The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-05

front of the house.
 Mark went with the servant and re- mained in his room long enough to have made toilet and then sauntered down stairs. At the door of the par Tor in which Mrs. Tain and her daugh- ter were sitting, he paused, as if wait ing for an invitation to enter. This was given him, but he did not stay long. For a hot blooded South Caro- lihian. he seemed not to bear the heat well, and manifested a desire to get | out on to the veranda. Indeed he had a wholesome dread of the light. Be sides he desired to be where he could | converse with Laura.
 of 1 may beg you to excuse me, ladies'" he said, T will go out for | little fresh air.'' He strolled out into the night and walked back and forth on the veranda.
 "Laura," said Mrs. Fain, ''go out and entertain MT. Rhett. Pm afraid of the night air myself" | Do you think it essential, mamma? ?" 1 Certainly I do. South Carolinians are especially particular about the en- tertainment of their guests, and I wouldn't have it go back to Charles ton that we had been remiss for the world"
 Laura obeyed her mother and joined the guest on the veranda
 "You are safe for the present. she said, her eyes glistening in the moon light and bright spot on each cheek.
 Thanks to your courage and ingenu- | ity."
 l ooh, no; no! That's absurd. For you to speak of my courage! Do you know that the recklessness with which you put your neck into halter is as unintelligible to me as mathematics would be to one of our servants"
 "For the cause" said Mark, -'one ought to-
 Nonsense! The cause! You love these dangers D There is a fascination in them. admit. So long as there is one chance for me, no matter how many there are against me-so :ong as have an arm or a weapon to fight with 1 am a man. When cornered and taken I am the veriest coward in the world. While in prison in Chattanooga I moaned and whined like a frightened child. The truth is that danger is fascinating only either before it is encountered or after it has passed. When am in it want to get out of 1t; when I am out of it want to get in it again."
 "I don't believe you know the mean | ing of the word fear.'' 1 icfo not feel fear there would be no fasci- nation in danger"
 "Then you have a way with you of making people do what you like. When you were here before you fascinated all the servants. You completely cap tivated Uncle Daniel, who has talked of no one else since"
 Daniel is good man. He'll be of use to me yet"
 "Yes. of use to you. You use every one either openly or by deception. almost fancied you were professor somebody, just now, when you were deceiving poor mamma. You reminded me of Mephistopheles for all the world" A 4n
 "You flatter," said Mark in irony.
 "You are Mephistopheles. You come here and compel me to harbor you. You are seeking to injure. the cause | favor, and I give you my brothers clothes, when that brother is fighting for that cause. Why do not send for some one to come and take you?'
 "On account of your native loveli- ness."
 "You are a very devil"
 q never regarded myself saint" "And the worst of it is," she went on, her eyes sparkling all the while. and talking rapidly, that such devil try is especially fascinating to me. I would love to be a man. I would do what you do. would belong to the cavalry. would be a scout. would | be a''-
 "SpyT
 Anything I had the courage to be. I would delight in battles, in charges. in-heavens"
 The exclamation was occasioned by | horseman who had approached while they were talking.
 Don't be frightened" said Mark bending over her and whispering in | her ear. Tt is only private soldier. | He is not after me, and if he is he 1 can't have me-" Mark left her and advanced to the rail of the veranda.
 "Can you tell me how fyar 'tis ter | Chattanoogy asked the man.
 About two miles, I reckon, as the crow flies; three or four really.' Straight Tong up the road?' "Yes"
 "I'm a courier. ben carryen dis patches; but I didn't go this way.''
 "Well, you just keep the road and you'll get through all right. Any news from the front?,
 Don't know any. I ben away from Chattanoogy two days"
 Well, you haven't far to go.''
 Good night, sir" Good night" Mark went back to Laura She had not recovered from her fright, and he was obliged to wait a few moments be- | fore he could get word from her.
 T suppose you think me dreadful | coward" she said at last. After all, I'm only a woman" Gro Be Continued.)