache and goatee. His
name, as l gathered from the conversation,
was carlson, and l was considerably sur
prised at the fixedness with which his eyes
were fastened upon me during the earlier
part of the meal Thinking we might have
met somewhere before, / ransacked my
memory In vain for any recollection which
would serve to account for his evident in
terest in me. Finally, not little annoyed
by the persistency of his stare. l ventured
to ask, as pleasantly as possible:
Captain Carlson. do l remind you of
some one, since you regard me in
tently?'
The man instantly flushed all over his
fair face at this direct inquiry.
1T vas not dat Che almost stammered
in sudden confusion speaking quite broA
kenly), bot, sair, it hat come to me dat
you an insulter of womens an had
refuse TO fight nit mems. l know not; It
seems not So
| crediting my own ears, yet on fire with In
dignation.
II know not what you mean" I said,
! white with anger; But l hold you per-
sonally accountable for those words and
you shall discover that l will fight init
mems "
He pushed his chair hastily back. his face
| fairly crimson, and began to stammer an
explanation; but Maitland interfered.
What does all this mean. Carlson?'' he
exclaimed sternly. sit down. Wayne
there is some strange mistake here"
resumed my chair, wondering II they
mad all gone crazy, yet resolved upon taking
instant action If some satisfactory explana-
ton were not at once forthcoming.
Come, Carlson, what do you mean by
Wayne?'
Veil" said the swede, so agitated by the
excitement about him he could scarcely
find English In which to express himself
intelligibly, ut vos dis way j would not
insult Captain Wayne; oh, no, bot 1t vos told
TO me, an, L would hat him to know how it
all vos. 1t vos two months ago / go nit
De Tag of truce into de federal lines at
i Mlnersviile. You know dat time? l vos
Vaitin for answer ven a Yankee rides oop,
an looks me all Offer, like | vos a hog
| Veil l say, plain like 'vot you yantq' He
say, L heard der vos reb officer come in der
lines, an rides down to see IL he vos der
hound vot l wanted to horseyip' Vel
say, for it made me much mad 'mavha
you ike to horsevip me? No he saws.
1Ma,ughlng' 1T yos d-n pup in der til
virginia cavalry named Wayne, 1 am
after say. 'Vot has he done?' He saws.
| He insults a woman, an would not fight
| nit me- 'eAs
He looked about him anxiously to see If
| we comprehended his words
And what did you say?' from a dovau
| eager voices. N0~eA'
The swede gazed at them in manifest as.
| constituent az
Il say 1 knowed noting about der woman,
| but If he say dat an officer of der IN Vir,
slnla cavalry would not fight NIT him he
| Tos "a liar, would have hit him. bur
| vos under der flag of truce
l reached my hand out to him across thu
table. '' LILO
Il thank you, Captain Carlson" said.
WI 1ui po1h your message and your answer.
what did this man look like?"
he vos a pig yellow init a black mug.
/ taehe and gray eyes"
land. -ie'i'-
| His name is Brennan" ansverod
Slowly. "a major In the federal service
we nave already met twice in rough-and-
tumble contests, but the next time it Will
be with STEEL - "A
There is a woman, then?"
1T seems from Captain CarIson,s renort
he has seen fit to connect one with orr
difficulty" '' 'Nt
There was pause, as If they waited for
me TO add some further explanation bat I
could mother name should never be idlv
word of mine '
Gentlemen, said Maitland at last,
| gravely, this is evidently personal mat.
ter with which we have no direct concern
Captain Wayne's reputation is not one to
be questioned. either regards his chiv-
| airy toward women or his bravery ia arms
l pledge you his early meeting with this
| major.
| They drank the toast standing, and
read in each face before me frank, sol.
| dierly confidence and comradeship which
caused my heart to glow.
Go be continued tomorrow