The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-02-06
CHAPTER X.
A Woman,s Tenderness

A Woman's Tenderness
Youth is never largely given to re-
Election, which is the gift OF years;
and although my life had in a measure
rendered me more thoughtful than
might have proven under ordinary
conditions, yet 1t is to be frankly con-
fessed, by one deslrous OF writing
merely the truth, that generally
acted more upon impulse than reason
AS | stood forth in the sunlight of
that lonely mountain road, my hands
securely bound behind my back, the
end of the rope held by one OF my
c2Dtors, while his fellow leaned lazily
upon his gun and watched us,
thought somewhat deeply over the sit
uation and those peculiar circum-
stances leading up to 1t.
Under other conditions I might have
felt tempted to enter into oonversa-
ton with my guards. who, as ! now
perceived, were far from being the
rough banditu had at first imagined
Judging from their faces and language
they were intelligent enough young
fellows. such as I had often found In
the ranks OF the Federal army. But
realized they could aid me little,
If any, in the one thing | most de-
sired to know. and even II they could
sense of delicacy would have caused
me to hesitate IN asking those per-
sonal questions that burned upon my
lips. Ny deep and abiding respect for
this woman whom had so strangely
\ no off
some degree Of intimacy, would never
permit OF my discussing her, even in.
directly, with private soldiers behind
the back of their officer. Every sense
OF honor revolted at such q thought.
Not through any curiosity of mine.
however justified by the depth OF my
own feeling, should she be made the
subject of idle gossip about the camp
fire.
For, In truth, at this time, unhappy
as my own situation undeniably vas
and as soldier 1 realized all its
daR8ers,-I gave 1t but little considera-
ton. Usually quick of wit, fertile IN
expedients, ever ready to take ad-
vantage Of each opportunity. l had
taken stock of all my surroundings.
yet discovered nowhere the slightest
opening for escape. The vigilance OF
the guard, as we'll as the thorough
manner in which l was bound, rend-
cred any such attempt the merest
madness. Realizing this, with the
fatalism Of a veteran resigned myself
In all patience to what must be-
Then it was that other thoughts
came surging upon me in a series Of
interrogatorios, which no knowledge I
possessed could possibly answer. Who
was this proud, womanly woman who
called herself Edith Brennan? She
had been at some pains to inform me
that she vas married, yet there was
that about her-her bearing, her man
ner-which / could not In the least
reconcile with that thought Her ex-
IRENE youthfulness made me feel "
improbable, and the impression re-
NAMED with me that she intended to
make some explanation of her words,
when the coming of Bungay inter
rupted US. How they might be ex-
planned 1 could not imagine; / mercy
struggled against accepting what
longed to believe untrue. And this
man? this Federal major, bearing the
same name, whom she called Frank.
who was he? What manner of rela-
tionship existed between them? In
their meeting and short intercourse
! had noted several things which told
mo muoh-that she feared, respected,
valued him, and that he was not only
swayed by, but intensely Jealous OF
any rival I'm. her good opinion Yet
their unexpected meeting was scarcely
that OF husband and wife. Was he
tho one she sought In her night ride
from one Federal camp 90 another?
II SO. was he brother, friend or hus-
bandf Whet was the bond OF union
existing between these two7 Every
word spoken made me fear the last
must BIO the true solution
Such we're some Of the queries I
silently struggled with and they were
rendered more acute by that deepen
ing interest which ] now confessed to
myself was feeling toward her who
inspired them. IL may be fashionable
nowadays to sheer at love. yet certain
Sc Is the rare personality OF this
Edith Brennan had reached and In
fluencod me I'm those few hours We
had been thrown together as that OF
no other woman had ever done Pos.
sibly thia was so because tho long
years In camp and field had kept me
isolated from all cultured and refined
womanhood. This may, indeed, have
caused me 70 be peculiarly susceptible