The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-26

D"e hoW lney tell me tnat you and
your men have come, there is no lon.
ger danger Of those horrible creatures
getting In here"
You knew. then, that I was in the
house?"
III was told some noble Confed er ates
had accompanied Lieutenant Cation
back to aid us. but your name was
not mentioned"
Then my appearance must have
proven a complete surprise?"
"Yes, and no." she answered frank
ly. Il was not sure It was you. OF
course, and did not venture to ask,
but | knew you were In the neighbor.
hood, and that such an act would be
In way characteristic. l was GER
tain you would come II you knew. and
II. well really. hoped 1t was"
In spite OF slight effort at restraint
l CROPPED In the darkness until I
touched her hand. For the moment
she permitted me to retain II, 40 II
unconsciously. within my grasp.
Why" I questioned, scarcely rely
Ing rpon my own voice.
oh, one always trusts friends more
readily than strangers, and I have
seen you In danger before, and pos
sess such confidence In your courage
and resource"
But Miss Minor took particular
care to inform me you felt little or no
interest In me-that you never even
spoke OF me except as she compelled
you TO do So"
For moment she did not answer.
How constant the firing continues"
she said at last, as I sat struggling
dumbly with temptation.
"A mere waste of powder, I fear.
was my reply. given thoughtlessly
When the rush finally comes we are
likely to be without sufficient ammu.
milton to repel II. hardly expect
those fellows out there will ever
leave without Z determined effort to
carry the house by storm. have no
doubt they are simply drawing all this
hre In the hope that our ammunition
Will thus be uselessly expended. It
is an old army trick, and one am sur
prised to see so experienced an officer
as Major Brennan yield to. In my
Judgment they will make an effort TO
rush us a soon a. there ID suficient
light" .. &c.,. ~.
But why not warn him?"
Major Brennan would scarcely vel.
come any interference on my part"
But surely. as Q soldier, he must
value the advice of another soldier?"
Possibly you forget" explained,
striving to speak as lightly OF It as
might be. that there Is . lack of
friendship between Major Brennan
and myself" t.. .....
"Still?" she asked. "Truly I thought
that might all be over. Even II 1t sur.
vived until now, this noble act OF
yours In coming to our defense should
have earned you his gratitude. He
he has never once mentioned your
name to me since that night"
Not even when came hero with
my troop. believer
mo; yet I did not connect that
fact with the other. I supposed It a
mere oversight, or that he believed
the mention of your name would not
greatly interest me. Surely. Captain
Wayne. you are not keeping open this
unhappy woundT
"On my word. no; but I regret to
confess 1t is very far from being
closed"
"He-Major Brennan does not know,
then. that you are here now with me?"
She evidently hesitated to ask this
question.
Certainly not" In surprise at her
apparent innocence. "You cannot have
supposed I had been sent here by
him to talk with your"
II did not know. do not think
I realized" she stammered, vainly
seeking for words with which to make
clear her bewilderment. Il imagined
you might have come At his sugges.
tion to SEQ that We were amply pro-
tected. This 10 all 90 very strange.
He does not even know you are here
with u.s."
NO" I admitted reluctantly. "Per.
haps have no excuse even for being
here at all. My duty az . soldier is
certainly elsewhere. but I could not
rest content until I knew you were In
position Of safety. Believe me, Mrs
Brennan. have intended no indiscre-
tion. but I was informed by q soldier
that you were being held here under
Are"
Her hand touched mine impulsively,
and 1t was warm and throbbing.
Il can merely thank you with all
my heart. Captain Wayne, and assure
you both understand and appreciate
your purpose. But truly do not wish
any trouble to occur asain-you will
go back to your post. will you not?
You can serve me best In that way,
and retain the gratitude and admira-
tion have ever felt for YOU"
"At nnce Nra nroo.x. .s