The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-09-14
CHAPTER XVII.

The Verge OF quarrel.
Brant's mind was chaos of con.
dicting emotions, but single abiding
conviction never once left him-he re-
tanned implicit faith in her, and he
purposed to fight this matter out with
Hampton. Even in that crucial hour.
had any one ventured to suggest that
he was in love with Nadia, he would
merely have laughed. serenely conf
dent that nothing more than gentle
manly interest swayed his conduct.
Nevertheless, he manifested an I'M
reasonable dislike for Hampton. He
had never before felt thus toward this
person; indeed, he had possessed
strong mans natural admiration for
the others physical power and cool,
determined courage. He now sincere
~ feared Hampton's power over the
innocent mind of the girl, imagining
his influence to be much stronger
than it really was, and he sought after
some suitable means for overcoming
it. He alone, among those who might
be considered as her true friends,
knew of her secret infatuation, and
upon him, alone, therefore, rested the
burden of her release. 1t was his
heart that drove him into such de.
cision. although he conceived 1t then
to be the reasoning of the brain.
And SO she was Mazda ellis. poor
old ellis little girl! He stopped sud-
denly in the road, striving to realize
the thought. He had never dreamed
of such a contamination, and it stag
gered him. What was there in COM
mon between that outcast, and this
well-groomed, frankly spoken young
woman? Yet, whoever she was or had
been, the remembrance of her could
not be conjured out of his brain. He
might look back with repugnance upon
those ott(ts, those misty phantoms Of
the past, hut the vision Of his mind,
his Interchangeable divinity of the
vine shadows, would not become OBJ
, scured, nor grow less fascinating.
Suddenly there occurred to him rec
objection of Silent Murphy. and his
, strange, unguarded remark. What
could the fellow have meant? Was
there indeed some secret in the life
history Of this young girl?-some
story Of shame, perhaps? If SO, did
Hampton know about it?
! Already daylight rested white and
solemn over the silent valley, and only
a short distance away lay the spot
where the crippled scout had made
his solitary camp. Almost without vo-
lition the young officer turned that
way, crossed the stream by means of
the log, and clambered up the bank.
But it was clear at glance that Muir
ply had deserted the spot. Convinced
of this, Brant retraced his steps to-
ward the camp Of his own troop, now
already astir with the duties of early
morning. Just in front of his tent
he encountered his first sergeant.
Watson" he questioned, as the lat
ter saluted and stood at attention.
do you know a man called Silent
Murphy"
The scout? Yes, sir; knew him a.
long ago as when he was corporal in
your fathers troop. He was reduced
to the ranks for striking an officer
Brant wheeled in establishment.
"Was he ever q soldier in the Sew.
enth?"
HE was that. for two enlistments.
and mighty tough one; but he was
always quick enough for fight in
| field or garrison
Has he shown himself hare ut the
camp?"
"No, sir; didn't know he was any
where around. He and I were never
very good friends. sir
The lieutenant remained silent for
several moments, endeavoring to per.
feet some feasible plan.
Dispatch an order to the telegraph
Office he finally commanded, ito in.
quire If this man Murphy receives
any messages there, and if they know
where he is stopping. Send an intel
ligent man. and have him discover all