The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-01-18

OF peace and plenty. before civil strife
had sown the land with dead.
What possible excuse. then. had |
for going there? In my own heart
knew | had none, or one SO poor and
selfish scarcely burst whisper 1t even
to myself; yet | rode steadily on. I'M
PEELED by my own weakness. or drawn
irresistlbly by fate-whichever the
real cause | know not-l would at
least look upon those walls that had
once sheltered her, would learn II pos
siole II she was yet there Then
we'll, in the bondage of my passion |
hoped for what might happen. as
every lover does.
It must have been two o'clock; we
had baited our horses, remember, an.
hour previous; and the Sergeant had
enjoyed his MONDAY siesta beneath
the shade of a 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 recros5ed the little stream
called the CowskinS until almost
thought we had lost our way. We met
with no one in all the long days rid.
ing. not even a stray negro, and In
deed 1t was some hours since we had
passed a house Of any kind. Leaving
the brook behind us we toiled slowly
up a long hill. and at the top BuLgay.
riding beside me, pointed to the west
ward.
Cap" he said. thar is ther Minor
place"
The very sight of 1t in the distance
was a thrill-a great white house
placed we'll back from the road and
almost hidden from sight by fine.
large trees an old-fashioned, big.
roomed house It looked to be. built
after the colonial type. wide veranda
upon three sides. with fluted columns
to support the overhanging roof.
"Hain't no signs es fer es kin see
Of any trouble havin' Cured thar.
Jed said slowly. his shrewd gray eyes
roaming over the peaceful scene
somebody ter hum tew. fer ther
chimley is a smoKin'."
OF course, now was there, the only
sensible thing for me to do would
have been to ride openly to the front
door, and thus learn all desired But
what man who loves. who is continual.
ly swayed by hopes and fears. by
strength and weakness, ever does the
sensible thing? had certainly in.
tended doing SO at the start. but now
my nerve failed me. She was the
wife of another. ! could not confess
had ventured to come to her in love
nor could look into those clear, hon.
est, questioning eyes and lie
Halt" | ordered. Sergeant"
81 am here. Captain"
Take your men down into that hoI-
low yonder. and remain there until /
return. Better post sentry on the
hill mere"
ut will be done, Captain"
n shall not. probably. be absent
more than an hour, so don't permit the
men to stray"
Dot Is it. Captain. will bt NIT
dem all over"
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 ! struck across the
fields, my intention being to come IN
by the way of the negro quarters at
iy, ~ rDnAtino
from whom | might inquire relative
to the great house and its inmates.
1t was a slight upward trend OF
land | had to traverse. and although
the house was a most slightly object
and stood upon the very summit of the
elevation. yet so surrounded was IT
with trees, both fruit and ornamental,
was enabled to make but little of its
situation until | approached the out
buildings. met with no one. nor
could | perceive any negroes about
the slave quarters Yet the place did
not bear the appearance Of desertion
There were horses in the stable, cat
was curled up on one of the cabin
door steps, and smoke continued to
pour In a dull yellow cloud from the
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 the remains OF a
garden. lay between the house and the
stable. protected by low fence OF
whitened pickets. So far as could
observe. 1t contained no occupant. and
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 a de-
Iightful contrast to the deep blue sky
beyond. AS | came opposite an open
ing leading into this arbor | suddenly
caught the fiutter of drapery and
stopped instantly. my heart throbbing
like frightened girls. 1t was quite
dark beneath the vine shadow. and
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 ex-
clamation of terror.
Pardon me-" said hastily, and re-
moving my hat. but you have nothing
to fear"
There was moments hesitancy on
her part, and knew was being scru.
tinized by a pair of bright eyes.
Surely" said familiar voice, Il
cannot be mistaken--you are Captain
Wayne
Before could even answer she
stepped forth from her partial con
cealment and advanced. toward me