Comtotr. it, at Ban tUm. - MU
I'v was sitting one afternoon alone
before fcis reportr. aril dispatches wkrn
tlu influence seemed so strong that he
half impulsively laid them aside to in
dulge in lone reverie. He wis re
en'linp; his last day ot Bobles, the early
morning duel with Pinckney, the re
turn to San Francisco, and the sudden
resolution which sent him that day
aerosa the continent to offer his serv
ices lo the povernment. Be remem
bered his delay In the western town
where a volunter regiment was being
recruited, hia entrance into it as a pri
rate, his rapid selection, throuph the
force of his sheer devotion and intelli
gent concentration, to the captaincy of
hia company, his swift promotion on
hard-fought fields to. the head of the
regiment, and the singular success that
had followed hia resistless energy
which left him no time to think of any
thing but hia duty. The sudden intru
sion of his wife upon his career even
in this accidental and perhaps innocent
way, had seriously unsettled him.
The shadows were growing heavier
and deeper, it lacked only a few mo
ments of the sunset bugle when he was
recalled to himself by that singular in
junctive consciousness common to
humanity of being intently looked at.
He turned quickly the door behind
him closed softly. He rose and slipped
into the hall. The tall figure of a wom
en was coming down the passage. She
was rect and graceful, but as she
turned toward the door leading to the
uffices, he distinctly saw the gaudily
tnrbaned head and black silhouette of
a Degress. Nevertheless he halted a
moment at the door of the next room.
"See. who that woman is who just
passed, Mr. Martin. She doesnt seem
to belong to the house."
The young officar rose, put on hi cap
and departed. In a few momenta he
returned.
"Was she tall, sir of a good figure
and erv straight?"
"Yes."
"She is a servant of our neighbors,
the Manlys, who occasionally visits the
rervanta here. A mulatto, I think."
Brant reflected. Many of the mulat
tos and negresses were of good figure,
and the habit of carrying burdens on
their heads gave them a singularly
erect carriage.
The lieutenant looked at his chief.
"Have yoa any orders to give con
cern air her, general T
"So," said Brant, after moment's
pause, and turned away.
The officer smiled. It seemed a good
atoiy to tell at mess of this human
weakness of his handsome, reserved
and ascetic-looking leader.
A few momenta afterward Brant was
interrupted over hia reports by the al
most abrupt entrance of the officer of
the day. Hia face was flushed, and it
was evident that only the presence of
his superior restrained his excitement.
He held a paper In huthaad.
"A lady presents this order and pass
from Washington, countersigned by the
division general."
-A ladyr
"Tea, sir she is dressed as such.
Bat she has not only declined the most
ordinary civilities and courtesies we
have offered her, bnt has insulted Mr.
Martin and myself grossly, and de
mands to be shown to you alone.
Brant took the paper. It was a spe
ial order from the president, passing
Miss Matilda Faulkner through the fea-
era! lines, to visit her uncle's home,
known as "Grey Oaks," now held and
occupied as the headquarters of Brant's
brigade, in order to arrange for the pres
ervation and disposal of certain family
effects and private property that still
remained there, or to take or carryaway
such property, and invoking all neces
sary aid and assistance from the United
States forces in such occupancy. It was
countersigned by the division com
mander. It waa perfectly regular and
of undoubted authenticity. He had
heard of passes of this kind the terror
of the army Issued in Washington un
der some strange controlling influence
" and against military protest, but be did
not let his subordinate see the uneasi
ness nitb which it filled him.
"Show her in,1" he said, quietly.
But she had already entered.bnishing
scornfully past the offioer, and drawing
her skirt aside as if contaminated. A
very pretty southern girl, scornful and
red-lipped, clad in gray riding habit,
and still carrying her riding whip
clenched ominously in her slim, gaunt
letted hand.
"You have my permit in your hand,"
she said, brusquely, hardly raising her
eyes to Brant "I suppose it's all
straight enough, and even if it isn't, I
don't reckon to be kept waiting with
those hirelings.''
"Your 'permit' is 'straight enough,'
Miss Faulkner," said Brant, slowly
reading her name from the document
before him, "bnt aa it does not seem to
include permission to insult my officers
you will perhaps first allow them to re
tire." He made a sign to the officer,
who passed out of the door. As it
closed be went on in a gentle, but coldly
imimpasaioned voice. "I perceive you
are a southern lady, and, therefore, I
need not remind you that it is not con
sidered good form to treat even the
slaves of those one does not like unciv
illy, and I must therefore expect that
yon will keep your active animosity tor
myself." i. i
inuu so vouug, so hui.Usviiij, sorellncd.
and so coldly invincible in manner.
Still less was she prepared lor mat kino
of antagonism. In keeping up her pre
concerted attitude toward the "north
ern hireling" she had been met with
official brusqueness, contemptuous si
lence or sggrieved indignation LuS
nothing as exasperating as this. Six
even fancied that this elegant but h.:-donic-looking
soldier waa lnwardlj
mocking her. She bit her red lip. bin
with a scornful gesture of hor riding
whip said:
"I reckon that your knowledge of
southern ladies is, for certain reasons,
not very extensive." .
"Pardon me. I have had the honor of
marrying one.
Apparently more exasperated than
before she turned upon him abruptly.
"Yon say my pass is all right. Then I
presume I may attend to the business
that brought me here."
"Certainly, but you will forgive me if
I imagined that an expression of con
tempt for your host was a part of it"
He rang a bell on the table. It was re
sponded to by an orderly. "Send all
the household servants here."
The room waa presently filled with
the dusky faces of the negro retainers
Here and there was the gleaming of
white teeth, but a majority of the as
sembly wore the true negro acceptance
of the importance of "an occasion."
line or two even affected an official and
soldierly bearing. And as he fully ex
pected there were several glances of sig
nilicant recognition of the stranger.
"You will give, said Brant, sternly
'everv aid and attention to the want-
of this vouug lady, who is here to repre
sent the interests of your old master.
As she will be entirely dependent npoi
you in ull things connected with her
visit here, see to it that she does not
have to complain to me of any matter.
lion or to be obliged to ask for other
assistance.
As Miss Faulkner, albeit a trifle paler
in the cheek, but as scornful as ever.
.os about to follow the servant from
lie room.Bmnt stopped her with a cold-
jtmtn siq rsiri aiojaq turq oj paunoao
i3u pin) II 'Jturqiou paA&qaq rata
toq 'aocj Big -quads m pai(oo.iao
peq aq jr. uAa uopuarrs srq fgaus
,nq ion pinoo laaCqns jo Manna idiuqe
qj pas "33UI umo srq oj paixuip
.;i .i.iinouriiiUi )ueag mqj aatre;2 at)
urjicJui.i's 'ipmb aui 'oqs s.jaifsads
m v freGftt a jo ot snouimo aqt
;...-.uioj imp aouaira prop aqx u;suoij
uiai asoqi jo Sm ut ustu jo jauaq
qi a8 o) punoq si aqs paistui si sqs
j.iqn pay -ajM jo 'vreaqiaajts UaiBts
u jaqtaqii mod trrfi uo paisnx) aq o
;,uai imnoM oiaqtnos a rji jox pjou Aw
opri Moixresk tusuSiput aqt pa)aia)tai
,U;soXn 'Jjmssrqjoauo 1siaiueng
(03 jo oouoip paipxa taqMStnos
ir,l ni,&oiioi Xfaareos Baas uot;;ru)S
t.v iBmcqaq srq trj "qin aq jo peon
-t itj ')ubjq pun "saauauadxa 9v itaqt
. inanpui A'nrsqojd namoAt uaaqino
1 ijaijaai imioriaas aenainj aq) uodn
:aain4 uotrssisAUoa aifl uauuip u
jami osv) 10 paqjmoua AiemaI!8
ajM UMO
jiq jo tqftioqi ag 'aatmgioJIis pnios
jad e nq oapprq iao ou paurgjnoa
,1 ji si sifMq? vuiuq painnottt qstiu
f snojaaaup i jeqj nuu aqj o-
:paBquM08traiauaaq)Utianad uiaui
'nsuiaaicqa 9 sua jaaAioq oltm
i jo uutttoq aqt tV paaqo SiMdtM
xl isnta pus iiuoqins Iraqi) iq aqt
uuj pannmaa Japjo aq imp )nq pau
Hi u iaut aqt no uapjnq pas jgja
to puc:( siq) ind ot Xrsssaoaa 1! punoj
;ils uojiarqse jo ssrjuoirinB aqi
iL'iri iiatiiaiiiii Adaa leuuoj a paAtaaaj
jq siq ox aanjJiqns se pauimqo
t'iiuoua stt srvd aqi taqt poe "muu
pioqasnoq aqt Aq paAjasaad Artsaj
jjc pus joj parea mm i isq) 'aauni
tiaAjns jdlus japan Auadoid m.ui
-riau-AO aqi paod Xpuaare peq aq )nq:
I no Jmpuiod 'aapormnioa uoisiAjp sq;
oi saaq aj V aioJM put tutop ies ai;
iisaioquaAj! HSv.mb Jsq jo qUnouj
jsb) isq aAq Aaq Aauuj xtnq'aiuis
lutiij qi! 'Jiasmiq oj inua ptw
M'ajaq aaa qiAA V!S i aJiBap s
qjjAv jsq jib O) qaaoua a)nb s) !qi,
mooj am taojj iisaouni vIsms aqg
sjdm joajuoo 0 xaaiod 0Aq J t!l
nao'.ps atioA OJiaoD o jjod oa a.sw,
I -Mr.d noA moqat aas put as pu
amoa 01 aaaj aia no -snsam on ig,,
itiuenllipa; "pres aqs aiuaptajd-
jnoi jo sand aaij Japan pus asnoq
snn ut jaarnud aq ot nam 1 toy,
wi qM Xaqj jou 'nurej Ajnt
-tfjm tm jo uaqmaui aq) q;At imuoa
iirc oj pasoilxa aq tou H( no( tqi
pan 'qsiAi jnoiAq noA jsqi 'jaui(nej
ss;k 'ajojajaqt 'puejaiapun not,,
:ajmsa8 snoaunoa A
affairs might be known neither had
he ever thought of keeping them a se
cret. It seemed so purely a persona
and private misfortune that he had
never dreamed of it having any public
interest. And even now he was a little
ashamed of what he believed waa his
sensitiveness to mere conventional
criticism, which, with the instinct of a
proud man, he had despised.
He was not far wrong In his sardonic
intuition of the effect of his prohibi
tion upon Miss Faulkner's feelings.
Certainly that young lady, when not
engaged in her mysterious occupation
of arranging her uncle's effect, occa
sionally was seen in the garden, and
in the woods beyond. Although her
presence was the signal for the "ob
lique" of any lounging "shoulder
strap" or the vacant "front" of a posted
fctotth I ItwaU to Hfatt
caslonal proximity with less active ills-1
favor. Once when she had mounted t!a
wall to gptlu'r a magnolia lilosMim. t-h
! ehslr by which the hail uacenilrd roHal
over, leaving her on me wall. At
signal from llie guurtl room twu aj"
(wrs and minors appeared, carrying a
sealing ladder, which tln'y pluifl sv
Icntly against the wall. mini s nili-uil.
withdrew. On another omisinn the
same spirited young lailv. nluini llram
was sutiMiril would have prubuhly iiu
iwriletl her life imdi r fire, in devotion
10 her cause, was liioujrlU iiiiimiiiu.tis
ly to uny in the field by that most spinn
ing of doinoslic nlliuials- the walnh-r-iug
and untrummeled iuw. Brunt
could not help smiling as he heard Un
quiet harsh call to "turn out guard,"
saw the men marched sulidly with
fixed bayonets to the vieiuity of the af
frighted animal, who fled, leaving Un
fair stranger to wnlk shaiiie-faee dly to
the house. He was surprised, howou t .
that she should have halted before hli
door, and with tremulous indignulioii
said:
'1 thank you, sir, for your ohivulrous
ness in turning a defenseless woman
into ridicule.
I regret. Miss Faulkner," began
Brant, gravely, "that you should believe
thnt 1 am able to control the advances
of farmvard cattle as easily as" but
he stopped as he saw that the angry
flush of her blue eyes, as sne aarteii
from him, were set in tears. A little
remorseful on the following day, he
added a word to his ordinary cap lift-
;( when he passed her, but she re
tained a reproachful silence, Laer in
the day he received from ner servant a
respectful request foraninterview.and
wtis relieved to find that she entered his
presence with no trace of her former
grcssion but ratner wnn toe resig
nation of a deeply injured, yet not en
tirely unforgiving woman.
I thought," she began, coldly, "that
I might to inform you that I would
prolinlily lie able to conclude my nitai
nesK here by the day after to-morrow.
nn thut you would then be relieved of
my presence. I am aware, Indeed," she
added, bitterly, "I could scarcely help
jierreiviug, that it has been an exceed
ingly irksome one.
I trust," began Brant, coldly, "that
no gentleman of my command has "
No!" she interrupted him quickly.
with a return of her former manner.
ami a passionate sweep of her hand,
do vou suppose for a moment that 1
.tm speaking that I am even thinking
of them! What are they to me?
I1H11I; yon. 1 am glad to know that
thcr are nothing, and that 1 may now
trust thnt you have consulted my
ir.bes aud have reserved your ani
mosity for me." returned llrant, quiet
ly. "If that is so, I see no reason for
your hurryliuj your departure in the
U-nrt."
She rose instantly. "1 have," she
jiil. slowly, controlling herself with a
:ipht effort, "found some one who will
aUe my duty off my hands. She is a
i-rvaut of one of your neighbors who
s au ok! friend of -my uncle's the
tvorjuu is femiiiar with the house aud
;ur private property, I will give her
full instructions to act for me and
-ven an authorization in writing if you
irefer it. She is already in the habit
f coming here hut her visits will give
.-ou very little trouble. And as she is
s slave or. as you cull it, I believe a
chattel. sIk- v.-Ill be already quite accus
tomed ti the treatment which her class
are in the habit uf receiving from
northern hands." Without waiting to
M-rciMve the effect of her Parthian shot,
siic swept proudly out of the room.
"1 wonder what she means?" mused
ftrant. as her quick step died away in
:!tc passage. "One thing is certain, a
woman like that is altogether too im
pulsive for a spy."
I.nter, in the twilight, he taw her
e. nlking in the garden. There was a fig
ure at her side. A little curious, he ex
imined it more closely from his win
low. It was already familiar to him
the erect shapely form of his neigb
lor's servant. A thoughtful look passed
over his face as he muttered: "So this
is to be her deputy!"
CHAPTER ID.
Called to a general council of officer!
at divisional headquarters the next day
Brant had little time for further specu
lation regarding his strange guest But
a remark from the division commandei
that he preferred to commit the general
plan of a movement then under discus
sion to the memories rather than to
written orders in the ordinary routine,
seemed to show that bis chief still sus
pected the existence of a spy. He there
fore told him of his late interview with
Miss Faulkner and her probable with
drawal in favor uf a mulatto neighbor.
The division commander received the
information with indifference. They're
much too clever to employ a hussy like
that, who shows her hand at every
turn either as a spy or a messenger of
spies and the mulattoes are too stupid,
to say nothing of their probable fidelity
to as. No, general, if we are watched, it
is by an eagle and not a mocking bird.
Mias Faulkner has nothing worse sbout
her than her tongue, and there isn't the
nigger blood in the whole south that
would risk a noose for her, or for any
of their masters or mistresses."
It was therefore, perhaps, with some
mitigation of hia usual critical severity
that he taw her walking before him
alone in the lane as he rode home to
quarters. She was apparently lost in
a half impatient, half moody reverie,
which even the trotting hoof-beate of
his own and orderly's horses had not
disturbed. . From time to time the
struck the myrtle hedge beside her
with the head of a huge flower which
hung by it stalk from her listless
bands, or held it to her face as if to
Inhale it perfume. Dismissing his or
derly by a tide path h rode gently for
ward, but to hit surprise, without turn
ing or seeming to be aware of his pret
ence, afie quickened her pace, and even
appeared to look from side to aid for
tome avenue of esuapet ,f alytond
HUtttH 1st Ml ablqttl U Hit ftUUy
.word to her svb, where h,i threw
ins.-li fioin his liorw, flung the reins
.n Ins arm, aud began to walk Ixniile
in. She at first turned a slightly
Uahccl cheek away from him, and then
. .i.isl up with a purely simulated
ii.:m uf surprise.
"I am afraid," he said, giii(!y,"Uuit
I 1.111 the first to break toy own orders
111 n-gard to any Intrusion mi your pri-va-'V.
Itut I wonted to nsk you if 1
.-ould give yon any nid whatever In the
change you think of making." lie was
iiitc sinceie, had been lniii-Iu-d by her
niniiifext disturbance, anil h'iqitc his
nuiM-uliiic tvleullcssnessof crlHciam he
i.ml an intuition of feminine sultei iug
iiuit v.as in itself feminine. j
"Meaning that you are 111 a hurry to
:yL rid of me," ahe said curtly, without
.using her eyea,
"Meaning that I only wish to ex
pedite a business which 1 think Is un-
.!eiiMunttoyou,butwhiohI believe you
.,:ic undertaken from unselfish devo-
;:on."
The scant expression of a reserved
i.iii.c 1 sometime more attractive to
...l-.i-.n tluin the most fluent vivacity,
-us-..!!;- there wna also a niclnm-holy
n; hta sardonic soldier's manner
,1'. r.ftYi ud her. for she looked up
.n,l said impulsively:
1 -Vou tluuk so?"
l!ut he met her eager eyes with sonn
...rrise. "1 certainly do," he repliei
:u ire i-iii.ily. "1 can Imagine yinr.
fei'liiiK ;) finding your uncle's luiiiu
in the NHtsi-ssion of your em-mica, iiin'
your presence under the family roof
only a sufferance 1 can hardly be
lieve it t pleasure to you or a task you
would have accepted for yuursi-II
aloue."
"Rut." she said, turning from him
wickedly, "what if I did it only locxi-ltc
my reveuge; what if 1 knew it would
give uie eourugv. to entice my jH'Ople to
carry the way into your own homes,
to moke ynu of the uorth feel as 1 feel,
und tuslc our bitterness'.'"
"I could cosily understand that loo,"
he returned with listless coldness, "al
though I doo't admit that revenge is an
unmixed pleasure even ton woninu "
"A woman," she repeated, indignant
ly. "There is no sex in a war like this."
"You are spoiling your flower,'' hr
said quietly. "It is very pretly am! n
native one, too not an luvuder noi
even transplanted. May I 1.mi!. ut it ?"
She hesitated, half recoiling for nn
instant, and her hand tremliliug. Then
suddenly and abruptly she snid with n
hysteric liti le. laugh : "Take it then,"
and ulmust thrust it in his hand.
1 certainly was a pretty dower,
alike a lily in appearance, with a be
like cup and long anthers covered wi.
a fine pollen like red dust. As he lifn
it to his face to inhale its perfume k!
uttered a alight cry and snatched
from his hand.
"There!" she said with the same lie
vous laugh. "I knew you would - .
ought to have warned you. The pollct
comes off so easily, and leaves a stain
And you've got some on your chccl;
Look!" she continued, taking her hand
kerchief from her pocket and wiping
his cheek, "see there!" The delicate
cambric showed a blood red streak.
"It grows in a swamp," she con
tinued in the same excited strain, "we
call it dragon's teeth like the kind
that was sown in the story, you know.
We children used to find it and then
paint our faces and lips with it. We
called it our rouge. I was almost
tempted to try it again when I found il
just now. It took me back so to the old
times."
Following her odd manner rather
than her words, as she turned her face
toward him suddenly, Brant was in
clined to think that she had tried it al
ready, so scarlet was her cheek. But it
presently paled ugitiu under his cold
scrutiny.
(To be continued .)
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a nice tmliliy suit ut cluthes that keeps
them warm and healthy. Baker hat
tu in aud for but little money. Csu
you tlnnd tl.Otl fur t suit of clothes, or
up to M OD? All these low prion ya
will find at Hiram Bakar't.
... .'AW' .. . v ' ' "