The Winslow mail., 1913-09-20

VI course; why, hadn't mentioned
her name! How did you guess?"
Because am not entirely ignorant
OF conditions" he answered soberly.
Although / have only been at the
post a short time, have managed to
see and hear a good deal. You know
l CHANGED to become involved In the
shooting of Lieutenant Gaskins, and
then / saw you riding with Mrs. Du-
pont, and recognized her."
"Recognized?" in surprise. do you
actually mean you knew her before?"
mot as Mrs. Dupont, but as Vera
Carson, years ago. She knew me at
once, and sent your driver over to the
barracks with note"
why, how strange. She asked me
so many questions, wondered at the
interest shown. Do you mind telling
me what the note was about?"
mot in the least. She referred to
the past, and asked me to meet her"
Were you-very intimate? Great
friends?"
I'VE were engaged to be married." :"
he acknowledged frankly, his eyes
upon her face. THAT was at the
breaking out of the war, and l was in
my senior college year. We met at
schooA, and / was supposed to be the
heir to large property. She is a beau
tiful woman now, and she was a beau
tiful girl then. I thought her as good
and true as she was charming. Since
1oo
and deceit, that it was my money
which attracted her, and that she real
ly loved another man, a classmate."
She glanced up at him as he paused,
but he resumed the story without be-
ing interrupted.
THE war came, and I enlisted at
once, and received commission. AL
most our entire class went, and the
man she really loved was next below
me in rank"
Eugene LIE Fevre?"
yes; how did you know? Oh, l
told you Of him out there in the sand
hills. Well, urged her to marry me
before went to the front, but she
made excuses. Later, l understood
the reason. She was uncertain as to
my tnheriting the property of an
uncle. We were ordered to the Army
of Northern Virginia. Once 1 went
home on furlough, severely wounded.
We were to be married then, but had
not sufficiently recovered when / was
suddenly ordered back to the front l
did suspect then, for the first time,
that she was glad of the respite. I
afterwards discovered that during all
this time she was in correspondence
with lie Fevre, who had been detailed
on Earlys staff. 1t was his influence
which brought about my sudden, un-
expected recall to duty. A few months
later l was promoted major, and at
Fishers Hill, found myself command
ing the regiment. Early in the action
delivered verbally, the only other par
ty present corporal named ShultZ,
a German knowing little English.
Early's exact words were: Advance
at once across the creek, and engage
the enemy fiercely; a supporting col
umn will move Immediately. Desper-
ate as the duty involved appeared,
there was nothing in the order as Civ
en- to arouse suspicion. In obedience
flung my command forward, leading
them on foot. We charged into a trap,
and were nearly annihilated, and
Shultz was either killed, or made pris-
oner. Two days later l was arrested
u aAo fri0 hxy
tial, and dismissed from the service
in disgrace. EARLY produced copy
of his written order; it read cautious
ly feel the enemy's position and LIE
Fevre went on the stand, and swore
the original had been delivered to
me- l had no witnesses"
She watched him with wide-open
eyes, her lips parted.
"And she-this Vera Carson?"
The man laughed bitterly.
Wrote him letter, which the man
actually had the nerve to show me
when 1 was helpless, proving her
falsity l would not believe, and went
back seeking her. But she had de-
parted-no one knew where-but had
first convinced herself that my name
had been erased from my uncle's will
Two months later l heard that she
married LIE Fevre in Richmond"
And she-that woman-actualIy
asked you to meet her again tonight ?"
YES"
did your
II must plead guilty"
"Where?"
Here; just where we are now; we
were together half an hour"
She half arose to her feet, her hand
pra SDino tho roll