Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-08

| of the confederate troop which was en-
| gagged in defense of this house,
| portly man with strong face and
wearing closely clipped gray beard
arose from comfortable arm chair and
| advanced with hand extended
! Il am Captain Moorehouse, in COM
mand, he answered, cordially, land am
very glad to meet you VIII you not join
| positive genius in that line has unearthed
| Few bottles of rather choice whiskey
| which we will divide most gladly"
thank you,' l replied, anxious to meet
MIN as pleasantly as possible, but am
| eager to get away upon my duty as early
| as may be, and have merely intruded
| upon you to explain my purpose"
| Nonsense" he insisted. rDuty is never
| quite so urgent as to require waste of
| good liquor. Captain Wayne, permit me
| TO present my Observation-Disclosures War;
rem and Starr. I'd New Hampshire Cav
| airy. If by any luck YOU were at Gettys-
| burg you have met before
| smiled and accepted the Eglass held out
| to me.
Il was certainly there" I.replied in the
| same spirit with which he had spoken
| and now you recall it. retain most
vivid recollection of meeting several Fed
eral caValrymen on that occasion, but
peneVe 1 did not finger to- ascertain the
number of their regiment. My curiosity
was completely satisfied before I reached
| that point. However. l am far better
pleased to renew the acquaintance in this
| manner"
The ice broken we continued to con-
verse freely for several minutes regarding
! incidents OF the war, and l described the
peculiar conditions which had brought me
! to the relief of Brennan's party. Under
other circumstances / should have greatly
! enjoyed this exchange of "reminiscences but
| the constant haunting fear of the majors
| possible entrance at any moment rendered
| me extremely uneasy, and anxious to be
| away Undoubtedly this feeling exhibited
| itself in my manner, for Captain Moore
| house said finally
Il realize your natural anxiety to be off,
| Captain Wayne. and while we should be
| very glad to keep you with us indefinitely.
| yet 1 trust you will feel perfectly free in
| the matter"
! II thank you greatly" answered, rising
as I spoke my duty is of such nature,
and has already been SO long neglected, that
L feel every moment of unnecessary delay
| to be a crime. l wish you pleasant re-
turn within your own lines and an early
cessation of hostilities.
I had shaken hands with them ALL and
| turned toward the door, congratulating my
self on escaping thus easily, when a new
voice broke suddenly in upon my self-satis-
faction
II trust Captain Wayne is not intending
to depart without at least a word with
me?"~
1t was Brennan. He had entered unob-
served from the second parlor, and now
stood leaning with almost insolent
sumption of languor against the sliding
door his eyes fastened upon me.
Frankly" I responded, Il had hoped I
might
His brows contracted into a frown of
anger that seemed to darken his entire
face.
Have you forgotten, then, our compact.
or do you simply elect to ignore it?''
L saw the others exchange quick glanceS
of amaZement but l answered coolly:
The latter supposition is more nearly
the truth. Major Brennan. 1 felt that after
what we have just passed through together
could both n ipnnra tha Ell
and consequently was hoping to escape
without again encountering you"
indeed" he exclaimed sarcastically
men, and he turned toward the expectant
group, this man and I have a personal
grievance OF long standing unsettled. I
have sought him for months in vain. When
he came last night to our assistance, be-
fore even consented to accept his services
insisted that no occurrence of the defense
should prevent our meeting if we both sur
vived. Now he endeavors to sneak away
like whipped cur. L demand satisfaction
at his hands, and If 1t is refused I shall
denounce him in both armies" Ed 81
My cheeks burned. but before I could con-
troll myself sufficiently for answer Moore
house spoke
But, Brennan. see here" - he said anx-
iously, surely Captain Wayne has served
you we'll Is this trouble between YOU so
serious that no amends are possible?7
None, short of personal meeting,
captain, and the perplexed federal
commander turned toward me. have you
any word of explanation in this unfortu-
nate affair?'
Very little" Il answered. II am not
even aware that l have done injury to
Major Brennan, purposely orlotherwise. He
has not so much as honored me with infor-
nation as to his cause for complaint How
ever, l care very little what9it may be AS
he has seen fit to denounce me before Off
GERS OF my own corps. | should be extremely
glad to meet him upon that ground alone.
but after what we have Just passed
through together, 1 felt ready to blot out
these past differences, Whatever thew NAV
nave been they are not liable to occur
again, nor We to meet
They have occurred again since Won
have been in this house! Brennan broke
forth excitedy. You are not a coward
but I brand you here and now as sneak
and liar! Now will you fight?"
We stood for a moment In utter silence
eye to eye, and l knew there was no help
for it. These words, publicly spoken, left
me choice
Il am at your service, Major Brennan"
| returned sternly, now, or AT any time.
| But l am unfortunate here IN having no
| officer of my army present, and hence can
| name no second.
Doubtless one of these gentlemen will
| consent to serve he said his face bright
| enfng al my rejoinder.
There was moEoent of hesitation nat
| ural enough, for they could scarcely feel
! like pitting themselves against brother
officer in a quarrel the merits of which
| were so obscure. l was about to sneak
volunteering to stand alone, when some
i one hastily pushed a way TO the front,
! and Lieutenant Cation, pale but determined
stood at my shoulder.
1T will afford pleasure to act for
| Captain Wayne he said clearly eff he will
accept my services. Moreover he added
| with significant glance at Brennan. II
| do this as a friend, and with full confidence
| that am upon the right side in the
| quarrel"
For moment no one spoke, Brennan
| mOuStache
| he burst not utter. Then Cation turned to
| me-
IF you will retire to the library, Wayne.
| l will arrange this matter with whoever
| may represent Major Brennan"
With a slight formal bow to those pres
| ent ] quilted the room.
! Cro be continued tomorrow.)