The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1913-05-09

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you l both understand and appreciat
your purpose. But truly do not wis
any trouble to occur again-you wi
go back to your post, will you not
You can serve me best in that way
and retain the gratitude and admire
ton have ever felt for YOU"
"At once, Mrs Brennan" returne
earnestly. II realize 1 have don
wrong in ever coming here as have
1t is my first act of disobedience t
orders in all my military life. Blu
tell me first that I have forfeite,
neither your confidence nor you
friendship"
She paused moment, then addet
quickly, as though in sudden rush o
feeling: mo friend stands higher il
my esteem than you-now please &c
Captain Wayne"
AS 1 crept back through the dark
ness, passing beneath the piano int
the front room, which was filled will
the choking fumes of powder, m!
mind was a chaos Of emotions impos
sible to analyze The very depth o.
love which drew me to her oI&ratet
now in restraint God alone knows
the struggle in the darkness as l con
tinued to move slowly away from hel
and toward the door. So deep was M
agitation, so intense my thought, thai
l scarcely realized 1 was creeping
along barely beneath the dead line OF
those bullets which constantly swept
the apartment. Their crashing into
the wall was almost meaningless, and
l barely noted either the dense smoke
or the f1tful flashes of fame as the
little garriso& returned shot for shot.
1t was Brennan's voice-how hateful
it sounded then-which recalled my
attention.
"Mapes," he said, with the sharp
tone of wearied command, take a
crack at that fellow over yonder by
the big tree; he must be in range.
You men, verify believe, shut your
eyes when you shoot, for there hasn't
a man dropped out there in the last
half hour"
I had reached the door by this time
but paused now, determined to ven.
ture one word of expostulatiou at his
recklessness.
Major Brennan" / said, speaking
sufficiently loud to be audible above
the uproar, do you not think they will
attempt to charge the house?"
mot while we keep up this fire." he
returned coldly, evidently recognizing
my voice.
81 grant that, at least while dark
ness lasts. But you have just COM
planned that your men were doing but
small execution, and is there not dan
ger of exhausting our stock of ammu-
milton by such a useless fJsillade?"
ut will last until our fellows get
here-that is, if your man was ever
really sent for aid, as you say"
There was a thinly yelled sneer in
the words as he spoke them, but l
curbed my temper.
well, In my judgment, strand I
tell it you because deem 1t duty"
/ retorted plainly, you are making a
AhAoNdhO gOu may lCdllLS
when it becomes too late to rectify it,
Possibly l have no right to criticise
one who is technically in command,
yet / am serving as a volunteer, and
the conditions are peculiar. l not
only remember the scene witnessed by
the fact that We are here to fulfil a
sacred duty-the defense of helpless
women from outrage. A fatal mis-
take upon our part would be horri-
ble."
Very well, sir"-and his tone was
rough and overbearing-"then kindly |
recall your soldierly instincts to an
other little matter / chance to COM !
mand here by authority of rank, and |
hold myself responsible for the proper |
defense of this portion of the house. |
l believe you have already been as
signed your duties; if you will attend |
to them l shall be greatly obliged, and |
whenever l may desire your valuable
advice l shall take pleasure in sending |
for you"
l turned away in silence and strobe
back to my post, white with anger.
The dining-room remained as l had
left 1t, and when l lay down in my
old position and peered out through
the broken blind l could mark no
change in the appearance Of our be-
siegers.
Ito be continued)