Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-02-28

enjoyed hls MONDAY 7le5ta 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 Cowskin until I almost
thought we had lost our way. We met
with no one In all tho long days rid
Ing, not even q stray negro, and In.
deed 1t was some hours since wo had
passed q 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 tho west
ward. :
Cap" he said. thar IL Their Minor
place.. 49,, ,...<.
The very sight Of it in the distance
was a thrills great white house
placed well 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. q wide veranda
upon three sides. with fluted columns
to support the overhanging roof.
"Ha1n't no signs es for % I kin SEQ
OF any trouble havin' Cured thar"
Jed said slowly, his shrewd gray eyes
roaming over the peaceful scene.
Somebody ter hum tew, fer Their
chimley is 4 smokin'."
OF 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 I desired. But
what man who loves. who IL continual
ly swayed by hopes and fears; BY
strength and weakness. ever does tho
sensible thing? I had certainly in
tended doing 30 at tho start, but now
my nerve failed me- She was the
wife Of another. I could not confess
I had ventured to come to her in love,
nor could look into those clear, hon
est, questioning eyes and lie.
Haiti" ordered. sergeant"
II am here, Captain"
Take your men down into that hol-
low yonder, and remain there until
return. Better post a sentry on tho
hill here"
1T Will be done. Captain"
Il shall not, probably, be absent
more than an hour, 80 don't permit tho
men to stray"
Dot is it, Captain. 1 viii be NIT
dem all over"
l rode down alone into the thick
woods at the foot Of the hill, and dis
mounting, tied my horse to a sapling.
Then on foot 1 struck across tho
fields, my intention being to come In
by the way Of the negro quarters at
the rear, in hope of meeting some ono
from whom might inquire relative
to the great house and its inmates.
It was slight upward trend Of
land I had to traverse. and although
the house was a most slightly object
and stood upon the very summit OF tho
elevation, yet 50 surrounded was It
with trees, both fruit and ornamental,
I was enabled to make but little Of its
situation until I approached the out
buildings. I met with no one, nor
could l 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 tho
kitchen chimney. Altogether there
was much in the situation to puzzle
ever, and no longer regretted that
had exercised some caution in my ap-
proach.
The orchard, with tho remains OF 4
garden, lay between the house and the
stable, protected by low fence of
whitened pickets. So far as I could
observe, It contained no occupant, and
l pushed open the gate and started
down a 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 q de-
lightful contrast to the deep blue sky
beyond. AS I came opposite an OPEN
Ing leading into this arbor I suddenly
caught the flutter of drapery and
stopped instantly, my heart throbbing
like frightened girls. It was quite
dark beneath tho vine shadow, and l
could make out no more than that a
woman stood there, her back toward
me, busted at some task. Possibly
she felt my presence, for all at once
she glanced around, and upon per-
ceiving me gave vent to a quick OK
clamation of terror.
Pardon me-" I said hastily, and re-
moving my hat, but you have nothing
to fear"
There was a moments hesitancy on
her part, and knew I was being scru-
t1nized by a pair of bright eyes.
Surely" said familiar voice, II
cannot be mistaken-you are Captain
Wayne"
Before I could even answer she
stepped forth from her partial con-
cealment and advanced toward mo
with cordially extended hands. It was
Celia Minor.
"Well, Of all men," she cried gay
ly, her dark eyes smiling most kind
ly welcome. "And Edith and I were
speaking about you only yesterday.
That Is, was. for really do not re-