Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-16

0OuS VG0vlOOos ana tue u
enjoyed his MONDAY siesta beneath
the shade Of . great bush bearing pur.
pie blossoms. The road We had been
travelling since early morning wound
In and out among great trees. and
crossed and recrossed the little stream
called the Cowskin until almost
thought we had lost our way. We met
with no ono In all the long days rid
Ing, not even q stray negro, and In
deed It was some hours since we had
passed q house Of any kind. Leaving
the brook behind US We toiled slowly
up . long hill, and at the top Bungay,
riding beside me, pointed to the west.
ward.
Cap" he said, thar is thor Minor
place."
The very sight Of it in the distance
was . thrill-a great white house
placed wen back from the road and
almost hidden from sight by fine,
large trees An old-fashioned. big.
roomed house it looked to be. built
after the colonial type. a wide veranda
upon three sides, with fluted columns
to support the overhanging roof.
"Hain't no signs es fer es I kin see
Of any trouble havin' Cured thar
Jed said slowly, his shrewd gray eyes
roaming over the peaceful scene.
Somebody ter hum tew. fer Their
chinlley is a smokin'."
OF course, now I vas there, the only
sensible thing for me t do would
have been TO ride opealy to the front
door, and thus learn all l desired. But
what man who loves, who is continual
ly swayed by hopes and fears, by
strength and weakness, ever does the
sensible thing? had certainly IN
tended doing SO at the start, but now
my nerve failed NE. She was the
wife Of another. l could not confess
| had ventured TO ONT to her in love,
O could look into those clear, hon
est. questioning eyes and lie.
Haiti" l ordered. Sergeant"
Il am here. Captain"
Take your men down into that hol-
low yonder. and remain there until l
return. Better post q sentry on the
hill here"
1T will be done, Captain"
Il shall not, probably, be absent
more than an hour, SO don't permit the
men to stray"
Dot Is it, Captain. will be nit
dem all over"
I rode down alone into the thick
woods at the foot OF the hill, and dis
mounting, tied my horse to a sapling.
Then on foot I struck across the
fields, my intention being to come in
by the way of the negro quarters at
the rear, in hope of meeting some one
from whom I might inquire relative
to the great house and its inmates.
It was a slight upward trend OF
land l had to traverse, and although
the house was a most slightly object
and stood upon the very summit Of the
elevation, yet SO surrounded was it
with trees. both fruit and ornamental,
was enabled to make but little Of it's
situation until / approached the out
buildings. l met with no one. nor
could l perceive any negroes about
the slave quarters. Yet the place did
not bear the appearance Of desertion.
There were horses In the stable, q cat
was curled up on q Of the cabin
door steps, and smoke continued to
pour in a dull yellow cloud from the
kitchen chimney. Altogether there
vas much In the situation to puzzle
ever, and l no longer regretted that I
had exercised some caution in my ap-
proach.
The orchard. with the remains OF a
garden, lay between the house and tho
stable. protected by a low fence Of
whitened pickets. So far As l could
observe, It contained no occupant, and
l pushed open the gate and started
down q narrow cinderpath which led
between two rows Of low bushes. To
right of me was an extensive grape
arbor. completely covered with vines,
the fresh green leaves forming a de-
lightful contrast to the deep blue sky
beyond. As I came opposite an open
ing leading into this arbor I suddenly
caught the futter of drapery and
stopped instantly, my heart throbbing
like a frightened girls. 1t was quite
dark beneath the vine shadow, and I
could make out no more than that q
woman stood there, her back toward
me, busted at some task. Possibly
she felt my presence, for all at once
she glanced around, and upon per-
ceiving me gave vent to a quick ex-
clamation Of terror.
Pardon me-" I said hastily, and re-
moving my hat, "but you have nothing
to fear"
There was a moments hesitancy on
her part, and I knew I vas being scru-
tinized by a pair OF bright eyes.
Surely" said a familiar voice, Il
cannot be mistaken-you arc Captain
Wayne"
Before I could even answer she
stenped forth from her partial co2-
II