Pittston Gazette

              m  1K5«, I V01. XI.VUIXo.MI i Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Valley. P1TTST0N, LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, DECEHBER 24, 1897. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. i £1 OO a Year • in .idvaoce i something polite to iniu. Sometmug oonciliatory, dear, for all our sukes." But Liza's face was absolutely uncompromising. The sergeant IimI found what he was looking for ut last. "Your filled the day, sleep makes imperative demands on a man, let liim lie never so nervously excited otherwise, and Neth had to keep in constant motion to ward off drowsiness. lie would never forgive himself if those predicted torch bearers should accomplish their wicked ends while he slept. On the library table he knew he would find one of the soft, tallowy candles his mother and the madam were so inordinately proud of, stuck in one of the tall silver candlesticks that had belonged to generations of Strongs. It always stood ready for night emergencies. into which ho had been shedding hit copious tears. Weeping had not en baiiet d his good looks. the human peg that was trembling violently beneath its slight weight and sean bed ils unlined eruwu tor a handkerchief. His thin, gharp ehinwasqniveriiiK with excitement. His pale, blue eyes shot tiames of wrath into the grave, patient lace of his brother. frozen iuto iiu attitude of alix iiio jpeoerai omeer questioned tr, OWea ii-iuftivjr. vji wua suu au uutD aim '.lit bvjiocrile, not worthy to bre-atlao iSKBali Kirls repelling tC.uch, liCD wati h s fcv a the air •with Adrit-n Strong's mother or Liza? But it' only he could have I- kick to her looking that way a f;i. v u: .;C nu insti'iul of a "I Can't see fur the life of me what you did send fur ino any which away for. I should 'a'tbought you'd rnther not. 1 ain't no soldi* r. That privilege was denied me. 1 ain't killed nary Yankee. That privilege was denied me too. But, talkin 'bout your clothes, it ain't the blue uniform as hurts and my heart so bad, Strong Martin; it's what the blue uniform stands for.'" small group of conquered rebels mal iug tliC ir ] iC ]iiir;itic n.1 lor (i'purtori;. 1'ho sergeant moistened 11m blunt, black point Cif his lead pencil with the I blunt, red point of his tongue and held it over the paper pad in readiness. Liza's pretty head was tiling backward in graceful defiauoe. "My name is Martin Martin." "Martin? Not the daughter of Ebeu Martin, now, I guess?" uame, pleast ihey iiiiKi. crt b II, sUwu "My knowledge of tho country and its resources recommended me in high quarters. You would not care to hear the story of my promotion.' That has nothing to do with the htern facts storing us in the face today. I am here. 1 am here in a position to befriend all at bans Souci, and it was because 1 wanted to ceubu.lt with you tirst as to tho best method of doing this without bringing down upon myself a deluge of that sentimental abuse that is lavished so liberally upon the invading army that I sent for you first. You owe it to your friends to be rational. I maybe ordered away from hero on a moment's notice. Tell me how I can best help them all. " the sicl vith IS I Ho was positively majestic. g WR8? ef "D—11 'em, they may shoot mo fur it, but I'll get in 0110 or two licks fust " Seth lighted it, and with a sense of desecration resting heavily upon him seated himself at the governor's writing table to write a comforting note to his mother. per uns;!tiD:iC C mutual suiijuirt aiid ooi! ward C f C Htr heart was truer than her lips. She looked away from him while answering him, so that her eyes should not betray this humiliating fact to Lim. to abide b, dure still further, if uocd- t ready fB BSbtm OT, (SV His footfall was noiseless, nothing between him and the damp gallery tioor but tlie Htout woolen nocks knitted by his mother's dexterous lingers. Eliza June ready to aoecpt aid and comfort at au If ihe time ever (loos come when I Corporal Green leaf took possession of the big leather armchair that was rarely ever occupied, now that the governor was gone, and, laying his heavy cap across his knees, gave himself up to contemplation of the splendid appointments of the room. The major was selecting a cigar from his case. He was deliberate in all his movements. His selection made, ho extended it to Seth with an inconsequent •remark: "You used to be a great smoker. I can recommend that wt ed " enemy's hand. Becky bad voiced it all ffir hint; looking at him with tear dimmed eyes, can myself to look upon a traitor with h int nt eye.. Major Strong Martin, or if my standard of right and wrong should ever be so fully reversed as to make your transgression your virtue, I -■bull scud for you promptly and rebuke myself iu your presence for the unutterable detestation of your coursc which now has full possession of my perverted amsws The wooden sabots he bad laboriously achieved for outdoor wear were too painfully audible for such a delicate mission as that night was devoted to. This sentinel duty had not been discussed with the women. They had all retired early after that nerve trying day, ami he boped they were all sleeping off the recollection of its trials. Seth was minded to spare them every unnecessary pang, and if thry knew he was "footing it" out there in the chill darkness some of them would "fret over it." COPYRIGHT. IB97 Br THE AUTHOR Yes." /pll her fingers toward the two anxious faces uplifted from the hall below. Presently they could hear her disposing of the loose silver with careful carelessness 1 under the heaps of dried palmetto tliat strewed the floor ef the tipper hall, in the bags of wool that Seth had robbed "And you live here?" "Yes." CHAPTER XVIIL "They have comet" "Phew!" "Durued if you can, so far as I'm concerned." There was no misunderstanding the Bmphasis placed upon that personal pronoun by Liza, husky voiced as she was, from the breath taking speed she had made between the loomroom and the Then something incomprehensible happened. The sergeant executed a prolonged whistle, a surprised sort of whistle, and withdrew with his squad behind a clump of crape, myrtles to parley. The women on the gallery, motionless as graven images, watched them in breathless suspense. Seth's pen scratching rapidly across the sheet of paper was the only audible V 1 sound Seth folded bis arms virtuously across the bosom of his worn blue check shirt and glared resentfully, while Strong composedly bit off the end of the cigar and lighted it for his own consumption. Presently, through his clinched white teeth that held his cigar immovable: "So it is what tho uniform stands for. What does it stand for, buddy Seth? Really, now, it would be much more sociable if you would smoke too. Won't you change your mind?" senses. "It ain't a' easy letter to write," ho said, lifting his head to smile apologetically at tho corporal. "You see, I don't want to scare them any more than can be hel]Ded. I've told her I've been 'rested, hut I can't just exactly tell her what the major of the *ifth wants of ma Do you happen to know now?" " ion spoke of being a born pariah, with no class prejudices to conserve or to defy. ' I loved Strong Martin the overseer's won, 1 abhor Strong Martin Seth looked at him through narrow ing lids. m I t big house. The little colony of women were grouped at one end of the kng. back gallery, intent upon a nev, i.., :nii)al Mrs. Martin was quite sunt u go.id substitute for indigo could be  the wild coffteweed that flauntfrl its yellow blossoms in every fence corner. Her experiment was, so far, nothing more available than a lot of dabby looking messes on boards placed in the sunihine to evaporate. Without haste, but with a perturbation that made visible the tre mulenisuess of her delicate, blue veined hands, old Mrs. Strong (that was what they called her after Annabel came) row to ber feet, letting the ball of coarse plantation yarn fall unheedexl from her lap. At another time she would have deprecated such heedlessness, but not now. She was white to the very lips with the terror of a great uncertainty. She stood for a second, clasping and unclasping her thin hands in an agony of irresolution. The rest had gone it way and left her standing there all alone. With the swift directness of a well drilled military squad the group of women bad dissolved at sound of those three ominous words burled at them by Liza while still afar off. Since the fall of Yicksburg had made the invasion of Sans Sonci a mere question of time the role that each woman was to enac t when the enemy was actually in sight bad been carefully assigned and conscientiously rehearsed. Mrs. Strong—not Annabel; no one ever asked anything in the way of active loo-opcration from her—was given position over the two loosened planks in the floor of tho front gallery, beneath which everything on the premises in shape of firearms was concealed. Old Dolbear's joiner work was not above criticism, and there was a certain telltale raggedness at the edges of the replaced planks which could be most effectively concealed by Mrs. Strong's long trained robes. their few remaining sheep of, and anywhere else her ingenuity could devise. -~~T~~i 7\\ J ' V\M C V J Annabel's door opened and closed aoftly, and Mamie Colyer joined her before the task was completed. "Help who? Help those women out yonder at Sans Souci?" Federal officer." kki She was trembling. He could detect the passionate pain beneath the measured tsolnncss of her tones, and he smiled, quite sure that he would bo on the "If they take you prisoner, Liza, they wL ve to take me, too," said Mamie in a throttled whisper. There was no suggestion of the hero in Seth Martin's personality at the best. Heroes do not slouch through the obscure by wavs of the world on shambling feet and with down- dropped head. Pride of record lifts their heads above the earthworm's trail. But Seth had iuj record to bo proud of. Seth laughed mirthlessly. "Yes. What do they need?" "There now," suid Li;v, stuffing tho last fork in a crevice beh au unmovable clothes press, "unless they get to kicking that palmetto and wool about for pure malice they will never suspect w hat is under it" "Need? Well I reckon they jus' about need everything women foks is used to havin. The madam, she is got a brand new dress—a mighty fine one. She helped spin the yarn for it herself, and sissy wove it on the hand loom. Liza's got to bo a firs' class weaver. Mammy's wearin petticoats made out of old bed tick in, but she declares they are prime good. Sissy goes clompin 'round in a pair of things called 'shoes' that I cobbled up fur her out of an alligator hide. They ain't dancin pumps jus' exac'ly, but they beat no shoes all holler. Mother's wearin a pair of slippers I figured out of a pair of wornout saddlebag flaps. You see, we don't go in for the fashions very heavy these days." "Take her prisoner 1 I'd like to see the best man among 'em as much as lay the weight of bis little linger on her," said Becky in battle voice. The simple earnestness of this rustic won upon his more sophisticated guard strangely. Corporal Green leaf uncrossed and reerossed his military legs with deliberation, toyed meditatively with the rowel of his huge spurs and answered confusedly: "Blessed if I do. I reckon, however, it's safe to tell her that you're in no danger of being roasted alive or passed through the sausago grinder; not fat 'nou«h on your bones for that." "1 can't deny you arc my son." winning siee. He stood aside and opened the door for tho little cavalcade in homespun. Beth lead «he way, then Mamie, and finally his mother. She turned wistfully upon tho door sill. "Strong, my boy Strong, I hate to leave you here all alone, but it's your own doin. You oughtn't to have flew in the face of Providence so brash. Mamie's words sounded mighty severe, and I could see by the quiver of your mouth they was cuttiu you like a whiplash. Strong—I—think—I'll kiw you jus' once, my bey. But we don't want nothin of you." Was he on the winning side? He questioned it that night, sitting alone on the small roofless balcony that jutted from the w indow casement of his headquarters and gave him the full benefit of a starry night. He knew just how those same stars grouped themselves al out the tall trees that sheltered Sans Souci. "Much obleeged to you." wherein mother yearning and patriotic scorn fought a fierce fight for suprem- She bad found her office as guard of the smokehouse a sinecure. Evidently tho "locusts of Egypt" were not anhungered. Tilings were decidedly more interesting in the front, tantalizing glimpses of which she could catch through the vista of the long hall, in consequence of which the group on tho gallery had long siuce been increased fcy her generous bulk. She turned wistfully upon Liza. Setli stiffened his backbone into a still more rigid anglo of resentment before resuming vehemently: Then they stood silently waiting and listening with fiist beating hearts. The moment was too intense for commonplace. The storm, whose mutterings in the distance they had been listening to with strained attention for so long, was about to burst upon their own heads. acy. "I can't deny that you are my son, Strong Martin. Headstrong unghter be'n your name, iV.r you've took the bit in your mouth at every important turn of your life, makin me and Ebon's heart ache, more'11 ail the rest of our brood put together. "You've been making us fus' proud of you, and then shamed of you, ever sence the day me and Eben brought you out to meetin to this very town. Yon can see the steeple of the church you was baptized in with your own eyes from this identical spot, if it wasn't for that clump of catalpies. And the governor—blessed old man,  very minit for his country, the Lawd only knows where—he met us, I say, ou the road, or passed us rutber. Ate Wi;l Eben was in the spring wagon, Destiny had assignee! him tbi.° position as keeper of tho honia It bad not been his choice. He should never be able to quite forget what he suffered when all of the "men folks" had turned their faces from tans Souci, leaving him and old Dol bear "to keep things together." "What does that uniform stand for? To us it st;uids for injestice, cruelty and oppression, and, oh, my Lawd A'mighty,®' with a despairing outward sweep of his long, lean arms, "it stands fur all tho pure cussedness that tho dictionary is got words fur and Seth Mar- The y looked into each other's eyes lovingly, confidingly, anel iq that brief communion both found fresh strength. Suddenly Liza drew her friend's soft round checks within kissing range* and pressed her lips fervently to each in succession. "Thank you," said Seth, courteously smiling a faint acceptance of the corporal's bread pe be'foro resuming the laborious undertaking of writing 1.is mother tho first Wter he had ever indited: How much easier to have gone into the fight! With all bis might he had been "keeping things together." Dolbear was his only counselor. It would never do to fret the women with such wearisome details. For them always tho ready ingenuity, the patient smile, tho encouraging note, struck freim bis own despairing soul with such determined elasticity as to carry comfort in spite of its false ring. tin ain't." "That is something to be thankful for, for we have graver things to discuss this morning than uniforms, either blue or gray. After all, there's not much choice between tho men who are inside of them. But the blue stands for success and the gray for failure. For the first timo in his life Strung Alar tin is on the winning side." "Honey, maybe bo might have told us something abemt your pa anel the beDys. Would you mind mv askin 'em, seirter polite, you know, when they step back?'' "But food? Every outside source of supply is closed against you. How do you manage to keep in the necessaries of life?" Dkati Old Mammy—Don't you (to and Hc«re.-J now when I don't turn Bp about lire tile fast time. The- Yankees out at ("limiiiiiiinil.il1 want tne feir something o' ruther, and I'm unde-r a' rest. I would have weDke yon up to tell |eDu all this by word er mouth, br.t I thought you ne*Delcd all tluD sleep you conld (jit after ve-sty day's ware. I elon't we as anybody's irot much me. I wisht they h;tel more, but 1 reckon the?y'll turn uie loose when they find eDut what mtk.11 game they're bagged. The feller that's watoliin me while I'm writin this dein't seiem to think thar's nnythinK very turrifying nhead of me-, seD you mustn't 1k3 ounfe-rin up anything elreadful If I ain't back home by li oVIock, please toll Dolbear to be *heD' and hoe out the: rest of them turnips. I had laiel ofT te» do it myself fust thing this moipiin, but these gents iM prewsin in their invitation I'm 'btouo'l to po wi;h 'eon. "My dear, my dear, what should I io without yon? The restaro all so confused, so he lpless. Just so many dear children teD lie eared for." "I shouldn't mind it in the least minimie-. But see, they are not going to give yon the chance." The men were mounting their heirscs. A short,' sharp worel of eennmand from the sergeant and the great white wings of the front gate s\\ ting open to give passage to the squad, which galloped away from Sans Souci in the same clattering haste it Imd come. Seth looked a him with lofty contempt."Listen, Liza!" "It depends purty much on what yon mout call the necessaries of life. We used to think that coffee and sugar and Hour come under that head, but we'vo changed our tune sence we've coino down to okra pod coffee and sassafras tea without 110 sweetenin." The rapid thud of iron shod feet upon the grassy yard below, the merry, cureless whistling of a rollicking roulade, the unwonted se.unel of men's voices in laughter. Sans Souci had almost forgotte n the sound. How cruelly jarring it sounded now. The laughter Df an enemy is not contagious. Its insolent security st« every nerve in Liza's overwrought system a-quiver. They must know that their men were not there to strike awe into their sjuls. What next? Nothing heroic in all that. Nothing even remotely suggestive of heroism in the tall, stooping form, the peering, anxious blue eye s, the work worn aspect of the man who waitrd and watched through the rain elrene lied twilight of the night that durkei.#l intei the- blackness of a midnight fraught w ith unfriendly possibilities. Waited and watched, pacing cautiously to and fro, backward ami forward, with muflieei tread, until—no—yes— Seth's protuberant blue eyes grew yet more prominent, as ho clasped his hands about the elevatC d kneecap just then doing duty as a hat rack for his brimless palmetto. lie repeated Strong's words dreamily: driving old Eilly Blazi—you reniern- ! I" tEut long ago past, aeons it seember old Billy, Seth, sonny? And the j when he and Adrien Strong had governor, he passed us with them S been good boy friends, they had climb- Blinking grays of his, and. when he ed to the railed roof gallery countless saw what me and Eben was up to—you times for the puro joy of ignorant star was layin in a white heap in my lap. 1 gazing. Strong—he put his head out the side of From out the cool, dark stillness of the buggy, jus' as friendly as friendly the starlit night there floated to him could be, sayin in that hearty voice of scraps of song and laughter. It came his'n, 'What you goin to name him. irom the clustered tents that sheltered Eben?' And Eben, he called back: 'We ; the troops under his command. He felt ain't made up our minds yet. Becky j them to be aliens tonight as never beand me have turned over just about 800 j f°re- In their songs and their laughter or so of good Christian names, but; he had no part. somchow'r nuther they don't none 01 The tethered beasts under the shade 'em seem good enough for this chap.' trees in the little courthouse square "You see, sonny," turning apologet- munched their evening rations with auically toward Seth, "he come right aft- dible gusto. Tho unlimbered cannon, er you, and he was a real handsome i which in its uncharged formidableness laddie. Wo hadn't learned then that i had caused such panic to the rural Seahandsome is as handsome does. And enmsport urchins, showed darkly where then the governor he laughed and said, it had been rolled under tho spreading 'Name him for me, Eben, and he will1 arms of a sycamore. Sessumsport was be sure of tho presidency.' And wo all an encampment, and its subjugated inlaughed, and old Dolbear, be was hold-: habitants hid themselves behind barred ing tho grays in all this time, let 'em j windows and doors. Not even by the go, and tho governor was out of sight; dull gleam of their homemade tallow in a jiffy, and Eben ho turned to mo ; candles would they countenance the and said, 'What do you think of it, j presence of these invaders. Becky?' And 1 said, 'What, Eben?' And No assurance from "Strong Martin, he said: 'About naming him alter the ; tho traitor," could relieve their appregov'ner. Strong Martin don't sound so j hensions of impending doom. He would bad.' And I said: 'No, it didn't. I *»ve to convince them by the logio of ruther liked the sound of it,' and wo I events that he had not come to bring settled on it right there and then, so jfire the sword into their peaceful you can't say wo didn't give you a fair i precincts. start in life, Strong Martin," for that1 Aud 80 the garden dahlias and the led up to the gov'uer sendin you oft": starry eyed phloxes that nodded their to school and givin you a better chance ! friendly heads at him over the picket than ever your brothers had. And what fences were the only things in all Sesgood has it ever done you? It turned ! ~umsport that had no dart to fling at you ag'inst yonr home. It turned you j "fctrong Martin, the traitor." ag'inst the gov'ner's family. Ic drove 1 He ft'll to calculating, sitting there yon to settle down at Keeker Nothing under the quiet skies, utterly alone as surly and obstinate as could be, and with his mighty heart hungor. finally it's drove you into raising your (iivon the acknowledged slowness hand ag'inst your own father and moth- a yiD°d woman s moral revolutions, er. Don't say a word, Strong Martin, Plus h(r prejudices, how long would it for all your gold lace and your cringin, j take to convert him from a traitor into crawliu, Yankee shoulders out yonder a respectable member of society, actouehin their hats like a plantation nig- cording to Mamio Colyer'6 mental proger ev'ry time they come whar you are. c-ss? I'm more ashamed of you at this minit The solution to this problem had not than I ever thought to be of anything I bocu satisfactorily reached when a soft, that bears the name of Martin. I can't' sl°w voice floated toward him from the deny you bein my own flesh and blood, 8""® plot beneath his feot in a hesitatbut I don't want nothin of you. You've 1UK question. cast in your lot with the enemies of "Mars majuh! Is that you, sit tin up your own people, and I couldn't feel no tliar smokin, Mars Majuh strong?" worse than I do this minit if you was ; Strong flung his half smoked cigar layin dead in yonr coffin before me, I °ver the balustrade and leaned across it 'stead of standin there so brassy and eagerly in search of the speaker. The bold in your Yankee clothes. Oh, Strong, voice ™ strnuwly familiar. Strong!" " lsn' t that Dolbear, old Dolbear from Mamie Colyer, standing by tho old Sans Sonci?" woman, tenderlv drew the grief stained "It sho' is, suh. cheeks within her sheltering arms. "And they have sent yon to me with "Let us go, Mrs. Martin. Let ns go " message.'" home. You will feci better alter we get '' boss?" back to Liza." "My mother, Mrs. Strong, my sister, Mrs. Murtin gaze d after tliem with puckered brows. "Well, I never! Is that all?" "Tho blue stands for success and the gray *or failure? I don't seem to keteh Strong Martin groaned audibly. Scth flung a taunt at him. on, SWong." " 'The vanelals' have come anel gone, tnimmie," said Liza, laughing hyster- Icall v. "No? Nothing more natural. You have been hermetically sealed out yonder at Sans Souci, and you don't know yet how badly you are whipped. I've come to tell you. Practically the war is over, brother Seth. The mutterings you hear are from a spent storm. I may be left hero to keep things quiet, or I may be ordered away by 9 o'clock in tho morning. I wanted to arrange for the safety and comfort of our mother and sister, and tho rest of them, in case some one less interested in them personally should bo left in command at this "Don't groan, majuh. You're on the winnin side, as you've took occasion to tell me more'n once this moruin. No danger of you ever Loin put to it for a cup of coffee or a pair of shoes. As for us, we've got sorter used to doin without things, and it don't hurt half as bad as you might think. It don't hurt half as bad, no, suh, not one ten-thousandth part aa bad as lindin a traitor in the bosom ci your family." P. 8.—The above id a juke Your attached hon, With love to h4«. S. D. Martin. "The locusts of Egypt have swannod and unswarmcd, Mrs. Martin," said Mamie, drawing a long breath audibly. Unmistakably the clicking sound of an iron latch lifted and dropped. Unmistakably measured heavy footfalls, not stealthy, like his own, simply doliberate, and Seth, standing still behind the green curtaius of the madeira vines, saw three men advancing up the jasmine bordered walk. Pallid, breathless, terrified, with this note tlutte ring in he r trembling hand, Mrs. Martin burst into the room occupied jointly by Liza and Mamie Colyer, wb" were beith startled into intense, wide awakeuess by her wailing cry. "Liza, you are not going to faint Your lips are as white as tho walls. Please don't faint, Liza." But Becky shook her head dolorously. Mamie laid violent hands upon her friend's shoulder and shexDk her almost mprily. " You girls can langb and thank the good Lawd that you aro here to laugh, but we' ain't done with rem yet. We'll hear from them rogues aguiu before long, you mark my words. I wisht to goodness I'd had my senses 'bout mo enough to have asked 'em who the major of the Fifth is." "1 am not going to faint, Mamie. Let tno alone. There is too much thiuk of. What haveyou done with Ai Vibcl?" "Liza, oh, Liza, wake up, honey, and give me some comfort. My heart's like to break." A book came hurtling toward his head, sent by Strong in a perfect frenzy of exasperation. A formidable arraj it looked to the ill clad, shoeless, unarmed watcher 011 the veranda, their belted jackets weighted with formidable holsters, their visored caps gleai'iing dully from out the gloom. Liza, barefoot, rosy from slumber, bright eyed and disheveled, was by her side in a second. Airs. Martiu was to etaud guard over the smokehouse when "the plagues of Egypt swarmed," which was her rathar prolix designation for the entire Federal army. "Given her a dose of valerian. She said her bead ached, ami I wanted her to sleep through it. Let us. go dov, n Kairs." point." "Hold your taunting tongue, you driveling sentimentalist. Do you suppose that anything you could say or leave unsaid could make me alter my way of looking at this matter? Because you were born in the quarter lot of a slaveholding aristocrat and have been content to crawl around doing his will all your life, is there any reason why I should spend my life driving negroes too? Because you have identified yourself with his grievances and made his fight your fight, do you demand that I, too, should risk my life to save his property? Our father and our young brother gave their lives that Governor Strong's chattels should be put in a place of safety. I have arrayed myself agaiust the 6ide where such massacres are possible Acccpt tho issue now— friendship or hostility between you and ma" Mrs. Strong sat wearily down on one of the gallery chairs, now that her trailing robes were no longer in demand over the ragged planks, bhe locked her bands and laid them upon her lap. It was only by the rigid interlacing of ber lingers that she could control the agitata a she was hC artily ashivmed of. "What is it, inimmie? Tho smoke- "I don't know as you can do anything for 'em. 1 don't know as they'll let you, in fact. Ma and Liza are tolerable bristly, you know." "Yes, let us go down stairs. Where is Adrien?" "Smokehouse! Oh, my Lord, no! It's your brother, your brother Seth. The onlies' one I had leiL " "Seth!" house?" "I think, honey," she had said, addressing Liza as the accepted administrator of affairs, "I could sass 'em real ocmifortaLk) if they dared to lay hands on that little pile of meat, all we got in this wide world. I j whole reg'ment of 'em!** The squad halted abruptly at the foot of the steps to reconnoiter the barred and darkened front of the governor's mansion. "Uncle Dolfcear took him to the woods with him. thank goodness." "Tell me about them." The soldier in blue and gold lace galore sat down clise by the rustic in homespun and tatters and laid a caressing hand upon his shoulder. The pain of a mighty yearning took sudden and full possession of him. All outward and visible signs of hostility between, these two counted for nothing at that supreme moment The smoke of battle that had rolled in a dense, obscuring cloud between Strong Martin and his past life lifted to grant him a clear backward glance at tho rough, unpainted overseer's house in the Sims Souci quarters, where his father and mother had reigned in smiling content with their lot, bumble and obscure as it was. A loving vision of himself and Seth, contending in all boyish sports in the grassless quarter lot, came to him helpfully— Seth, always gentle and generous in the contest; he, turbulent and ambitious; Charlie, amiably neutral, and Liza, pretty, arreguut, spoiled, the household idol. After all, the essential elements of a home had been there, but ho had uot recognized it. Without- other preamble than a brief military salute, with two fingers uikju the vi»or of his cap, the in command of the squad halted beiore the white tacked group upon the gallery of Sans Souci. "They must go to roost with the chickens iii these diggin's," said the loader of tho little band. "Whato'olock was it when we left town, corp?" "He's done took, honey. They've 'rested him. Tho Yankee# is got him out at Sessumsport this ve'y minute, and how do I know what they're doin to him? And, oh, my Luwd, I just bet anything it was them red stripes down the side of his poor legs. He said them stripes made him look like a major general, and I reckon them fools thought he was. Poor boy 1 And him never having a (.'banco to shoot anything but beef cattle." - am inclined to agrwrwllli your mother, Eliza. This is merely a preface. How extremely low toned their remarks were. I imagine that to be the case with the entire Federal army. There was nothing polished about those men. I *m absurdly unstrung by their appearance. Mary, my dear, might I trouble you for a glass of water? How extremely agitating it all was. How long, oh, jtod, how lon;r?" Tho professor's daughter was to stay with Annabel and her boy, to pilot them safely through the vague terrors af the coming ordeal. "Administrator Martin" assigned this post with many ipologctic expreskious. "Nigh ou to 'leven," tbe corporal answered with a yawn, "aiid we've been a good hour ou the ro-ui." "Right you are. Such cussed bad roads I never seen. My orders was to fetch the teller without botherin the ladies, but how in the devil are we to manage it?" "Am sorry to intrnde. ladies, but we are acting under orders. Tbis bouse tuust be searched. Men, inside!" "Men, inside! Sir!" The sergeant's face clouded irritably at this distressed female chorus. "I feel awfully shabby, dear, but no toe else can keep Annabel quiet You act upon her like an anaesthetic. She was hysterical tnough before poor Adrien' b death. It will take Seth and Undo Dolbear both to get what little •tock there is left run into the woods. Mamma must try to save our pitiful pile otf meat, and as for the madam, she will be too full of Adrien for another thought. As for myself, I will skirmish round generally—a sort of free lance, you know." ""Am really sorry, ladies, but our orders arc to search the bouse." A tear trembled upon each transpar- "Old Blackie said he was in the turnip patch this morning." She wiped her fast flowing tears ou tho cuff of her gown sleeve and sighed resiguedly • "Search—this—house! Search—what —house? Search—it—for—what?" :nt lid. "It's likely we'll find him thCTeuow. Hoein turnips is such fascinatin work a chap never lets up on it once ho gets at it." "You needn't say a word, Liza. It was them red stripes. But when women has to cut their men folk's breeches out'n old shawls it ain't always easy to tell where tho stripes is goin to hit. Oh, my Lawd! Now, girls, yon know it ain't," and they mingled their tears together while casting about for words of comfort. Seth covered his face with a remorseful cry. Mrs. Strong, trembling with wrath at tne eacrnege, nut blushing with shame for the duplicity that made her plant her feet yet more firmly over the scars Dolbear's clumsy carpentry had left on the smooth planks of the gallery floor, repeated the words in a series of gasps. CTIAPTER XIX. Following upon a clouded sunset had some one of thoso sudden changes in ihe weatbC r common to that climate anil season, and night set in in such chilly fashion that Seth cast about his threadbare wardrobe in an impatient and hopeless search for something that might servo as a substitute for a top- "Poor old daddy! Poor little Charlie 1 My lad, my m»rry little lad! I wished I could 'a' died ill your stead, Charlie, in place of livin to Laudy words of hate and scorn with the onlies' brother I've got left iu the world." The feebleflPPs of the suggestion and the infinite scorn of its rejection produc«*i a ripplo of subdued laughter. With a display of finesse scarcely to bo expected of him Seth advanced boldly under cover of this amicable diversion. "Rover in croquet," said Mamie, preferring comparisons that meant something within range of her own experience."Rf bs and weapons." The somber gloom of the officer's face was dispelled temporarily by a smile of ineffable sweetness. "We are all rebels here," she waved her white hand comprehensively, "but us for weapons, I suppose that means"— At the same moment- out at Sessumsport Seth was being ushered iuto the presence of the man who had ordered coat. Heroically resolved that if it rented with him the women inside should not bo "pestered," he descended the short flight of stairs in his unshod noiselessuess, looming darkly before the gaze of the squad with unheralded abruptness. "Tell mo about them," be said again, with a softening iu his voic*, "aud that other one. Miss Colyer, the professors' daughter. Is she with my mother and sister yet?" "Not 'hate,' brother. I don't think yon ever really hated anything in all your gentlo life. Only a shock of disagreeable surprise, and a certain fretlul uneasiness for the situation. You will como to look at things and at me differently a month or so hence, very differently. " And now the time for executing all The lie would not come at her bidding. A flush of shiune mounted slowly to the very roots of her soft, waving, w hite hair. Had she not punished Adrien severely in his childhood for the slightest deviation from truthfulness? He "was bound to see that thing out if he had to set the night through in his shirt sleeves on that windy gallery." bis arrest. these carefully prepared plans had arrived. Liza, sitting at the clumsy little hand loom in the deserted overseer's house, weaving plantation spun yarn Into dress material for tbe fastidious mistress of Sans Souci, had seen a cloud of dust rise suddenly above the tall weeds that outlined the grass grown wagon road across the fields. There was no explicable cause for that golden haze but one. On all of Bans Souci's broad acres beasts enough to raise it could not be found. Seth, she Knew, was plowing the potato patch, which meant so much to them in thoso The whole business was bewildering in the extreme; the startling summons, breaking up the solemn silence of his sentinel watch; the long, trying ride, with nothing more flexible to steady himself by than the leather strap about Corporal Greenleaf's ample waist line; the unfamiliar aspect of Sessumsport, seen by the gray light of dawn, besprinkled with the white tents of an encamped brigade; the old courthouse, transit mied into military headquarters, with the huge national flag fluttering limply in the rain dampened air; the room in Widow Morgan's cottage into which he was ushered by his guard, with much show of respect for its solitary occupant. That oqcupant, rigidly erect iu front of a table strewn with maps and papers, turned toward the door and rose as Corporal Green leaf saluted and informed him that his orders had been carried out to the letter. The Scriptural apportionment of seven women to one man came very near of achievement at Sans Souci in thoso days, and Seth felt a senso of responsibility for their physical welfare that was not confined to the careful herding of their diminishing flocks or tho raising of acceptable food crops. "Maybe I'm tho feller you are lookin for, gents," ho said in his slow, gentle drawl. " Where else should she be? Who is there to look out for her, poor little one? Her old father, the onlies' friend she had in the world, only the good Lord knows whether hois liviu or dead. .She'd rather know him dead than find him inside a uniform like yourn." "Anything, everything, from a pops?un up to a gatlin. I guess, now, you don't happen to bo carryiu a 32 pounder round in your pocket." "Maybo you are if your name happens to bo Seth D. Martin.'' "That's my name." At this juncture Corporal Greenleaf's ruddy face was suddenly framed in the doorway. It was furrowed with comical perplexity. With an abrupt military salute he craved his superior officer's pardon tor his intrusion. The facetia of their leader produced spasms of mirth in the squad. Mrs. strong's pallid face grew yet a shade whiter. That "a lot of impudent Yankee cusscs" should havo visited Sans Souci and let their "rough tongues" loose on the madam and sissy was an indignity that stirred him to hot but impotent wrath. "Then maybe you wouldn't mind ridin out to Sessumsport with us tonight." "Tonight?" "Just so." "Hold your tongue, Seth Martin. You ;wo a sentimental fool." Th* officer's brows contracted ominously. He abruptly vacated the chair he hail drawn up to Seth'a side and walked over to one of the front winiows, where he stood leaning heavily against the casement, staring moodily jut over the early morning stir in the encampment. It was impossible to stem the current of Seth'a biting scorn. "Thar ain't no use, major. They won't bo held back no longer. They're wimmin, and wimmin are the vexy devil for carrying a point. If they was men, I could 'a' handed 'em over to the guara. xne om lady says sne sroae scv en miles in a dumpin cart to get to her son, and she won't be kept from hin'i by King George and all his army." Liza, glancing in hot wrath from tho pain in that patrician face to tho coolly insolent ones of the men ou the sward beneath them, stepped to the front at this juncture, and with flashing eyes took the had. "Are you actin under orders to fetch days, with their one horse. She had me?" Ko word, uo look for him, .Miss Colyer—some of them," with hun- gry volubility. "No, suh. nobody didn' send me. I jea' come- of my own 'cord. I wanted to hear ef the tale were trne." A heavy sigh, almost a 6ob, escaped the Officer's lips, but he clung eagerly to this one clumsy link in the chain that must eventually be welded afresh and bind him and his beloved together once more. "There aro steps there at the end of the old balcony. Sit down, old man, and tell me about the old place. Did yon ride or walk?" "I walked, suh. Thar ain't but two fceiped him tie the untrustworthy har oess together with bits of cloth before freakfast. Old Dolbear had gone to the woods for stove wood, with their only other beast of burden, Knock Kneed Jimmy, a mule with a very long experience of this troubled sphere. That twiftly advancing column of dust could mean but one thing. In intense excitement she flung the shuttle from her. He had so expressed himself with ineffectual remorse when the story of tho morning had been told him, variously and excitedly. "That's just 'bout the size of it." "What can anybody want of me? I ain't never even heard a bullet whistle, I'm sorry to say. I'm too pitifully insignificant to bo wuth arrcstiu." "Our major thinks different, it seems." "Yes, let us go home, child. We are not wanted here any longer." With the superb composure of an offended sovereign Mamie was drawing the wreck of an antebellum veil over her comical hat of plaited chucks, the lingers of her white cotton mittens hovering about her head like so many white mice. It was necessary to pass close by the desk wherC* Strong stood, steadying his shaken nerves by a strong physical effort. He put out his hand to detain her. She elnded the slight touch. "Mamie! Out word! By heaven, you shall hear me." "If you are looking for rebel soldiers, you will not find cue nearer than tho family graveyard. Ho has received his discharge from the great commander," reverently lifting her small right hand heavenward. "If you are looking for gnns and—and things, you are wasting your time. We certainly have not left them where you could fijid them. If you are here for purposes of plunder, wo have nothing to say. You are our supe- "I don't know as I could a-done anything if I'd b'en here, but seems like there oughter b'en a man bout to a-saved you all some." "Yes, she would, Miss Mamie would. Her and sissy are tho bravest soldiers I know of. 1 hey are just wrapped up in (he cause, Strong Martin, and the man ►hat ain't b'eu true to the gray will haf to hang his head before them two spunky girls. They're grit to the backbone. You may find shirks aud cowards among the men—that's me—and you may find traitors—false, black hearted traitors — among 'the men, monsters that's ready to lift their hands ag'inst the very mother that suckled 'em— tiiat's you—out tne southern woman rings true every time, sir. She does, by jiniminy." "And she means every word she says." ) "Major who?" "We ain't through with 'em yet, sonny. You'll have a chance at'em," said his mother, with pathetic prido in the courage of the Martins. "It wouldn't surprise mo ono particle if them sassy rogues was to come back tonight and stick a torch to us all while wo was asleep." "Major of tho Fifth. He's in command out yonder at tho river, and it's him as sent for you. Come, now, Where's your nag? Never mind about your dress coat, we'll excuse that." "And yhere's your man, major," Waving his hand toward Seth with an air of not considering the game worth the candle. This indorsement came from Becky herself, who pressed resolutely to the front, never once loosening her hold of a little nut brown hand, partially incased in a white cotton mitten, that belonged to a discreetly veiled young woman.her eyes with one unsteady hand while ( she peered across the weed choked fields. Tho weeds grew lower and thinner about the big quarter lot gate, and when it, that cloud of dust, paused for them to loosen the rusty chains that bound gate and post together it would be time for her to "draw in her picket line." She must see first, however, what that . dust was produced by. and, mounting the loom bench, shaded Ami tho squad laughed delightedly at the wit of their leader. Seth answerj od them with slow gentleness: "You can go, corporal, aud put a guard before tho door. I am not to be interrupted." riors.'' Then Major Martin of tlio Fifth made a step toward tbo trembling, bewildered prisoner standing aloue, where he and (Jorjtoral Greenleaf had stood together a moment before. The Federal officer extended his hand. The rebel prisoner did not notice it. Agitated, breathless, confused, Mrs. Martin, standing in tho center of tho small apartment, did not look at all like a woman who had just carried her point. Ho placed himself between her and tho door.- Without indecorous violence she could not avoid listening to him. "The time will come, it must come before very long, when you will judge my course by different standards. Y ou will feel more lenient then. Just  yon, my mother, none of you give aie credit for acting upon my convictions of what was right and what was wrong. I represent to you a cowardly egotist, content to let his nearest and dearest beases lef' on that place, and by the time they got home today from fetchin your mammy and your bro' Seth baek'erds and fo'erds they was plum' give out. You see, they don' get none too much co'n these days. But 1 was 'bleeged to coma I sez, 'Lucindy, I earn't sleep a wink tonight loss'n I verifies it.' " "Verify what, old man?" He was conscious of his own duplicity. He knew quite well what it was old Dolbear wanted to make sure of. With infinite scorn in her clear, young voice she went on: It was this frightful prophecy that set Seth to hunting up a topcoat, which, of course, he did not find. "I reckon you'll havo to excuse more'n a dress coat, genta I believe "If you will walk tip stairs, you will find a nick woman asleep iu her room. She is a very c areless young person. Doubtless you will find several pieces of loose jewelry on her dressing table. If you will walk out of that back door, He relinquished the search with a patient sigh and compromised ou a moth eaten comforter, which he was cheerfully convinced would secure him against the added pangs of sore throat. I'd ruther go just as I am than to hustle 'bout iuside and wake the ladies up. I suppose now," he added, stooping to persuasion, "if I gave you the word of a gC ntleman that if I was wanted out to I w ould come of my owu accord early iu the morning it wouldn't That majestic officer, heavily bearded and sun tanned almost to blackness, was an imposing object in his dashing uniform, but he was not Seth. Purposely or by an impulse of pity for mother and son Seth's gaunt form was suddenly interposed between them. A confused visit n of herpes'heads and vi sored caps. The horses did not belong to Sans Souci, aud tho caps were not gray- That was enough. Thauk heaven, more than two in ilea lay between her and them yet Perhaps they would stop to buru the barns and the gin. She hopad they might. It would prolong the moment for preparation. Give them a little more time to get ready for—what? "Brother strangely.'' Seth, meet again, Through the long, silent hours of the night just gone Strong Martin had been schooling himself for this interview. He knew how great a shock was awaiting his brother, and he knew bow contracted was the lens through which his own departure from the traditions of his family would be observed. Seth's crude violence fell upon benumbed sensibili- «?XTI S¥frC fffP^ 1 They were an unexacting lot, those hemmed in rebels, meii uud women, and had teamed the great lesson of doing without thoroughly well. And a man who has learned to do without such superfluities as flour and coffee and sugar and shoes and hats is not apt to grow captious over the absence of a topcoat. induce you to let me stay hero till day breaks?" "Not by a jugful. Our major is a martintt. When ho gives an order, we obey it, wo don't question it Our or- The sound of the old familiar voice, rich, mellow, unchanged, completed Seth's downfall. He covered his pallid face with his work hardened hands. His tall, gaunt form quivered with the shock of recognition."Here 1 am, mimmie, sound in wind suffer so that he secured to himself the flesh pots When you come, by the aid of that soberer judgment which time will bring to us all, to look at this monstrous war episode from the outside, you will recognize the possibility of a consistent southern Unionist. "\ t rify the blessed insurance of freedom. suh. lick sho' ef the story that's go) 11 the rounds of tl.e folks as how old Eben Martin's second bey. Strong—him as was named after ole mars—is be'n made head of Mars Lincoln's soldiers and sent hero to fetch we all the freedom and the sirtain promise of the land that flows with milk and honey? Ef it's true, I wants to dus' out the ole meetin house and hoi pra'r meetin tbar tonight to bless de Lawd, oh, my soul, and forgit not none of his benefieks." String Martin found the old man's grandiloquence singularly irritating. Was it really impossible to get away from the narrow personal bearings of this stupendous crisis in the history of the world? Must he, whose only balm was found in moments of exaltation that lifted him above the universal condemnation of his course into a brief st use of well doing, in striking his feeble blows at a gigantic wrong, be dragged earthward by the driveling of an old dotard who in tho days of his pamp* ml bondage had quite looked down and limb." Becky rushed at him with a hysteric al cry. ders are to fetch ono Seth D. Martin to his headquarters, out in the conrthonse at Bessuinsport, and if you are inclined to go pC;ac«ibly it will be better for you iiud the women folks—for everybody concerned. If your beast is turned out, you'll Lave to double up with ono of the boys.'' "I would like to leave a note, then, for my mother." ties. "Sonny! My boy Seth! Oh, my good Lord! I've been that bad scared. I didn't know what they might do to you before I got hire. God bless you, son Seth!" W ith arrowy speed she made her way from the loomroom to the big house, bursting in upon the others with that breathless cry, "They have come." "Strong! Strong Martin! Oh, my Uod, boy. that I should live to see you weariug that uniform!" Ho scarcely beard what Seth was saying. He knew it was abusive, but what of that? He turned away from the window and faced the excited man, who had remained seated from the beginning of this unpleasant interview. The sound of his brother's high pitched, querulous voice was exasperating to his tired nerves. He raised his hand authorita- "If it worn't for the women folks, I could stand it better, durn'd if I couldn't. I'd enjoy mortifyin the flesh in some fashion, seein I'm shut off from doin any of the fightin, but mammy's old and tho madam's delicate, and dog-on me if it don't make me snortin mad to have them pestered." And tears trickled down his weather HtainMl r*h*-D«4rM "Governor Strong was one, but th sentiment of class was too strong fo It was the work of a second to sweep the loose silver from the sideboard in the dining room into the ample homespun apron that almost; enveloped her slim figure, and then, with Mamie Colyer close behind her, she sped up the long central stairway to find hiding • places for it. "Mother, liavo you no blessing for his powers of resistance. Countless numbers of men, now fighting on the side of the south, stand where I do, morally if not physically. There were no class prejudices for me to Conserve or to outrage. A bom pariah, the overseer's son was free to choose his side. I chose the one which seemed to stand fir liberty and justice, the two consolations most conspicuously absent from my own ti perienee. The sound of a strong man sobbing is peculiarly trying to nerves not absolutely adamantine. There is a sense, of incongruity in it apporaching the ludicrous just near enough to destroy the sympathy which should spring readilj at any manifestation of grief. CHAPTER XX. til rh felt bin;w» If forcibly scf aside. At sooiid Cf tLut tli op, Miii roiiS Ltri tono Rebecca turned lit r bewildered eyes away Irom tiic rt ward the utikvr behind him "Perhaps it would be best to go quiet- lively Thus Beth to himself, paring slowly aud softly up and down tho vine curtained gallery, a lonely, bewildered sentinel, not knowing in the least what tho moments might bring forth, accepting duty for his password and ready to follow his commander, conscience, into the very jaws of death. ly," he argued mentally. Indeed there was 110 room for choice in the matter. "Hold up, Scth. What you arc paving does not amount to a row of pins. You art' a Confederate simply from force of circumstances and surroundings. I am u Federal from identically the same reasons. This accursed war is practically over, and you are on the losing side. Tomorrow, at tin* hour of noon—today, e in tatters to Withdrew vrtth h fx ttjuud behind a clump ill crapc murUc to purity. yon will find a deterni»'« d old woman, standing guard over a s'okehouso that contains nearly two whole hogs, She is my mother. If you go into the kitchen, you will find a faithful, loyal old slave, trying to extract acceptable coffee out of •unacceptable okra pCxls. If you"— "I won't keep you waitin long. I'll just st» p into the library and scratch off "The voice, the !Strou«'s—I ut"— voice—is—my • Mrs. Martin, frantically grabbing for the smokehouse key that "never had been hung so high before," sent an admonition after her. a line." "You won't try to skip?" "Skip?" "Vamoooo tho ranch?" "You mean dodge you?" Major Martin of the Fifth found it w on this occasion aud sat twisting the sunburned tips of his long military mustache in savage impatience which | found final veut in irritable speech rather, for the ui-kt is already gone "If it was not ior tbe a hid recollec- you hear 12 slow puns from the din tiou of numberless occasions when you j tkm ()f the KUIllw,al lying off Dmsne.k have borne patiently with my cubbish- ] you mny kllow that 'gobert E. Lee hai uess and ill temper, Seth Martin, I j HDrrendcred and that the w ar is over could find it in my heart to kn.k you j;i]at is the signal agreed upon in cast out of that door. Bat as I sent for you the rumor of snrrendtr is confirmed, oil much more important business thiui TLat 1((.i)1K tlu, caM,( ljrut!u.r S(.tl)i VI)U to ask you how y..u like my blue um- and I have other work than quarreling form I would bo obliged to you if you before ns_ You are on the losing side, would stop blubbering long enough to SethD j ou tbo wimiiufii llllt liston to me, I want to talk to you as n)ust stuIld BhoulriC r to shoulder in the one Ben Bible man might talk to anotm r, WOik of reconstructing a home for our not as Federal to Confederate nor as lovod ones. There is no one left to care brother to brother, simply as man to for mother and Liza but you and me." man, you understand.'" Seth removed his ualmytto hut from X*»th wlnwlv rAPiovwl thi» but A soft bifjh anir.te nfn their The sliffht voiieil liguro i; their i-.jet iu a heap a "When you come to realize that holding slavery as I did. to be a black blot 011 tho face of God's fair creation 1 was as much in duty bound to fight for its abolition as Adrien Strong Was for its perpetuation—when, in short, yon are ready to say, after all, it was he who was in the right—will you send for me, my dear, aud not leave me to languish under the frown of the woman I love any longer than need be? The time will surely come, Mamie, but tho waiting for it will be dreary work, dear." "Liza, yonr bustle!" It ti \ Mi'niie C C Ivt r, p'xn Without slacktning her 8peed Liza flung a reagsurauce behind her. "That's all right. Have been wearing it for a week." Two huge tubbed oleanders flanked the front steps on cither side. The soft, slow patter of tho rain upon their thick leaves made him nervous. It lessened bis chances of hearing approaching footsteps and tended to further confuse his bewildered senses. precious child i,.- \v • rdd « OUit "That's aDKDut the size of it." —if uid the rit t be to "Gheewillikins. how she does clip it! Hold up on a fellow, can't you. yonug woman? You wouldn't mind giving me your name, would yon, now?" "Seth Awirtin ain't got much to be proud of, gentlemen," said Seth, lifting his stooping form with an angry gesture, "but he ain't never yet caught himself tryiii to dodge anything or any muck for lAzu, and it's L.- u too uiud tor her." It wan Strong who gathere d the 111 ■C usciosis girl quickly and lovingly i lis ariiiK, holding her white facts un "My Lawd!" This ejaculation of horror, not of piety, came from Mrs. Mitr- npon the overseer's boys? Was the reverential homage of this poor freedman all the substitute destiny had to proffer him in exchange for the love and confidence of big best beloved ones? Old Dolbear's inapsodies reduced the abstract principle for which he had been contending to the pitiably narrow limitations of a personal obligation. Liberty for the human race was a grand idea, well worth a human holocaust, [Continued ou Foanh Page.] The sergeant had taken a pad of paper from one pocket and was fumbling iu another for a pencil. The silenco was ominous. Mamie Colyer's tears were flowing freely, but with her arms clasped about Liza's waist she stood ready to share any sentence that might be passed upon her friend. "It's more'n enough to give you enrryture of the spine or something else •piney, Liza Martin, wearin a pad with 100 $20 goldpieces quilted into it. You oughtn't to put it on, child, till yon was 'bliged to." "There, there, mimmie, please don't woiry about my Bpine. It's all right." She paused on the stairway just long inwngh to iiiutt a kiss from the tips of ! At one moment the pattering soundj ed like tho faroff clatter of innumeraj ble hoofs, then again it fell with tho sharp distinctness of clinking spurs on nearby heels while over the shadowy groups of tlie dark shrubs the night wind swept its asolian harp with restless fingers. man.'' C !om d lids pressed against his Iosori a lie i an it d her gently toward the iroi ian!p cot against the wall, refusing t( relinquish the beloved btjrdui until with returning consciousness, she open ed her great gray eyes and recognized hjm with a violent gesture of repulsion."Good for Seth Martin. All tho same, Oorjwal Greenlcaf, step inside with Freshy while he writes that note to his ma." It was not easy to maintain her frozen attitude with that palo, passionate face bending above hi r as he pleaded for mercy. Were her standards already toppling to their fall? Was she feeling premonitory twinges of that foreshad- There was something in tho light, scoffing voice that stnng Seth into silence. He turned away from the men and walked quickly toward the library, closely followed by Corporal (jreenleaf. "Liza, Liza, yon will bo put in jail for contempt of court. Isn't that what they call it, or something, Please say When unstinted uhvsical labor has CHAPTER XXI. Was he on tho winning side?