The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-01-06

meuI at the 'front.' nope you will or
der him to remain here-conpeI him to
be prudent
''He should not look for the honor of
death on the field under present cir
cumstances,' muttered the general.
with peculiar significance.
what do you mean, STRIP inquired
Gertrude uneasilY.
You have right to ask me that as
your fathers old friend, once your own
guardian. Gertrude, child, you have
a warm, true heart. I could not bear
to see your happiness destroyed
through very loyalty to your hearts
affection. Listen. Last night I saw
you kneeling beside. Kerchival West,
speaking to him, ministering to him
with all the tender passion of a south
ern woman You told him that you
Icsed him. But those fatefu1 words
fell upon unconscious ears. Tell me,
has he ever heard those words from
your own lips? Have you ever con-
fessed your love to him before?"
''Never-since you ask me- But why.
General Haverill, do you ask?'
Never mind. Only do not repeat it.
Keep your heart to yourself, my girl-'
"But, general, at a moment like this,
when his life
Leave that to me-hushF'
The voice of Colonel West himself,
heard outside, giving orders to a ser
geant to gee his horse ready, silenced
them He then came up in full uni
form and wearing his sword and salut-
ed. His face was pale, but he present
ed a brave front
Are there any orders, general, for
my regiment he asked, beyond those
given to Major Williams in my absence
this morning? 1 am going to the front
to resume my command
cit is my wish, colonel, that you re-
main here under the surgeons care"
! said the general quietly.
"Oh, my wound is a mere trife.
could not rest here I must be with
my men at this perhaps critical mo-
ment in the campaign"
81 have told you my wish is to the
contrary repeated General Haverill-
Kerchival knew only too well that
! ominous, quiet reserve He knew the
infexibility of that proud, tntolerant
mood He could not wholly fathom its
cause, but a troublesome recollection
| suddenly occurred to him.
General he said, with grieved
earnestness, after looking around to
see that Gertrude had silently with
| drawn, ct was unable to keep my ap-
pointment with you last night for an
unforeseen reason, which you know 1
| am ready and willing to explain GER
/ tain matters, as you requested me to
| do Yesterday. But meanwhile a crisis
has developed, and whatever there
| may be between US personally you are
now in the position of interfering with
] my duty and my privilege as soldier
/ 1t is my right to be at the head of my
| Sc I
| able"
| You have my positive order, s1r!"
''Then protest!'
you are under arrest, sir!'' said the
general without changing his tone
Kerchfval started as if he had been
shot Then in deliberate, dazed way
he unclasped his belt and offered his
sword
mo; keep your sword. have no de-
sire to humiliate you" the general con-
tinued in a low voice. But you will
hold yourself subject to further orders
| from me-
| With these inexorable words he turn
ed away while KerchivaI. as if sud
denly a sick man again, started to re-
| enter the house. He met Gertrude at
the door, all genteness ard commfsera
ton
said?' he asked feebly.
mo matter what he said or what
any one says now, Kerchival,'' was her
| 1nnpulsive response. "You have my
perfect faith-therei Now you must
go to your room and rest until the sur
geon comes again.
He obeyed in silence. What words
could he find?
Looking out from her window a few
minutes later, Gertrude was startled
to see a number of men emerging from
the woods by the path leading up from
the ford. Then she perceived that they
were Confederate soldiers under flag
! of truce, following an escort of Union
troops and carrying some burden 1t
| proved to be a stretcher, on which lay
the unconscious form of a young man,
evidently a wounded Federal officer,
A surgeon walked beside the stretcher,
giving directions to the bearers, who
rested a short distance from the veran-
da steps Gertrude ran to the door,
followed by Madeline West and Jenny
Buckthorn. Sergeant Barlzet also
stood, wonder struck on sort of i'm
provised sentry guard
"I am Major Hardwick of the Con
federate service said the surgeon, hat
in hand and losing no time us Gen
eral Haverin here?'
HE left but a moment ago.
Hes just after mounting his horse, "
put in Barket. AN 1 can cut across
an stop him for yez."
please say to him that we come
from Colonel Robert EIlingham, who
instructed me to bring this young Off