The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1911-12-27

why" she exclaimed in momentary
confusion 81 supposed l should know
before you awoke, and have ample
time to escape unObserved. / dis
covered you lying here. You were
resting very uncomfortably when l
first came, and / felt it my duty to
render your position as easy as pos
sible. | did not forget that your ia
tigue came in our defense"
Gould you not say in yours?"
corrected. But l have already been
more than repaid. Your hand upon
my brow was far more restful than
| / can tell you-its soft stroking min
| gled in my dreams even before l awoke.
1t brought back to me the thought Of
my mother. / do not think have had
a woman's hand press back my hair
since / was child"
There was a look of pain upon your
face as you lay sleeping. and thought
4 1t might ease you somewhat. l have
had some experience as nurse, you
know" she explained quietly. You
mentioned your mother; is she yet
living?"
"She is In Richmond. stopping with
friends. but since my capture We have
lost all trace Of each other. l was
| reported as having been killed in &C
ton, and 1 doubt II she even yet
knows the truth. Everything 10
SO confused in the capital that
1t IL impossible to trace any
one not directly connected with the
army, once you lose exact knowledge
Of their whereabouts"
"Your father. then. is dead?"
He yielded his life the first year
Of the war; and our plantation near
Charlottesville has been constantly in
the track of the armies. One rather
important battle. indeed. was fought
upon It, SO you may realize that 1t II
now desolate and utterly uniit for hab-
itation."
"The house yet stands?"
THE chimney and one wall alone re-
NAMED when was last there" I re-
piled. glad of the interest she exhib-
tied. Fortunately two of the negro
cabins were yet standing. Doubtless
these will form the nucleus OF our
home when the war ceases: they
will prove . tribe better than the
mere sky"
"The south 10 certainly paying n ter
rible price for rebellion" she said so
berly. her fine eyes filled with tears. Il
am sure I have tarried here quite a.
long as should. now that ! can be Of
no further service
As she gathered her skirts In her
hand preparatory to descending the
stairs. I yieked to temptation and
stopped her Right or wrong l must
yet have one word more.
II beg Of you do not desert me 20
soon. This may prove our final meet
ing-indeed. I fear 1t must be: sure
ly, then. II need not be SO brief .
one7"
Our ANAL meeting"
She echoed my words a. though
scarcely comprehending their mean
ing
Yes" said, rising and standing be-
fore her. How can we hope 1t shall
be otherwise? I am not free to re-
main here. even were 1t best for other
reasons. for I am a soldier under or
ders. You undoubtedly will proceed
north at the earliest possible moment.
There 10 scarcely . probability that in
the great wide world We shall meet
again"
The war will soon be over: perhaps
then you may come north also"
Il scarcely expect to do 30. My
work then will be to Join with my COM
rades in an effort to rebuild the shat
tered fortunes Of Virginia. When the
lines Of lives diverge SO widely as
ours must. the chances are indeed few
that they ever meet again."
But surely you can remain here I'M
til we leavef" she questioned. evident
ly striving not to reveal the depth
Of interest she felt In the decision. 1T
will not be until tomorrow that all de-
tails are arranged SO as to permit of
our departure. I had supposed you
would certainly be with US until then"
Mrs. Brennan!" exclaimed al
most passionately. do not tempt me-,
Your wish is temptation most DIM
cult to resist"
why resist, then"
She did not look at me, but stood
twisting handkerchief nervously
through her fingers. The abrupt ques-
ton startled me almost into full con-