The Lamar register., 1911-12-06

rear cause huoW hut Wouio az
least look upon those walls that had
once sheltered her. would learn II pos
sible II she was yet there. Then
well. in the bondage of my passion l
hoped for what might happen. as
every lover does.
1t must have been two o'clock; we
had baited our horses. l remember. an
hour previous; and the Sergeant had
enjoyed his MONDAY siesta beneath
the shade Of q 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 one in all the long days rid
Ing, not even . stray negro, and In
deed 1t was some hours since we had
passed 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 il Their Minor
place"
The very sight Of It in the distance
was thrill-a great white house
placed well 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. q wide veranda
upon three sides. with nuted columns
to support the overhanging roof.
"Hain't no signs es fer es kin sec
Of any trouble havin' Cured thar"
Jed said slowly. his shrewd gray eyes
roaming over tho peaceful scene.
Somebody ter hum tew. fer Their
chimley is 4 smokin'."
or course. now I was there, the only
sensible thing for me to do would
have been to ride openly to the front
door. and thus learn all desired. But
what man who loves. who IL continual
ly swayed BY hopes and fears, by
strength and weakness. ever does the
sensible thinsf had certainly In
tended doing 20 at the start, but now
my nerve failed me. She was the
wife Of another. I could not confess
had ventursd to come to her in love.
nor could look into those clear, hon
est, questioning eyes and lie.
Haiti" I ordered. "sergeanti"
II am here. Captain"
Take your men down into that hol-
low yondsr. and remain there until 1
return. Better post . sentry on the
hill here"
Tt Will b done. Captain"
Il shall not. probably. be absent
moro than an hour. SO don't permit the
men to stray"
Dot is 1t. Captain. I will b NIT
dem all over"
/ rode down alone into the thick
woods at the foot Of the hill, and dis
mounting. tied my horse to Q sapling.
Then on foot / struck across the
fields. my intention being to come in
By tho 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.
1t 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 its
situation until l approached the out
buildings. I met with no one, nor
could I 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 one Of the cabin
door steps. and smoke continued to
pour in dull yellow cloud from the
kitchen chimney. Altogether there
was much In the situation to puzzle
ever. and I no longer regretted that I
had exercised some caution in my ap-
proach.
The orchard. with the remains Of .
garden. lay between the house and the
stable. protected by low fence Of
whitened pickets. So far a. I could
observe. It contained no occupant, and
I pushed open the gate and started
down q narrow cinder-path 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 fiutter of drapery and