Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1911-12-22
CHAPTER x.
A Woman's Tenderness

A Woman's Tenderness
Youth is never largely given to re-
Election. which is the gift of years;
and although my life had in a measure
rendered me more thoughtful than
might have proven under ordinary
conditions. yet 1t is to be frankly CON
fessed. by one desIrous of writing
merely the truth, that generally
acted more upon impulse than reason
AS stood forth in the sunlight of
that lonely noun \ no |, my hands
securely bound behind my back, the
end of the rope held by one of my
captors. while his fellow leaned lazily
upon his gun and watched us, |
thought somewhat deeply over the sit
uation and those peculiar circum-
stances leading up to -
Under other conditions might have
felt tempted to enter into converse
ton with my guards, who, as now
perceived. were far from being the
rough banditti had at first imagined
Judging from their faces and language
they were intelligent enough young
fellows, such as | had often found In
the ranks Of the Federal army. But
l realized they could aid me little,
If any. in the one thing | most de-
sired to know, and even If they could,
sense of delicacy would have caused
me to hesitate in asking those per-
sonal questions that burned upon my
lips. My deep and abiding respect for
this woman whom had so strangely
met, and with whom ! had attained
some degree of intimacy, would never
permit OF my discussing her. even In
directly, with private soldiers behind
the back of their officer. Every sense
OF honor revolted at such a thought
Not through any curiosity of mine
however justified by the depth Of my
own feeling, should she be made the
subject OF idle gossip about the camp
fire.
For, In truth. at this time, unhappy
as my own situation undeniably vas
and as a soldier l realized all its
dangers,-l gave 1t but little considera
uon. Usually quick of wit, fertile in
expedients, ever ready to take ad-
vantage OF each opportunity. had
taken stock of all my surroundings.
yet discovered nowhere the slightest
opening for escape. The vigilance of
the guard, as well as the thorough
manner in which l was bound. rend.
cred any such attempt the merest
madness.
lnen 1t was that other thoughts
came surging upon me in a series of
ihterrogatories, which no knowledge I
possessed could possibly answer. Who
was this proud womanly woman who
called herself Edith Brennan? She
mad been at some pains to inform me
mat she was married, yet there was
'nat ABOUT her-her bearing. her man
ner-which | could not In the least
reconcile with that thought Her ex-
IRENE youthfulness made me feel II
improbable, and the impression re.
NAMED with me that she intended to
make some explanation of her words
when the coming of Bungay inter.
rupted us. How they might he ax.
Planned could not imagine; merely
struggled against accepting what
ionged to believe untrue. And this
man? this Federal major, bearing the
same name. whom she called Frank
VINO was he? What manner of reIa.
tionshlp existed between them? In
their meeting and short intercourse
nad noted several things which told
me much-that she feared, respected
valued him, and that he was not only
: swayed by, but intensely Jealous of
any rival in. her good opinion Vet
.ueir unexpected meeting was scarcely
mat OF husband and wife. Was he
the one she sought in her night r,de
from one Federal camp to anotber9
Il SO, was ne brother. friend. or hus.
band? Aus-
ouch were some of the queries
silently struggled with, and thew wera
rendered more acute by that deenen.
ing interest which now confessed -
Myself was feeling Toward har who
inspired them. 1t may be fasbionah,o
nowadays to sheer at love, yet Bertain
IS the rare personality 81 this
Enlth Brennan had reached and IN
iiuenced me in those few hours wa
mao oeen thrown together as thai of
no other woman had ever done poe
AsiDiy this was so because the long
ears ear In camp and field had kept me
@oted from all cultured and refined
"ssppood. This may. indeed. have
49, he to be peculiarly susceptible
~ 'Ns ty and purity of this one