Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-02-21
CHAPTER xxxI.-contInued.


"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 II. hardly expect
those fellows cut there viii ever
leave without determined effort to
carry he house by storm. have no
doubt they are simply drawing all this
fire in the hope that our ammunition
will thus be uselessly expended 1t
is an old army trick. and one am sur
prised to see so experienced an officer
as Major Brennan yield TO- In my
judgment they will make an effort to
rush US as soon as there is suffic ient
light"
But why not warn him."
Major Brennan would scarcely well
come any interference on my part"
but surely. as a 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 lack OF
friendship between Major Brennan
and myself"
"Still?" she asked. Truly | thought
that might all be over. Even. IL 1t sur.
vived until now. this noble act of
yours in coming to our defense should
have earned you bis gratitude. Ke-
he has never once mentioned your
name to me since that night"
Not even when i cams here with
my troop. | believer"
mo: yet did not connect that
fact with the other. supposed It a
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 it 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 your"
II did not know. do not think
! realized" she stammered, vainly
seeking for words with which to make
clear her bewilderment. II imagined
you might have come at his sugges-
ton to see that we were amply pro
tected. Tits is all so very strange.
He does not even know you are here
with us?
NO" | admitted reluctantly. "P !.
haps | 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
a position of safety Believe me. MRS.
Brennan, have intended no indiscre-
ton. but ! was informed by a soldier
that you were being held here under
IRE"
Her hand touched mine impulslvely,
Rsed Il was warm and throbbing.
Il can merely thank you with all
NO heart. Captain Wayne, and assure
yea | both understand and appreciate
your purpose. But truly DC not wish
any trouble to occur again-you will
go back TO your post, will you not?
You can serve me best In that way,
and retain the gratitude and admira-
ton have ever felt for you"
at once, Mrs. Brennan" returned
earnestly. Il realize l have done
wrong In ever coming here as | have.
It is my first act of disobedience to
orders in all my military life. But
tell me first that have forfeited
neither your confidence nor your
friendship"
She paused moment. then added
quickly. as though in sudden rush of
feeling: No friend stands higher in
my esteem than you-now please go,
Captain Wayne"
As | crept back through the dark
ness, passing beneath the piano into
the front room, which was filed with
the choking fumes of powder. my
mind was chaos of emotions impos-
sible to analyze. Tho very depth OF
love which drew me to her operated
now IN restraint God alone knows
the struggle in the darkness as con
tinued to move slowly away from her
and toward the door. So deep was my
agitation. so intense my thought. that
] scarcely realized was creeping
along barely beneath the dead line OF
those bullets which constantly swept
the apartment Their crashing into
the wall vas almost meaningless, and
/ barely noted either tic dense smoke
OF the ftful flashes n fame as the
little garrison returned shot for shot
u gas Breunan's vcice-how hatefu5