The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1913-02-21
A conyersatIon II the Dark.


innate cordially expressed by her
words and manner failed in utter
ance. Anticipating coldness, indiifer-
ence, possibly eyen resentment at my
presuming to approach her. was in
stead greeted by an unstudied warmth
Of welcome that made my heart beat
fercely.
'Eurely ] am not mistaken" she
ulestioned. rendered doubtful by my
silence rs not this Captain Wayne"
There is no mistake" I FASTENED to
assure her, but | had anticipated
from our last meeting far less cor.
dial greeting"
oh she exclaimed. with light
laugh and is that all? Yet surely. II
! was TO believe my own eyes was
perfectly Justified In my actions then.
However. Captain. ! have been forced
10 realize the truth OF that situation.
and am now disposed to make up TO
you IN kindness for all my unjust
snspicions Z
Il am more than delighted TO learn
that cloud Is no longer to overshadow
ma. Miss Minor has made full ex.
PLANTATION, them
"You have been completely exon
Grated, and restored TO my good
Hraccs.
As she spoke ! became aware that
she was husily engaged upon some
task. and when she ended felt the
steel Of gun-barrel touch my hand.
Please pass this to Maria she
said calmly. and hand me back the
enc she has
you are loading. them" asked. as
complied with her request
we have all been busy. Isn't II
terrIbleg | was so frightened at first.
hut now they tell me that you and
your men have come. there is no lon
ger danger OF those horrible creatures
getting in here
"You knew. then. that was In the
house,
a was told some noble Confederates
had accompanied Lieutenant Cation
back to aid us but your name was
not mentioned"
y Then my appearance must have
proven complete surprise?''
"Yes, and no." she answered frank
IT, Il was not sure II was you. OF
course. and | did not venture to ask.
bot I knew you were In the neighbor.
hood. and that such an act would be
In way characteristic. was Ger.
tain you would come II you knew. and
III. well really. hoped II was
In spite OF a slight effort at restraint
! CROPPED In the darkness until !
touched her hand. For the moment
she permitted me to retain II, as II
nnconsclously. within my grasp
"Why7" questioned. scarcely rely
Ing upon my own voice.
"Oh. one always trusts friends more
readily than strangers, and 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
nou to do so"
For moment she did not answer.
: How constant the firing continues"
she said at last, as | sat struggling
dumbly with temptation
"A mere waste of powder. l fear"
was my reply given thoughtlessly.
when the rush finally comes we are
likely TO be without sufficient ammu
milton 10 repel II. / hardly expect
those fellows out there Will ever
leave without a determined effort to
carry the house by storm I have no
doubt they are simply drawing all this
FIRE in the hope that our ammunition
will thus be uselessly expended. 1t
Is an old army trick, and one am sur
prised to see so experienced an officer
az Major Brennan yield TO. In my
Judgment they viii make an effort to
rush us as soon as there is sufficient
light"
but why not warn him?"
Major Brennan would scarcely well
come any interference on my part
But surely. as a soldier, he must
value the advice OF another SOLDIER"
Possibly you forget explained,
arriving to sneak as lightly OF It as
might be. that there Is lack Of
friendship between Major Brennan
and myself"
"Still?" she asked. Truly thought
chat might all be over Even II It sur
'gived 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 mo since that night"
~Not even when I came here with
my troop. believer
mo; yet did not connect that
fact with the other. supposed It
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 wound9'
ION my word. no; but regret to
confess itsis very far from being
closed"
''Ho-Mnjor Brennan does not know,
then. that you are here now with mo?'
She. nvidontly hesitated 70 ask this