The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-10-19

l experienced a strange hesitancy In
addressing her upon terms Of equality
Ordinarily not easily embarrassed in
feminine society, felt in this instance
definite barrier between us, which
prevented my feeling at ease. Now
and then as we sat opposite each
other, eating amid a silence most un.
pleasant, / would catch her eyes
glancing across at me, but they were
lowered instantly whenever I ventured
to meet them. Finally / broke the
stiffness with a commonplace remark:
"I presume your people will be
greatly worried by this time over your
mysterious disappearance"
A flush swept her throat and
cheeks, but she did not lift her eyes
from the plate. YES" she answered
slowly, Frank is doubtless searching
for me long before this"
"Frank? I asked, feeling glad Of
this opportunity to learn more of her
relationships. you forget, possibly,
that your friends are strange to me-
You refer to the gentleman who ex.
pected to meet you on the road7"
ITO Major Brennan, yes"
There was nothing about the tone OF
her reply that invited me to press the
inquiry further. One thing, however,
was reasonably certain,-the man she
called Frank" could not be her father.
l longed to ask If he was a brother,
but the restraint of her whole manner
repelled the suggestion.
Did / understand that you have
nursed in the Federal hospitals at
Baltimore?" / questioned, more to con-
tinue the conversation than from any
deep interest.
Merely as a volunteer, and when
the regular nurses were especially
busy. Major Brennan was stationed
there for some time when / first
visited him, and l felt It my duty as
loyal woman to aid the poor fell
lows"
! remained silent, striving vainly
to frame some innocent question
which should solve for me the prob.
lem Of who and what she was. Sud-
denly she spoke softly:
Captain Wayne, / feel l owe you
an apology for my unwarranted and
unladylike conduct last night. I am
very sure now that you are gen.
tleman, and will appreciate how bit
terly I was tried, how deeply / have
ever since regretted IT,"
1t hurt her pride to say even this
much, as I could tell by her downcast
eyes and heaving bosom, and l
fastened to relieve her embarrass-
ment.
You have nothing whatever to ask
forgiveness for" said earnestly.
Rather such a request should come
from me. l only trust, Miss Brennan,
that you will excuse my part in this
extremely unfortunate affair"
She sat looking down upon her
plate, her fingers nervously crumbling
bit Of corn bread.
You do not even known who | am"
she said slowly. 81 am not Miss, but
Mrs. Brennan"
/ felt as II a dash Of cold water
had been suddenly thrown in my face.
"lndeed?" l stammered, scarcely
knowing what said. you appear SO
young girl that never once thought
OF you as being a married woman"
Il was married very early; indeed,
before l was seventeen. My hus-
band"
What she was about to add I could
but conjecture, for a quick change In
the expression of her face startled me.
What is it?" questioned, half ris-
ing to my feet, and glancing over my
shoulder toward the wall where her
eyes we're riveted.
Something resembling hand
pushed aside the coat hanging yon-
der" she explained in low trembling
tone, "and I thought saw q face"
Believing 1t to be merely her over
wrought nerves which were at fault,
! sought to soothe her. ut was prob
ably no more than a shadow" I said,
crossing to her side of the table, to
enable her better to feel the influence
OF my presence. Let US be content
to sit here by the door, for We should
pS eohAh6 wv o. cat q iioh Va uioNONCiJ
II We ventured into the OPEN"
had barely spoken these words and
placed my fingers on her hand to lead
her forward when the small door
which opened into the shed was
thrown back noisily, and two great
shaggy dogs, the evident mates Of
the dead brute at our feet, leaped
fiercely In. She shrank toward me
with sob of terror; but even as
drew revolver from my belt, a man
and a woman appeared almost stimuli
taneously in that same opening.
Down, Douglas! down, Roderiokl
Hal There lies Red Murdock. stark
and stiff!'-down, you brutes; you'll
be dead yourselves sometime"
The man strobe forward as he
spoke. clubbing the frenzied brutes
with tha atock ~ fhA long rif1a he