The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-05-10
Come along and tell

/
What makes you so obstinate? It's
not like you
ITS like me sometimes. It's like
me when I'm afraid"
afraid Of what?"
/ "Of papa. | wouldn't mind so dread
fully if you were here, but I think it's
mean and cowardly of you to leave me
70 bear the brunt of it all alone for
days and days 1t might kill me. I'm
about worried to death now"
A tear dropped on Taunton's hand
and melted his frmness in a moment.
He began to plead But Lucia, he
must know in few weeks at most
I've let you persuade me too long all
ready. We ought to have been brave
and open in the first place, or else
have gone up and made our confession
Immediately. What the deuce ever
made me give in to your silly fears,
can't understand"
'You were glad enough to get me
most anyway"
q suppose that's it. But let me tell
your father now. 1t would be so
much better in case-anything were to
happen to me-
"Oh, Marion, there's no danger, is
there?"
Probably not But you can't al
ways be sure. You see, it would be
better to have it over with if l should
get-hurt"
"You won't I'm sure you won't
Don't tell him yet, Marion, please
don't, and oh, don't get killed! Do
you think the black butterfly meant
anything-do ycu?"
"Of course not. Lucia, I'm doing
wrong to give in to you know it,
and-but here comes Murray, he must
not catch me here. Goodby, little
girl gocd-by I wish you were Drawer
Adios"
Taunton ran down the steps and,
keeping in the shadow of the buildings
strobe off to the troop quarters. And
the girl stood there in the darkness
looking with wide eyes up at the sky,
where gray, thick clouds drifted to-
gether and apart, showing patches of
starry black heavens and covering
them over as quickly. The cotton
woods rustled in the wind, and her
hair blew about her face, all damp and
clinging. She bent her fan until one
of the sticks snapped, and started at
the sound. She turned about and look
ed at the barracks where F Troop was
making ready to depart-a portion of
the troop, that is Men ran by alone,
or leading horses; orderlies galloped
beneath the shadow of the trees. Shak-
| ing with cold she stood there, her
heart seemed numb and still. From
the open door Of the soldiers quarters
fell bars of light, and uniformed fig
ures passed in and cut, forward and
| backward. She saw Taunton run along
and hurry to his house In five min
utes he was back again in scouting
| Clothes All this the light from the
barracks showed her When he had
started for his quarters, she had wav-
cred for second, almost determined to
go to- him and tell him she would do
as he wished But, as usual, it ended
in indecision. 1t would be all right
when he came back; it would be time
enough then. She threw up her arm
and brushed away a flying black thing,
whose big soft wings had touched her
cheek
The music had stopped and begun
again, and again stopped while she
stood there. People had passed by
her, going out, but they had not seen
her in the shadow of the corner.
There came a sudden silence. The
leaves Of the trees stoppd their whis
perings, the wind died away in the
night, the voices about ceased their
murmuring, the rain-drops chung to the
| branches; and out from the silence
came the word Of command which all
the garrison and the rigid woman were
waiting to hear: Prepare to mount.
| Mount"
A clash of accoutrements, a tramp
ing Of hoofs, the wind blew fresh once
more, the leaves rustled and shook
down the drops and the world went on.
The woman brushed her hair from
her eyes, gathered up her skirts, and
walked home alone.
It was a beautiful morning after the
storm Every one was on the pOrches
watching guard-mounting with as
much interest as if it had never been
gone through before, deply engrossed
in the choosing of the commanding
officers orderly
A second lieutenant sat upon the
steps of Captain Rossini's quarters, be-
side the captains fair daughter, who
was smiling and talking In her Old