f HIS WORD. OF HONOR. |
fy\
A Tale of the Blue and the Gray 'm
BYE. WERNER.
j ( Copyright , IfflJ , by Kobcrt KonncVs Sons.
CHAPTER II.
The young ofilcer seemed to have
expected this rcfusr.1. He advanced a
fitep nearer and dropped the strictly
formal tone used heretofore.
"Colonel , the Interview I seek at
Springfield is of Infinite importance to
me. I will be perfectly frank with
you. I suppose you know the relation
in which I stand to Mr. Harrison's
family. "
"The wealthy owner of the neighbor
ing plantation , our most bitter enemy.
Yes , I have heard of it. It was said
that you were engaged to his daugh
ter , and at the outbreak of the war
made a acrifice for your convictions. "
"I did not make it ; it was forced
upon me. Mr. Harrison broke my en
gagement to his daughter , without per
mitting me even an explanation. The
outbreak of hostilities prevented my
hastening to my fiancee. I was forced
to join my regiment. The letters I
sent remained unanswered. I do not
even know whether they reached her
hands. For months I suffered the tor
tures of uncertainty. This morning an
accident revealed that Miss Harrison ,
who. I supposed , had long since fled
to some place of safety , was still in
Springfield. IL is the last , the only pos
sibility of obtaining any certainty. 1
beseech you to grant it. "
The colonel's eyes rested with evi
dent sympathy on the young man , who
was indeed his favorite , and whose
ill-repressed emotion showed how
keenly he .suffered from this state of
uncertainty ; but he shook his head.
"Even should I grant you the leave
of absence , and you teach the planta
tion unharmed , who will guarantee
that Harrison , after what has occurred ,
will not see in you merely an officer in
the enemy's service and .deliver you
up ? "
"Deliver me up ? " cried William ,
hotly. "The man who was betrothed
by eight o'clock this evening , I shall
believe that he is either dead or dis
honored. "
William's eyes flashed , but they met
his commanding officer's gaze , stead
fastly.
"Believe the former ! If I am alive
at that hour , I will be here. "
"Then go on your word of honor. "
"On my word of honor. "
William saluted and left the room.
The colonel ga/.ed after him a few
seconds , then said in low tone :
"Poor boy ! 1 would ten times rather
have sent him to meet the enemy than
into this temptation. "
CHAPTER III.
An Unexpected Visitor.
It was the afternoon of the same
day. The sun was lower in the west ,
but the heat had not yet lessened , and
Jill the blinds in the spacious mansion
of Springfield were closed. The ex
tensive estate had , as yet , been spared
the devastation of war. It was in the
immediate vicinity of one of the prin
cipal recruiting-stations in the South
and owed it to this circumstance alone
that , for the present at least , it could
afford its inmates absolute safety.
A pleasant dusk pnrvaded the sit
ting-room , whose doors opened upon
the wide terrace. The glaring sunlight
in the garden outside could not find
its way into the apartment , whose
doorways were protected by blinds and
curtains ; and a little fountain , whose
jet rose amid a circle of tropical
plants , diffused its cool , glittering
drops through the sultry atmosphere.
A young girl of perhaps eighteen
was half reclining in a rocking-chair.
Her little head with its wealth of dark
hair was filing wearily back , her eyes
were closed , and the long black lashes
formed a sharp contrast to the pretty
but somewhat pallid face. Her thin
white dress , which , though intended
THEN GO ON YOUR WORD OF HONOR. "
to his daughter the man whom he
onced called son ? "
"Everything is possible in these
times. Surely you must know his char
acter. "
"I expect any act of hostility toward
in his house. He is a southern gen
tleman , and a man of honor. I am
safe with him. "
"We will hope so ; but another and
graver peril threatens you there : If
you are still regarded as the son of
the house , every effort will be made
to win you over to their cause. Sup
pose that you should not return ? "
William started as if an insult had
been hurled in his face.
"Colonel , I am an honorable man. "
"I know it ; but you are human. You
are young and passionately in love.
Even the strongest natures succumb
to such a conflict. At that time , you
had no choice , you say. Probably it
will be so now. And when the prize
is before you , when your affianced wife
weeps and pleads , and the whole hap
piness of your life depends on a
single word avoid the temptation ,
Lieutenant Roland. I advise you as a
friend. "
The' young officer had turned pale ,
but his voice sounded firm and reso
lute as he replied :
"I beg you to grant me the leave
of absence on my word of honor. "
Burney paced up and down the room
several times in silence ; at last he
paused.
"At the utmost. I could grant you
only ths afternoon. You must return
at sunset , and It is a long distance.
You will have barely three hours at
Springfield. "
"A single one would suffice for the
conversation on which my whole fu
ture depends I repeat my request. "
"So be it then. With caution , it
may perhaps be possible to avoid the
peril /which-threatens you on the way.
[ shall rely upon your prudence. "
"Depend upon it , colonel. "
Burney approached the young man
and , putting his hand on his shoulder ,
said with deep earnestness :
"Till sunset then ! It is now noon.
it Lieutenant Roland has not returned
only for house-wear , was trimmed with
rich lace , harmonized with the costly
furniture of the room. In the dreamy
twilght , the dainty white-robed figure
was as charming as one of the fragrant
blossoms nodding over the edge of the
fountain.
One of the doors leading into the in
terior of the house was softly opened ,
and an old negro "appeared on the
threshold.
Noiselessly closing it again , he cau
tiously approached his young mistress ,
but she started from her light slumber
and sat erect
"What is it , Ralph ? Does my father
want me ? "
"No , miss , master is still asleep ; but
Mr. Harrison has come back and asks
if he can see Miss Florence. "
"Edward ? " The young lady hesi
tated a moment , then , sinking into her
former attitude , she said faintly : "Let
him come. "
Ralph withdrew ; and directly after ,
a young man , fine-looking , but with
an arrogant , self-conscious manner ,
entered the room.
"How is my uncle ? " he asked quick
ly. "What I heard from tlie servants
outside did not sound very consoling.
Is he worse ? "
"I fear so , " replied Florence , softly.
"He had a bad night , and the in
creased weakness is alarming. He fell
asleep an hour ago , and I used the op
portunity to get a little rest. "
Edward Harrison drew up a chair
and sat down.
"Excuse me if I disturb you. I have
just come from the city. My friend ,
Captain Wilson , accompanied me ; and
the justice of the peace , with the other
witnesses , will arrive at the appointed
time. All the preparations are made ,
so that the wedding can take place this
evening. "
A slight tremor ran through the
young girl's frame , and there was a
tone of fear in her voice as she asked :
"Today must it be ? "
"I thought we had arranged it. Sure
ly you consented. "
"Yes ; but I hoped you would allow
me a little time a few months or
weeks. What is the use of this fierce
haste ? Why should the wedding take
place beside my father's sick-bed ? "
"Because it is your father's last wish
and will , as you know from his own
lips. He wants to know that you will
bo safe and sheltered in a husband's
arms when danger assails us , and he
has my promise that I will protect you
and his property to my last breath. "
"As soon as it becomes yours I
don't doubt it. "
Edward's brows contracted angrily.
A dark frown shadowed his facs.
"What does that mean , Florence ? Do
you doubt my love ? You know that
it is bestowed on you alone , not your
estates , which , in the storms of war ,
may be destroyed , Mice so many which
have already been ruined. You must
trust me. I shall certainly not sac
rifice you to any principle , as others
have done. "
The allusion was distinct enough.
Florence's head drooped , but her tone
betiayed rising indignation , as she re
plied :
"Was I sacrificed ? You say so , and
so does my father , but I have never
heard it from William's lips , and you
were always his enemy. I cannot un
derstand his giving up the struggle so
quickly , not even making an attempt
to change my views , and sometimes I
fear "
She did not finish the sentence , but
her eyes , which rested with unmistak
able suspicion on her cousin's features ,
expressed the thought which she did
not utter in words. But there was no
change in his countenance , and the an
swer was equally unmoved and cold.
"Surely , you read the letter in which
he broke with your father ? Was not
that plain enough ? He knew the price
that would enable him to possess you.
It would have cost him only a single
word to call you his ; yet , instead , he
delivered a political lecture on manly
honor , duty , conviction and the rest of
the set phrases. Well , he followed his
conviction and gave you up. "
The young girl's pale face began to
flush , and her lips were closely com
pressed. This was the goad which had
conquered her resistance , forced her
into the new bond ; it produced its ef
fect now.
"Yes , he gave me up , " she repeated ,
bitterly. "Well I have given him
up , too. "
"And cannot you yet shake off the
memory ? You have been candid with
me , Florence , cruelly candid. I was
forced to hear from your lips that that
other still held the first place in your
heart , that only filial duty won your
consent to my suit. Be it so ! I will
venture the risk , even with this state
ment. I will cope with this arrogant
German , who does not know what
love is , who has never felt the full
pulse of genuine passion. For me , no
price is too high for the p'rize of pos
sessing you. I would overthrow all
that stood between us , were it even
what I held highest. Resist as you
may , I shall yet win you you and
your love. "
There was really a touch of genuine
passion in the words , and the ardent
gaze which rested on the young girl
proved that Edward Harrison was not
playing a mere game of calculation.
Florence unresistingly left the hand he
had seized in his clasp. She was half-
uuconsciously under the thrall of this
man , whom she feared , for whom no
voice in her heart pleaded , yet who
exerted an almost demoniacal power
over her.
( To be continued. )
A Prehistoric Cemetery.
Workmen terracing King hill , an old
landmark of northwestern Missouri ,
which is to be converted into a resi
dence suburb of St. Joseph , have un
earthed a prehistoric cemetery. The
remains of a race of dwarfs , not allied
with any tribe known to have inhab
ited this territory , and unaccounted for
by Indian legendary , repose on the
summit of King hill. A feature re
markable in itself and especially
marked in connection with the dwarf
ish remnants of prehistoric man found
in this summit is the disc&very of
human bones , evidently those of a
giant , probably more than seven feet
tall and big boned. Low , flat heads ,
with small intelligence and marked
animal propensities , characterized this
people. Heavy jaws and strong , well-
preserved teeth carry the records of
their lives forward. Brutes , human
but inhumane , self-reliant , they are
savages of a lower order than any we
know today. Yet they honored their
dead. Shells such as are found on the
banks of many inland streams , plen
tiful on the sandbars of the Missouri ,
overlooked by King hill , and stones of
unusual hues , worthless in the com
mercial marts of today , the playthings
of children , were deposited in the
graves. Chicago Record.
With tlio Comma Left Out.
"Whenever she asks me to do any
thing , " soliloquized Mr. Meeker , pen
sively , "I always go and do it , like a
fool. "
"Yes , " said Mrs. Meeker , who hap
pened along in time to overhear him ,
"whenever I ask you to do anything
you always go and do it like a fool. "
Chicago Tribune.
Knew "What He Wantcil.
Canvasser "I have here a work "
Master of the House "I can't read. "
Canvasser "But your children "
Master of the House "I have no chil
dren ( triumphantly ) , nothing but a
cat. " Canvasser "Well , you want
something to throw at the cat. " He
took the book.
In life's battle one must either be a
struggler or a straggler.
A western lady.who formerly lived at
Cambridge , Mass. , y/rites entertaining
ly of what she declares was the hap
piest Christmas of her life. The climax
of this merry occasion was a house
party given at the home of her uncle
not many miles from Cambridge. The
lady writes :
"My uncle owned a big place about
twenty miles from town , and every
year he invited all his relatives to
spend the Christmas holidays with
him. He was a widower with two chil
dren a son 26 years old and a daugh
ter of 17. This girl , my cousin , Stella ,
was one of the brightest and most
fun-loving girls I have ever known. I
was just two years her senior , and be
tween us we managed to r.tir up that
house party to a degree nothing short
of startling ! Twenty people beside
our family were invited , there being
altogether about thirty guests in the
house. Among them were a young law
yer from New York ( for whom I im
mediately conceived a violent admira
tion ) , a naval officer , three Yale men
from New Haven , my two brothers , an
antiqtie female cousin of ours ( age un
known ) , some girls from New York
and a young married couple from St.
Louis. Before the end of z week Stel
la and I had almost originated a di
vorce case , where the young St. Louis
couple were concerned. Of course ,
there were some other people , but they
were sort of ehapprones , old fogies who
didn't count much. Well , that year
the 25th of December fell on Wednes
day , and the guests were invited from
Dec. 23 to Jan. 2. and I can tell you
we made Rome howl. My brothers
and I , with our parents , arrived at our
uncle's Iat2 Monday morning. The
snow had been falling steadily for
thirty-six hours , and was many inches
deep.
"We drove from the little rickety
station three miles 'cross country to
the farm. We were the first arrivals ,
and we made good use of the advan
tage over the other invited guests. The
next train , at 4 o'clock , brought them
all , and at 5 they carae shouting and
singing up to the house , an sleighs ,
wagons and carriages , borrowed from
the farmers all over that part of the
country. Well , the first evening was
passed in the big dining iccm , all of
us crowded about the roaring log fire.
That is , all of us , excepting the young
lawyer from New York and myself.
We were seated on a chintz-covered
soap-box , off in a dim corner of the
room , discussing er the possibilities
of iffect of mistletoe on ah mankind.
Betore the candles were brought in to
announce the 'time for disappearing. '
we two had begun to understand each
other. It was our first meeting , but in
the country , and at Christmastide , people
ple become acquainted very quickly.
"The next morning we all arose at 8
o'clock , and after the jolliest kind of a
breakfast , we hauled in giedt bunches
of evergreen , reels of crow-foot moss ,
and pile after pile of holly and mistle
toe. We spent most of the day on step
ladders or tables , hammering and tack
ing the Christmas decorations in place.
And in the evening my uncle had a big
pine tree brought in and set up in the
parlor. We had each brought scores
of little packages from to\vr to present
on Christmas morning , and these
were suspended from the branches of
the tree. Mistletoe was everywhere ,
and so were the gu-is. The consequence
quence will b readily understood the
men were not of the variety known as
shy.
"It was long past midnight when we
trooped oif to o'ir rooms and 2 o'clock
struck before the last good night rang
down the darkened hallway. As soon
as all was quiet , I stole from my room ,
and tip-toed down the corridor to my
cousin Stella's door. It was locked ,
*
RECEIVED A PAIR OF HUNTING
TROUSERS.
but I tapped gently , and was soon ad
mitted. We two girls slipped down
stairs , where I had told the butler ( an
old servant of my uncle's ) to wait for
us. And thez we put our three heads
together and concocted a grand
scheme , for the undoing of everybody
in the house. We tugged and hauled
that hig over-loaded Christmas tree
from the parlor , through the hall into
the library , and then we exchanged
the names on all the presents. It was
almost daylight before we finished , but
we were amply repaid for our trouble.
' 'By 9 o'clock everybody was dressed
anJ down stairs , exchanging greetings
and gifts. Stella and I were the last
to arrive , and our entrance was tha
signal for a grand rush to the parlor.
And lo ! the big Chriotnias tree had
flown. My uucla was eiraged , the
guests much exuteu , and the young
lawyer from New Yoik looked very
much amused. A search was prompt
ly instituted , antl of couise the tre
was found in the library , standing in
stately solitude.
"Who on earth could have put it
there ? No one knew and no one
couid guess Stella ana I were particu
larly obtuse. And after awhile the
presents were distributed. The young
married woman's card was inclosed in
a bundle cf embroidered flannel petti
coats to 'my darling husband/ and
'darling husband' presented his 'little
love' with a volume of Mother Goose
tales , and a red bathing suit ; my old
maid cousin received a Dutch pipe and
a pair of hunting trousers ; my uncle
got a half dozen tulle veils and a pair
of gold garter clasps. "
THOSE CHRISTMAS CHILDREN.
The little folks at our house they talk
like anything
'Bout Santa Clans comin' , an' what he'3
goin' to bring ;
An' mother never has to scold , or tell
'em 'bout the noise
They're just the sweetest little girls
the best of little boys !
'Cause why ? They know that Santa
Glaus knows ever'thing they do.
An' while he's loadin * up his sleigh
he's watchin * of 'em , too !
An' them that minds their mother ,
they gets the most o' toys
They're just the sweetest little girls -
the best o' little boys !
They've just been writin' letters to
Santa Glaus each day.
An' tellir. ' him just what they want ,
an' showin' him the way
To where our house is , so's he'll know-
just where to leave the toys
Fer just the sweetest little girls the
best o' little boys !
They're longin * . longin' , longin' fer the
days and night to go.
An' all o * them are happy , an' tbey
make their mother so !
She never has to scold 'em , or tell "em
'bout the noise
'Cause they're the sweetest little girls
the best o' little boys !
Use Plenty of Paper and Cards.
No child of today would consider a
present half a present except , of
course , those that Santa Claus with
his own hands hangs upon a tree or
thrusts into a stocking unless it were
hidden in manifold paper wrappings at
the bottom of a box with a bright col
ored Christmas card lying on top of it.
Anyone accustomed to being with chil
dren will appreciate the pleasure that
the accessories of their Christmas gifts
give them. Every scrap of ribbon , the
tiniest card , the very scraps of bright
wrapping paper , are all hoarded , and
used somewhere for decoration. The
little girl makes sashes of the ribbons
and dresses for her paper dolls of the
tissue wrappings , while the cards serve
as priceless works of art on the walls
of her playhouse.
The lucky man Is the maa who sesa
and grasps his opportunity.