The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-10-28
military standpoint.

military standpoint.
While constantly observant OF those
points regarding which had been dis
patched, my one oVermastering
thought during all those hours was the
possibility of again meeting with Edith
Brennan and proving of some assist
ance to her. Her greeting of me in
the Federal hospital had been so
sweetly gracious, SO marked with ten
der sympathy, while the memory OF
her words, and even more Of the look
which accompanied them, had SO re-
manned with me In announcement
that 1 longed to encounter her again.
God knows what hoped for. for L
knew well It must all inevitably end
in despair, yet like the moth must
continue to SINCE my wings until the
flame devoured me. Now, however, as
we actually drew near to where sup
posed she might be, felt my earlier
courage fast deserving me. Nor was
1 furnished with even the slightest
excuse for pressing on; my orders did
not positively compel me to proceed,
and nothing appeared along the way
to lead me to suppose that harm OF
any kind threatened that peaceful val
ley Everything meeting my eyes evil
denced that here, at least, was with
its attendant horrors had not come.
Totally without the beaten track OF
those great armies which had battled
SO lerceIy for the Shenandoah, 1t had
been traversed only by a few scouting
and foraging parties, and so shoEt had
been their stay that even the rail
fences remained undisturbed to guard
the fields, and nowhere did note out
ward signs OF devastation. It was ViT-
= IL ~, nVH
of peace and plenty, before civil strife
had sown the land with dead.
What possible excuse, then, had
for going there? In my own heart
knew l had none, or one so poor and
selfish scarcely burst whisper it even
to myself; yet rode steadily on. Ina
PEELED by my own weakness, or drawn
irres!stibIy by whichever the
real cause I know mott would at
least look upon those walls that had
once sheltered her, would learn II pos
sible If she was yet there. Then
we'll, in the bondage of my passion l
hoped for what might happen, as
every lover does.
It muse have been two O'Clock: we
had baited our horses, remember, an
hour previous; and the Sergeant had
enjoyed his MONDAY siesta beneath
the shade OF 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 CowslSin until almost
thought we had lost our way. We met
with no one in all the long days rid
ing, not even a stray negro, and In
deed it was some hours since we had
passed house of any kind. Leaving
the brook behind us we totled slowly
up a long hill, and at the top Bungay,
riding beside mo. pointed to the west
ward.
cap" Be said, thar is Their Minor
place"
The very sight of it in the distance
was a thrill-a great white house |
placed we'll back from the road and |
almost hidden from sight by fine,
large trees an old-fashioned, big
roomed house 1t looked to be, built
after the colonial type, wide veranda
upon three sides, with huted columns
to support the overhanging roof
"Hain't no signs es fer es l kin see
Of any trouble havin' Cured thar
Jed said slowly, his shrewd gray eyes
roaming over the peaceful scene
Somebody ter hum tew. fer Their
is a smokin'."
OF course, now was there, tae only
sensible thing for me to do would
have been to ride openly to the front
1oor, and thus learn all desired. But
what man who loves. who Is continual
" swayed by hopes and fears, by
strength and weakness. ever does the
sensible thing? / had certainty In
ended doing SO at the start, but now
ny nerve failed me. She was the
wife OF another. could not confess
had ventured to come to her In love. T,
lor could look into those clear, hon
,st. questioning eyes and lie.
Halt" / ordered "sergoantl"
z am here. CAPTAIN