Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-28
CHAPTER xxvI.
The Scouting Detail.

AAS SSOutAAS OSSoAs
This premeditated insult. which Brennan
had evidently dispatched broadcast in hope
that through some unknown channel it
might reach me. changed my entire rela-
uonship with the man. Heretofore. while
feeling deep resentment toward him, l yet
was strongly inclined to avoid any personal
meeting. Fear had nothing whatever to
do with this shrinking on my part. nor
would I have deliberately avoided him,
yet as the husband of Edith Brennan l re-
allied that if he suffered seriously at my
hands it must for ever separate us. 1 felt
more and more deeply the shame of loving
the wife of another, and certainly / could
never bring myself to advertise her as in
any way the cause of so disgraceful
brawl. Far better was it for me to suffer
in silence any taunts and degradations he
chose to place upon me- Surely 1 loved
her we'll enough to remain patient for her
sake.
But now all this had been changed by q
word. His deliberate attempt to soil my
reputation among officers of my own corps
left me no choice but that of a resort to
arms. have never felt that Brennan was
at heart bad man; he was hard stern,
revengeful, yet, have no doubt, under diff
ferent circumstances l might even have
valued him highly as a comrade or a
friend. There is no demon like jealousy;
and his early diStrust of me, fostered by
that mad disease had apparently warped
his entire nature. Yet not even for love
could / consent to leave my honor unde-
Tended, and after those hateful words there
could be no rest for me until our differ
ences were settled by the stern arbitra-
ment of the naked blade. All prudence to
the winds, no opportunity of meeting him
should now be cast aside.
l decided this carefully before falling
asleep, and had almost determined upon
seeking release from immediate duty that
l might hunt him out even within the fam
cied security of his own camp This latter
plan, however, was instantly halted by
those events which crowded swiftly upon
me. The coming day was barely gray in
the east when 1 was awakened by heavy
pounding upon the door. A smart-looking
orderly stood without.
Captain Wayne?' he asked.
That is my name. What have you, my
man?'
Compliments of Colonel Maitland chief
of staff. SIR he said, handing me folded
paper
1 opened it eagerly, for 1 was more than
ready to welcome any occurrence which
would help to change the tenor of my
thought.
believing you would be glad to have the
detail have just arranged to send you at
once upon some active service. Please re-
port at these quarters Immediately, fully
equipped for the field"
Clad! 1t was the very medicine / most
needed, and within twenty minutes of my
receipt of his communication l was with
Maitland, thanking him warmly for his
thoughtfulness.
Not another word, Wayne" he insisted.
1t Is not much, a mere scouting detail
over neutral territory, and will probably
prove dull enough. l only hope 1t may
neip to divert your mind trif1e. Now
nsten-you are to proceed with twenty
mounted men of tlfe escort west as far as
the foothills. and are expected to note
carefully three things: First. the condi-
wagon train; second, what forces of federal
troops, If any. are along the Honeywell;
and third, the gathering of all information
obtainable as to the reported consolidation
or guerrlllas for purposes of plumber between
the lines. II time suffice, you might cross
over into the valley of the Cowskin and
learn the condition of forage there as we'll
A guide will accompany your party, and
You are to avoid contact with the enemy
as Cor as possible. Your men carry five
days rations. You understand fully?'
Il do, sir; l presume 1 am to start al
once?"
Your squad, under command of Ser
geant Ebers. is already waiting outside
found them sturdy looking lot, but,
as they composed portion of the corn
mander's personal guard, somewhat better
attired than l was accustomed to seeing
confederate soldiers / possessed a field
officers prejudice relative to escort SOL
diery, yet their equipment looked well, they
sat their horses easily. and 1 could find
nothing worthy of criticism. 1 should have
preferred riding at the head of men from
my old troop. but in all probability we
would none of us be called upon to draw
saber.
'Are you all ready, sergeant" I asked
of the rather heavyweight German who
stood fronting me, his broad, red face as
impassive as though carved from stone.
'V vos, captain
Where is the guide?"
dot is him, NIT der mule, amt it?' ne
answered. pointing with one huge hand
down the road.
very well, we will pick him up then as
we co.
1 cared SO little as to whether or not he
accompanied us at all, that we had ad-
vanced some distance before the thought
of him again occurred to me. I knew the
gentry fairly well, and had experienced in
the past so many evidences of their stu
pidity, If not actual disloyalty, to pre-
fer my own knowledge Of the country to
theirs. My thought indeed for several
miles was not at all with the little party
nor, in truth, was It greatly concerned with
the fate of the expedition. That was but
service routine, and l rode forward care
lessly enough. never once dreaming that
every hour of progress was bearing me to-
ward the most important adventure of my
life So feel we constantly advance into
the future: and it is well that we do not
know. for few would possess the necessary
courage IL beforehand We might perceive
the sorrows and the dangers.
Outside my military duties had but one
thought In those days-Edith Brennan.
The great struggle was rapidly drawing
to it's close; hope of future military prefer
ment could no longer inspire confederate
soldier, for we realized fully we were bat
Ting in a lost cause. All ambition which
1 might otherwise have experienced was
therefore concentrated by this fate upon
the woman loved. And how earnestly l
endeavored not to love her; how / sought
to stifie such feeling, to remain true to
what 1 deemed my highest duty to her and
to nv own honor! And yet she remained
INV constant dream. / thought of her now
as / rode into the west. Somewhere out
vonder amid those distant blue hills-ay!
even within the very zone of my present
duty-it was possible she yet waited for the
war to cease / wished in my heart I
might again meet her. and then roundly
denounced myself cur for having such
a desire Yet again and again would the
fond hope recur, surging up unbidden into
my brain as rode steadily forward, oblivi-
Gus of both distance and pace. the sinking
sun full in my eyes, yet utterly forgetful
Of the hoofbeats pounding along behind
me- 1t was the German sergeant who re-
called me to the responsibilities of COM
mand.
Captain" he exclaimed. apologeticaliy.
riding up to my side. and wiping his round
perspiring face with great energy, we are
riding too hard, amt We? Mein Colt, but
der horses will give out entirely, already"
IT'S that soYn asked in surprise at his