Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-23
CHAPTER XXI.
a Conversation In the Oar,

CHAPTER XXI.
a Conversation In the Dark.
IN my extreme surprise at the in.
innate cordially expressed by her
words and manner failed in utter
ance. Anticipating GOODNESS. indifrer-
ence possibly even resentment at my
presumlng to approach her. was in
stead greeted by an unstudied warmth
Of welcome that made my heart beat
dercely.
Surely am not mistaken" she
questioned, rendered doubtful by my
silence. lis not this Captain Wagner
There is no mistake" fastened to
assure her, "but had anticipated
from our last meeting = far less cor
dial greeting"
"Oh." she exclaimed, with 4 light
laugh, and is that all? Yet surely, If
I was to believe my own eyes l was
perfectly justified in my actions then.
However, Captain, I have been forced
to realize the truth Of that situation,
and am now disposed to make up to
you In Kindness for all my unjust
suspicious"
II am more than delighted to learn
that cloud is no longer to overshadow
us. Miss Minor has made . full ex-
PLANTATION, theu?"
you have been completely exon
Grated, and restored to my good
graces."
AS she spoke. I became aware that
she was busily engaged upon some
task. and when she ended felt tho
steel of . gun-barrel touch my hand.
please pass this to Maria." she
said calmly. "and hand me back the
one she has"
'You are loading. then?" asked. a.
complied with her request.
I'VE have all been busy. Isn't it
terrible? I was SO frightened at first.
but now they tell me that you and
your men have come, there Is no lon.
getting In here"
"You knew. then, that I was in the
house?"
II was told some noble Confederates
had accompanied Lieutenant Cation
back to aid US. but your name was
not mentioned"
Then my appearance must have
proven complete surprise?"
Eyes. and no." she answered frank
". II was not sure 1t was you, Of
course, and I did not venture to ask,
but knew you were in the neighbor-
hood, and that such an act would be
In . WAY characteristic. Il was GER
tain you would come II you knew, and
IL, well really. l hoped it was
In spite of Sigh. effort at restraint
CROPPED in the darkness until I
touched her hand. For the moment
she permitted mo to retain 1t, a. II
unconsciously. within my grasp.
"Why?" I questioned. scarcely rely
ing upon my own voice.
"Oh, one always trusts friends more
readily than strangers, and have
seen you In danger before. and pos
sess such confidence in your courage
and resource
But Miss Minor took particular
care to inform me you felt little or no
interest In me-that you never even
spoke Of me except as she compelled
you to do So"
For a moment she did not answer.
How constant the firing continues"
she said at last, as I sat struggling
dumbly with temptation.
"A mere waste Of powder, fear"
was my reply, given thoughtlessly.
when the rush finally comes We are
likely to be without sufficient ammu-
milton to repel It. hardly expect
those fellows out there Will ever
leave without a determined effort to
carry the house by storm. have no
doubt they are simply drawing all this
IRE In the hope that our ammunition
will thus be uselessly expended. 1t
is an old army trick, and one am sur
prised to see 50 experienced an oficer
~, Major Brennan yield to. In my
judgment they will make an effort to
rush W a. soon - there Is sufficient
light"
''But why not sarn him.
''Major Brennan would scarcely vel
come any interference on my part"
But surely. as . soldier, he must
value the advice Of another SOLDIER"
Possibly you forget" explained,
striving to speak as lightly Of 1t as
might be, that there Is lack Of
friendship between Major Brennan
and myself"
"still?" she asked. Truly thought
that might all be over. Even IL it sur
vived until now. this noble act Of
yours In coming to our defense should
have earned you his gratitude. He
hs has never once mentioned your
name to me since that night
mot even when I came here with
my troop. believe!"
mo: yet I did not connect that
fact with the other. I supposed It .
mere oversight, or that he believed
the mention Of your name would not
greatly interest me. Surely, Captain
Wayns, you are not keeping open this
unhappy wound?"
ION my word, no; but I regret to
confess It IL very far from being
closed"
"He-Major Brennan does not know.
then, that you are here now with me?"
She evidently hesitated to ask this
question.
Certainly not" In surprise ct her
apparent innocence. "You cannot have
A. A.