Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-13

luckier than the men who died"
L saw the tears glistening again in her
earnest carr ;, eyes. oh, but you are. Capt.
have youth and love to inspire you-for
your mother yet lives. Truly it makes my
heart throb to think of the upbuilding which
awaits you men of the south. 1t is through
such as you-s0ldiers trained by stern duty
that these desolated states are destined
to rise above the ashes of war into a great
ness never before equaled. 1 feel that
men and women of the south are to exhibit
before the world a courage greater than
that of the battlefield. 1t is to be the mar
vel of the nation, and the thought and pride
Of it should make you strong"
1T may indeed be So / can but
believe it, as the prophecy comes from
your lips. 1 might even find cour-
age to do my part in this redemption were
you ever at hand to inspire
She laughed gently. Il am not Vir-
gilman, Captain Wayne, but a most loyal
daughter CT the north; yet if l SO inspire
you by my mere words, surely it is not so
far to my home but you might journey
there to listen to my further words of wis
DOM
Il have not forgotten the permission al
ready granted me, and it is a temptation
not easily cast aside You return north
soon?"
within a week.
I hardly know what prompted me TO voice
my next questionable, perhaps weary of
est in her probable answer.
do you expect your husbands release
from duty by that timer"
She gave quick start of surprise draw
ing in her breath though suddenly
choked. Then the rich color overspread her
face. my husband?" she calculated in
voice barely audible. my husband? Surely
you cannot mean Major Brennan?'
But 1 certainly do" I said wondering
| what might be wrong. Whom else could
| 1 mean?"
"And you thought that?" she asked in
credulously "Why, how could your
How should 1 have thought otherwise ~
! I exclaimed, my eyes eagerly searching her
downcast face. "Why. Cation told me it
| was so the night I was before Sheridan;
he confirmed it again in conversation less
than an hour ago. Colgate, my lieutenant,
who met you in a Baltimore hospital, re-
ferred to him the same way. If l have
been deceived through all these months,
surely everything and everybody conspired
| to that end-you bore the same name; you
| told me plainly you were married; you
wore a wedding ring; you resided while
other Frank and Edith. From first to last
not one word has been spoken by any one
| to cause me to doubt that you were his
wife"
AS spoke these words hastily, vehement
| ly, the flood of color receded from her
face leaving 1t pale marble. Her lips
parted, but failed in speech.
Believe me, Mrs. Brennan, the mistake
Was most innocent one lou are not
angryT
Angry? Oh, no! but 1t all seems so
| strange, and it hurts me little. Surely
| | have done nothing to forward this UNI
happy deceit?"
For a moment she bowed her head upon
! her hands as though she would hide her
face from me, conceal the depth Of her emo
| ton. Then she looked up once more,
smiling through her tears.
II recall starting to explain all this to
you once" she said, striving vainly to
appear at ease. 'It was when we were
interrupted by the sudden coming upon
| US of Mr.. and Mrs. Bungay. Yet sup
posed you knew. that you would have
learned the facts from others. The last
| time we were together 1 told you did not
| wholly understand you. 1t is no wonder,
when you thought that Of me- But I'M
derstand now. and know you must have de-
| spsed me-"
mo, no." I protested warmly, forgetting
all / lacked and recalling only my deep
love for her. 1T was never that. Not
one word or act between US has ever
lowered you an iota in my esteem. You
have always been my lady of the north.
and from the first night of our meeting