Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-03-20

- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
"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. I hardly expect
those fellows out there Will ever
leave without q determined effort to
carry tho house by storm. I have no
doubt they are simply drawing all this
nro In the hope that our ammunition
VIII thus be uselessly expended. 1t
70 an old army trick, and one am sur
prised to see so experienced an officer
A. Major Brennan yield to. In my
judgment they will make an effort to
rush US as soon as there is sufficient
light"
But why not warn 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 it as
might be, that there is a lack Of
friendship between Major Brennan
and myself"
"Still?" she asked. Truly thought
that might all be over. Even If it sur
vived until now, this noble act of
yours In coming to our defense should
have earned you his gratitude He
he has never once mentioned your
name to me since that night"
mot even when came here with
my troop. believer"
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
Wayne, you are not keeping open this
unhappy wound?"
"On my word, no; but regret to
confess 1t is 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 at her
apparent innocence you cannot have
supposed had been sent here by
him to talk with you?"
IL did not know. I do not think
I realized" she stammered, vainly
seeking for words with which to make
clear her bewilderment II imagined
rn{ohf hov0 - - o
ton to see that we were amply pro-
tected. This is all 80 very strange.
He does not even know you are here
with us?"
NO." admitted reluctantly. "Per-
haps l have no excuse even for being
here at all. My duty as a soldier is
certainly elsewhere, but I could not
rest content until knew you were in
Q position of safety. Believe me, Mrs.
Brennan, have intended no indiscre-
ton, but l was informed by a soldier
that you were being held here under
fire."
Her hand touched mine impulsively.
and it was warm and throbbing.
II can merely thank you with all
my heart, Captain Wayne, and assure
you both understand and appreciate
your purpose. But truly do not wish
any trouble to occur again-you will
60 back to your post, will you not?
You can serve me best in that way,
and retain the gratitude and admira-
ton I have ever felt for you"
AT once, Mrs. Brennan" returned
earnestly. II realize l have done
wrong in ever coming here as I have.
It is my first act Of disobedience to
orders In all my military life. But
tell mo first that I have forfeited
neither your confidence nor your
friendship"
She paused = moment, then added
quickly, as though in sudden rush Of
feeling: mo friend stands higher in
my esteem than you-now please 60,
Captain Wayne"
As I crept back through the dark.
ness, passing beneath the piano into
the front room, which was filled with
the choking fumes of powder, my
mind was chaos Of emotions impos.
sible to analyze. The very depth OF
love which drew me to her operated
now in restraint. God alone knows
the struggle in the darkness as I con-
tinued to move slowly away from her
and toward the door. So deep was my
agitation, SO intense my thought, that
I scarcely realized 1 was creeping
along barely beneath the dead line of
those bullets which constantly swept
the apartment. Their crashing into
the wall was almost meaningless, and
barely noted either the dense smoke
or the ftful flashes. of fame as the
little garrison returned shot for shot
It was Brennan's voice-how hateful
It sounded then-which recalled my
attention.
"Mapes," he said, with the sharp
tone of wearied command, take a
crack at that fellow over yonder by
the big tree; he must be In range.
You men, verify believe, shut your
eyes when you shoot, for there hasn't
a man dropped out there in the last
half hour"
had reached the door by this time,
but paused now, determined to ven
ture one word of expostulation at his
recklessness.
Major Brennan" I said, speaking
sufficiently loud to be audible above
the uproar, do you not think they will
attempt to charge the house?'
mot while we keep up this fire." he