The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-17

A flush of pleasure stole over Ger trude's face, then died out as suddenly as it had come.
 Madeline West murmured to Robert E1lingham:
 '1t is only lately that have realized there are northern soldiers and south ern soldiers. I thought there was but one flag, and that you all served un- der it.
 That is what was brought up to believe replied the young lieutenant, i ''but some unaccountable change has come about
 ''But it seems to me-" interposed Kerchival West, that the people of Charleston are taking an extraordinary interest in the preparations to bonn bard Fort Sumter. They look forward i to such an event as if 1t were to be a gala day.
 It was at this juncture that Mrs. Haverill appeared. Before she had time to join the group Thornton has, tened forward to meet her and said in a low, hurried tone: "I must see you alone. I have inn i portant news for you.'
 Are there-any further tidings of Frank?'' she inquired eagerly. "Yes. We must not talk here''-as 1 they passed out together into the hall : and paused at the foot of the stairs Frank is here fin Charleston" | The halls were decked and garland i ed, ball dres ses were laid out in readi- ness, and the young people were prac- 1 tcing minuets. i Toward twilight KerchivaI West and Robert Ellingham strolled across the l wall together.
 Bob, old comrade," the former be- 1 gan, q have something want to men, ton to you.''
 | -'Is 1t about JhorntonT'
 ''It is about Mrs. Haverill, the colo nel's wife"
 ''I certainly, old boy tell me all you know about it.'' Well, I was passing along the gal lery of the second floor on my way to l my room when I heard a muff1ed scream, then a lady's voice uttering violent, or, rather, hysterical, exclama- tions. The sounds came from one of the principal guest rooms, as I sup posed, but whose I didn't know. Then the door was opened hastily, and Mrs. Haverill appeared, looking alarmingly i'll or else terribly frightened and trem- l bling with excitement
 And was any one with herT'
 'Not that I know of. I did have an impression Anyway, she recovered herself quickly after I had saturated my handkerchief with ammonia @nd eau de cologne and anything else that chanced to be at hand and given 1t to l her. It would be all right, she said, and was not to let such foolish lit tie incident disturb me on any account. | Still''-
 .'Sti1l, the foolish little incident must l have had a serious cause behind it, eh?"
 "So I thought But it may have been only a mouse.'
 "Or it may have been Thornton. I was right exclaimed Ellingham, str1k- ing the clinched fist of one hand into the palm of the other.
 "Then, by heaven, Bob''-
 Tt mustn't get to the colonel Leave Thornton to me-
 "A pretext is all that is necessary. If you don't find it will''
 They shook hands in silence, then hurried in to dress.
 Robert and Kerchiva1 were as eager as any one for the dancing, yet they could not enter into the spirit of the affair and engage their partners Gas a matter of fact, these latter, meaning chiefly Madeline and Gertrude, did not make an early appearance in the par lors) until their anxiety about Mrs. Haverill should be allayed. Would she find an excuse to avoid the ordeal of gayety under the eyes of at least two persons who knew of the shock she had suffered but a few hours previously2