The Irish standard., 1911-10-28

aflame with indignation. "Then I
Wilt"
AS she spoke, her voice fairly trem-
bling with intense feeling, she stepped
backward out of sight into the house.
Another instant and she reappeared,
sweeping past him without so much as
a word, and bearing in her hand my
old campaign hat, came directly up to
US.
Sentry" she said in her old i'm
perious manner, IT desire to place this
hat on the head of your prisoner"
The fellow glanced uneasily over his
shoulder at the seemingly unconscious
officer, not knowing whether it were
better to permit the act or not, but
she waited for no permission.
Captain Wayne" she said, her
voice grown kindly in moment, and
her eyes frankly meeting mine, you
will pardon such liberty, am sure,
but it is not right that you should be
compelled to march uncovered In this
SUM-"
She placed the hat in position, ask
ing as she did SO:
Does that feel comfortable?"
"The memory of your thoughtful
ness" I replied warmly, bowling as
best I might, will make the march
pleasant, no matter what It's end may
mean to me-"
Her eyes darkened with sudden
emotion.
do not deem me wholly ungrate-
full" she said quickly and in a low
tone. "The conditions are such that
I am utterly helpless now to aid you.
Major Brennan Is a man not to be
lightly disobeyed, but 1 shall tell my
story to General Sheridan so soon as
we reach his camp"
I would have spoken again, but at
this moment Brennan came striding
toward US.
"Come, Edith,~ he cried, almost
roughly, "this foolishness has surely
gone far enough. Peters, what are
you waiting here for7 I told you to
take your prisoner down the road"
A few moments later, the centre of
4 little squad of heavily armed men,
I was tramping along the rocky path
way, and when once 1 attempted to
glance back to discover II the others
followed us, the sergeant advised me,
with an oath, to keep my eyes to the
front. I obeyed him.
It must have been nearly the end
Of the afternoon. We had certainly
traversed several miles, and were then
moving almost directly south upon a
well-defined pike, the name of which
I never knew. All the party were
travelling close together, when the
scout, who throughout the day had
been kept few hundred yards in
advance, came back toward US on a
run, his hand flung up in an urgent
warning to halt.
What IS 1t, Steele?" Brennan ques-
toned, squirting forward to meet him.
Come, speak up, mani"
"A squad of cavalry has just swung
onto the pike, sir, from the dirt road
that leads toward the White Briar,"
was the soldiers painting reply. "And
could get a glimpse through the
trees down the valley, and there's a
heavy infantry column just behind
them. They're Rebs, sir, or don't
know them"
"Rebs?" with an incredulous laugh.
"Why. man, we've got the only Reb
here who Is east of the Brian"
WELL" returned the scout, sullen-
", they're coming from the west,
and I know they amt our fellows"
He was too old soldier to have
his judgment doubted, and he was
evidently convinced. Brennan glanced
quickly about However he may
have sneered at the report, he was
not rash enough to chance so grave q
mistake.
Get back into those rocks there on
the right" he commanded sharply.
Hustle your prisoner along lively.
men, and one Of you stand over him
with cooked gun; II he SO much al
opens his mouth, let him have It."
Rapidly as We moved, we were
scarcely all under cover before the ad-
vance cavalry guard came In sight, the
light fringe Of troopers, dust-begrimed
and weary, resting heavily In their
saddles, and apparently thoughtless as
to any possibility of meeting with the
enemy. There were not more than a
troop of them all told, yet their short
gray jackets and wide-brimmed light
hats instantly told the story Of their
service. Their rear rank was yet in
sight when we heard the heavy tread
Of the approaching column, together
with the dull tinkle Of steel which al
ways accompanies marching troops.
Peering forth as much as I dared
from behind the thick brush where
had been roughly thrown face down
ward, saw the head Of that solid,
sturdy column swing around the sharp
bend in the road, and in double front.
spreading from rock to rock, come
sweeping down toward US.
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