The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1912-03-11

GOWN NANNY uFm. one StdMmefeO,
unable to speak more connectedly than
I myself. Mandy could not forget her
anger and Insisted that she wanted to
see the "bOss."
81 am the colonel in command right
here, Aunt Mandy" i said. Wont I
do?"
"You kunnel?' she retorted. Looks
to me like kunneIs is mighty easy
made If you'll do. No; we're after
Ginral Meriwether, who's comm here
to be the real boss of all you folks.
Say, man, you taken away my man
and my boy. Where they at?"
with me here" / was glad to an
~wer. "safe and somewhere not far
away. The boy is wounded, but his
arm is nearly We'll"
"Ain't got huff fightin' yit?'
mo: both he and Auberry seem to
be just beginning"
"Humph! Reckon they're happy,
then. If q mans gittin' three squares
a day and plenty O. fghtin', don't see
whut more he kin ask"
Corporal" called to my sentry,
who was now pacing back and forth
before the door, hiding his mouth be-
hind his hand, put this woman I'M
der arrest and hold her until return.
She's looking for Privates Auberry
and McGovern, G Company. First Wiz
ginia volunteers. Keep her in my Of
fee while they're sent for. Bring me
my bag from the table"
1t was really pretty fight, that be-
tween Mandy and the corporal. The
latter was obliged to call out the
guard for aid. "Sick 'em, Peter cried
Mandy when she found her arms pin
toned, and at once there darted out
from under the cart hairy little
demon of dog, mute, mongrelish,
pink cared, witch began silent havoc
with the ccrporaps legs.
1 looked again at that dog. I was
ready to take it In my arms and cry
out that it was my friend. 1t was the
little Indian dog that Ellen and had
tanned. Why, then. had she kept it?
Why had she brought # home with
her? doubt which way the contest
would have gone had not Mandy seen
me climb into her vacated seat and
take ND the reins. Pete then stolidly
took up his place under the cart
We turned and drove back up the
shady street. Ellen and I. I saw her
fingers twisting together In her lap,
but as yet she had not spoken. The
flush on her cheek was deeper now.
She beat her hands together softly,
confused. half frightened, but she did
not beg me to leave her.
IF you could get away" she began
at last, II would ask you to drive me
back home. Aunt Mandy and l are
living there together. Kitty Steven
sons visiting me-you'1l-you'll want
to call on Kitty. My father has been
In east Kentucky, but l understand
he's ordered here this week. Major
Stevenson is with him. We thought
we might get word and 50 came on
through the Ines"
"You had no right to do so. The
pickets should have stopped you," I
said. Eat the same time, l am very
glad they didn't"
$50 you are colonel" she said after
q time, with an army girls nice read
ing Of insignia.
EYES," answered, II am an officer.
Now if could only be gentleman"
DON'T" she whispered. Don't talk
in that way. please"
"Do you think could BET"
81 think you have BEEN" she whis-
pered. all her face rosy now. Then she
pointed to a mansion house on a far
of hill-such a house as can be found
nowhere in America but In this very
vaney-an old family seat, lying re-
served and full of dignity at hilltop
shielded with great oaks.
'That is our home" she said. eve
have not often been here since grand
father died, and then my mother. But
this is the place that we Meriwethers
all call home"
AS we approached the gate heard
behind us the sound Of galloping horses.
There came up the road a mounted Of
ficer, with his personal escort. an or
derby. several troopers and a grinning
body servant.
Look, there he comes! It is my IA
Their" exclaimed Ellen. And in q mo-
ment she was out Of the cart and run
ming down the road to meet him, TAX
ing his hand. resting her cheek against
his dusty thigh, as he sat in saddle.
The officer saluted me sharply. You
are outside the Ines" said he. "Have
you leave?"
/ saluted also and caught the twinkle
in his eye.
ION detached service this morning,
general" said. "If you please, I
shall report to you within the hour"
He wheeled his horse and spurred
on up along his own grounds. fit mas
ter for their stateliness. A wide
seat lay beneath one Of the oaks. We
wandered :hither, Ellen and I. The
little dog, mute. watchful, kept close
at her side.
"Ellen," said I to her. ''the time has
come now. 1 am not going to wait
any longer. Read this" 1 put into
her hand Gordon Orme's confession.
She read. with horror starting on
her face "What a scoundrel-what
a criminalr' she said "The man was
demon. He killed your fatherv'
eyes, and in turn I killed him." I
said slowly. Her eyes flashed. She
was savage again as had seen her
My soul leaped out to see her fierce,
relentless. exulting that I had fought
and won, careless that had slain.