MyLad^oftta)lorth
tIHLOVE STORY OF
A GRAY JACKET jAJV
Tylßijmuj,Jitxiustt ul^.
car \ J v
nnc WILI>BSNKSS MASKING" / JF
Wen • i
The story opens In a Confederate tent
at a critical stage of the Civil War. Qen.
LM Imparts to Capt. Wayne an Important
message to Longstreet. Accompanied by
Bergt. Craig. an old army scout. Wayne
•tarts on his mission. They get within
the lines of the enemy and In the daiit
neas Wayne la taken for a Federal of
ficer and a young lady on horaeback la
given in his charge. 8h« la a northern
girl and attempt* to eacape. One of the
noiwi succumbs and Crala goes through
with the dispatches, while Wayne and My
Lady of the North are left alone. They
seek shelter In a hut and entering It In
the dark a huge mastiff attacks Wayne.
The gltl shoots the brute Just In time.
The owner of the hut. Jed Bungay, and
hla wife appear and soon -a party of
horsemen approach. They are led by a
man claiming to be Red Lowrle, but who
proves to be Ha). Brennan. a Federal
offloer whom the Union sir! recognises.
He orders the srrest of Wayne as a spy
and hs Is brought before Sheridan. who
threatens him with death unleaa he re
veals the secret meesage. Wayne bellevee
Edith Brennan to be the wife of Haj.
Brennan. He Is rescued by Jed Bungay,
who starta tp reach Qen. Lee. wnlle
Wayne In disguise penetrates to the ball
room. beneath which he had been Im
prisoned. He Is Introduced to a Miss
Minor and barely escape* being unmask
ed. Edl(h Brennan. recognising Wayne,
•ays she will aave him.
CHAPTER XVll.—Continued.
•
"Colonel Curran Is certainly to be
congratulated upon having found so
charming a guide, madam, a-d 1 can
assure you I shall most gladly do my
part toward the success of the expedi
tion. The Major was expected back
before this, 1 believe?"
"He left word that If he had not
returned by twelve I was to wait for
him no longer, as he should go directly
to his quarters. 1 And the life of a
soldier to be extremely uncertain."
"We are our country's servants,
madam," be replied proudly, and then
taking out a pad of blanks from hla
pocket, turned lo me.
"May I ask your full name and
rank, Colonel?"
• "Patrick L. Curran. Colonel. Sixth
Ohio Light Artillery."
He wrote It down rapidly, tore oft
the paper, and handed it to me.
"That will take you safely through
our inner guard lines," be said grave
ly, "that being as far as my jurisdic
tion extends. Good-night, Colonel;
good night, Mrs. Brennan."
We bowed ceremoniously, and the
nest moment Mrs. Urennan and I
were out upon the steps, breathing
the cool night air. I glanced curious
ly at her face as the gleam of light
fell upon It —how calm and reserved
she Appeared, and yet uer eyes were
aglow with Intense excitement. At
the faot of the steps ohe glanced up
at the dark, projecting roof far above
us.
"Do you suppose he can possibly be
up there yet?" she asked, in a tone
at low as to be inaudible to the ears
of the sentry.
"Who? Bungay?" I questioned In
surprise, for my thoughts were else
where. '"Oh, be was like a cat, and
there are trees at the rear. Prob
ably be is aafe lonr ago, or else
a prisoner once more."
Beyond the gleam uf the uncovered
windows all was wrapped in complete
darkness, save that here and there
we could distinguish the dull red
glare of camp-fires where the coiflpany
cooks rere yet at work, or some
sentry post had been established. We
turned sharpiy to the left, and pro
ceeded down a comparatively smooth
road, which seemed to me to possess
a rock basis, it felt : j hard. From
the position of the stars 1 judged our
course to be eastward, but the night
was sufficiently obscured to shroud
all objects more than a few yards dis
tant. for tho varied camp
noises on either side of us the eve
ning was oppressively still, and the
air bad the late chill of high altitudes.
Mrs. pressed more c.'osely to
me as we passed beyond the narrow
zone of light, and unconsciously we
fell Into step together.
A few hundred yards farther a fire
burned redly against a pile of logs.
The forms of several men lay out
stretched beside it. -while a sentry
paced back and forth. In and out of
tbe range of light. We were almost
upon blm before he noted our ap
proach, and In his har'.e he swung his
musket down from his shoulder until
the point of its bayonet nearly
touched my breast
"Halt!" he cried sternly, peering at
Uw in evident surprise. V'Halt! this
road is closed."
"Valley Fbrge," whispered the girl,
and I noticed how wfalte her face ap
peared In the flaming of the fire.
"The word is all right. Miss," re.
turned the fellow, stoutly, yet with
out lowering his obstructing gun. "But
* wo cannot pass any one out on the
countersign alone. If you was going
the other way it would answer."
"But we are returning from the offi
cers' ball." she urged anxiously, "and
are on our way to Major Brennan's
quarters. We hsve passes."
As sbe drew the paper from out her
glove one of tbe men at the fire
sprang to his feet and strode across
the narrow road toward us. He was
smooth of face and boyish looking,
"What Is it, Mapes?" he aske)
sharply.
Without waiting an answer he took
the paper sbe held out and scanned
• rapidly.
* '/ " >
/
SYNOPSIS.
rADUt.jaaKDor
"This Is all right," be uld, banding
It back, and lifting his cap in salute.
"You nay pass, madam. You muat
pardon us, but the orders are exceed
ingly strict to-night. Have you a pass
also, Colonel?" 1 banded It to him, and
after a single glance it was returned.
"Pass them, guard," he said curt
ly, standing aside.
Beyond the radiance of the fire she
broke the silence.
y "I shall only be able to go with you
so far as the summit o* the bill yon
der, for our quarters are just to the
night, and I could furnish no excuse
for being found beyond that point,"
she said. "Do you know enough of
the country to make the licet of your
army ?"
"If this Is the KendallviUe pike we
are on," 1 answered, "I have a pretty
clear conception of what lies ahead,
but 1 should b« very glad to know
where * am to look for the outer
picket." v ,
"There Is one post at the ford over
the White Briar," she replied. "I
chance to know this because Major
Brennan selected the station, and re
marked that the stream was so high
and rapid as to be Impassable at any
other point for miles. But I regret
this Is as far as my Information ex
tends."
I started to say something—what I
hardly know —whe almost without
sound of warning, a little squad of
horsemen swept over the brow of the
hill in our front, their forms darkly
outlined against the Btarllt sky, and
rode down toward us at a sharp trot.
I had barely time to swing my com
panion out of the track when they
clattered by, their heads bent low to
the wind, and seemingly oblivious to
all save the movements of their
leader.
"Sheridan!" I whispered, for even
in that dimness 1 had not failed to
recognize the short, erect figure which
rode In frqnt.
The woman shuddered, and drew
closer -within my protecting shadow.
Then out of the darkness there burst
a solitary rider, hia horse limping as
If crippled, and would have ridden us
down, had I not flung up one band
and grasped his bridle-rein.
"Great Scott! «what have we
here?" he cried roughly, peering down
at us. "By all the gods, a woman!"
The hand upon my arm clutched me
desperately, and my own heart seemed
to choke back every utterance. The
voice was Urennan's.
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Reputation of a Woman.
Like a flash occurred to me the only
possible means by which we might
escape ope" discovery—an Instant dis
closure of my supposed rank, coupled
with Indignant protest. Already, be
lieving me merely some private soldier
straying out of bounds with a woman
of the camp as companion, he had
thrown himself from the saddle to in
vestigate. Whatever was to be done
must be accomplished quickly, or It
would prove all too late. To think
was to act. Stepping instantly in front
of the shrinking girl and facing him,
1 said sternly:
"I do not know who you may chance
to be. Bir. nor greatly care, yet your
words and actions imply an Insult to
this lady which I am little disposed to
overlook. For your information per-
. •
— s
, "Haiti This Road Is Closed."
mlt me to state. I am Colonel Curran,
Sixth Ohio L4gbt Artillery, and am
not accustomed to being baited on tbe
road by every drunken fool who sports
a uniform."
He stopped short In complete sur-
atari ng at me through tbe dark
ness, and I doubted not was perfect
ly able to distinguish the glint of but
tons and gleam of braid.
"Your pardon, sir," he ejaculated at
last "I mistook you for some run
away soldier. But 1 failed to catch
your words; how did you name your
self?"
"Colonel Curran, of Major-General
Halleck's staff."
"The hell you are! Curran had a
full gray beard a month ago"
He took a step forward, and before
I could recoTer from tho first numblna
shock of surprise wj peering Intently J
into my face.
"Damn It!" ha cried, tugging
viciously at a revolver in his- belt. "I
know that face! You ara the moasly
Johnny Reb I brought in dsy before
yesterday."
There came a quick flutter of drap
ery at my side, and she; pressing me
firmly backward, fa- -U him without k
word.
The man's extended arm dropped to
his side as though pierced by a bullet,
and he took one step backward,
shrinking as if his stsrtled eyes be
held a ghost.
"Edith?" he cried, as though doubt
ing his own vision, and the ring of
agony in hla voice was almost piteous.
Edith! My God! You here, at mid
night, alone with this man?"
However the words, the tone, the
gesture may have stung her, her face
remained proudly calm, her voice cold
and clear.
"I certainly am, Major Brennan,"
she answered, her eyes never once
leaving his face. "And may I ask
what reason you can have to object?"
"Heason?" His voice had grown
hoarse with passion and surprise.
"My God, ho* can you ask? How
can you even face me? Why do you
not sink down in shame? Alone
here," —he looked about him into the
darkness —"at such an hour, in com
pany with a Rebel, a sneaking, cow
ardly spy, already condemned to be
shot By Heaven! he shall never live
to boast of it!"
He flung up his revolver barrel to
prove the truth of his threat, but she
stepped directly between us, and
shielded me with her form.
"Put down your pistol," she ordered
coldly. "1 assure you my reputation
JWIL.UAM JTiv' ? "
"Put Down Your Pistol," She Ordered Coldly.
la in no immediate danger unless you
■hoot me, and your bullet shall cer
tainly find my heart before It ever
reaches Captain Wayne."
"Truly, you must indeed love him,''
he sneered.
So close to me was she standing
that I could feel her form tremble at
tbls Insult, yet ber voice remained
emotionless. '
"Your uncalled-for words shame
me, not my actions. In being here
with Captain Wayne tonight I am
merely paying a simple debt of honor
—a double debt. Indeed, considering
tbat he was condemned to death by
your lie, while you deceived me by
another."
"Did he tell you that?"
"He did not. Like the true gentle
man be has ever shown blmself to be,
he endeavored to disguise the facts,
to withhold from me all knowledge
of your dastardly action. 1 know It
by the Infamous sentence pronounced
against him and by your falsehood to
me." -J?—,—
"Edith, you mistake," be urged atfx
lously. "I—l was told that he had
been sent North."
She drew a deep breath, as though
she could scarcely grasp the full au
dacity of bis pretence to Ignorance.
"You appeared to be fully Informed
but now as to hia death sentence."
"Yes, I heard of it while away, and
Intended telling you as soon as I
reached our quarters."
I could feet the scorn of his miser
able deception as it curled her lip,
and her figure seemed to straighten
between us.
"Then," she said slowly, "you will
doubtless agree that I have done no
more than was right, and will there
fore permit blm this chance of escape
from so unmerited .* fate; for you
know as well as I do that he has been
wrongly condemned."
He stepped forward with a half
smothered oath, and rested one hand
heavily upon her shoulder.
rather guess not, madam." he
said. "Damn him! I will hang blm
now higher than Haman. Just to show
Queen Esther that it can be done. Out
of the way, madam!"
Rendered desperate by her slight
resistance and hia own Jealous hatred,
he thrust the woman aside so rudely
lhat she fell forward upon one kaee.
tt&Us - ' .IIMLL :'i,. jv > , -1
His revolver wu yet to his right
hand, gleaming ID the starlight, but
before he could raise or lire It 1 had
grasped the steel barrel firmly, and
the hammer came down nolselssly
upon the flesh of my thumb. The next
Instant we were locked close together
j In fierce struggle for the mastery. Ha
was the heavier, stronger man; I the
younger and quicker. t>om the tlrst
every effort on both sides was put
forth solely to gain command of the
weapon—his to fire, mine to prevent,
for I knew at the sound of the
discharge there would come a rush of
blue-coats to his rescue. My first
fierce onset had put him on the de
fensive, but as we tugged and strained
bis superiority In weight began to tell,
and slowly he bore rae backward, un
tlli all the weight of my body rested
upon my right leg. Then there oc
curred to me like a flash a wrestler's
trick taught me years before by an
old negro on my father's plantation.
Instantly I appeared to yield to the
force against which I contended with
simulated weakness, sinking lower
and lower, until, 1 doubt not, Brennan
felt convinced 1 must go over back
ward. But as I thus sank, my left
foot found steady support farther
back, while my free hand sank slow
ly down his straining body until my
i groping fingers grasped firmly the
broad belt about his waist. I yielded
yet another inch, until he leaned so
i far over me as to be out of all bal
i ance, and then, with sudden straight
ening of my left leg, at the same time
> forcing my head beneath his chest in
i leverage, with one tremendous effort
r 1 flung htm, head under, crashing
down upon the hard road. Trembling
i like a reed from the exertion, I stood
> there looking down upon the dark
form lying huddled at my feot. He
rested mo'tionless, and I bent over,
placing my band upon his heart, hor
rifled at the mere thought that be
might be dead. Hut the heart beat,
and with a prayer of thankfulness 1
looked up. She stood beside mo.
"Tell me, Captain Wayne," she ex
claimed anxiously, "he is not —not se
riously hurt?"
"I believe not," I answered soberly.
"He Is a heavy man, and fell hard, yet
bis heart beats strong. He must have
cut his head upon a stone, however,
for he Is bleeding."
She knelt beside him, and I caught
tbe whiteness of a handerchlef within
ber hand.
"Believe me, Mrs. Brennan," 1 fal
tered lamely, "I regret this far more
than I can tell. Nothing has ever oc
curred to me to give greater pain
than the thought that 1 have brought
you so much of sorrow and trouble.
You will have faith In me?"
"Always, everywhere—whether it
ever be our fate to meet again or not.
But now you must go."
"Go? And leave you here alone?
Are you not afraid?"
"Afraid ?"she looked about her Into
tbe darkness. "Of what ? Surely you
do not mean of Frank —of Major Bren
nan? And as to my being alone, our
quarters are within a scant hundred
yards from here, and a single cry will
bring me aid In plenty. Hush! what
was that?"
It was the shuffling tread of many
feet, tbe sturdy tramp of a body of
Infantry on the march.
"Go!" ahe cried hurriedly. "If you
would truly serve me. ff you care at
all for me. do not longer delay and
be discovered here. It Is tbe grand
rounds. I beg of you, go!"
1 grasped ber outstretched hand,
pressed my lips hotly upon It, and
sped wltb noiseless footsteps down
the black, deserted road.
CHAPTER XIX.
The Cavalry Outpost
I lingered merely long enough to
feel assured as to her safety, creep
ing closer untiT T BeartTlref simple
story of the Major's fall from his
borse. and then watched through the
night shadows while the little squad
bore his unconscious form ov«r the,
r* ii" t f '
crest of the low hill toward thatr
quarters. Theft I turned my face
eastward and tramped resolutely oa.
1 was, first of all, a soldier, and noth
ing short of death or capture should
prevent me reaching Lee with my
message. Let what would happen, all
else could wait!
The gleam of the stars fell upon the
double row of buttons down the
breast of the coat 1 wore, and 1
stopped suddenly witfi an exlamatlon
of disgust Nothing could be gained
by longer masquerade, and 1 felt in
expressible shame at being thus at
tired. Neither pass nor uniform
would suffice to get me safe through
those outey picket lines, and if I should
fall in the attempt, or be again made
prisoner. I vastly preferred meeting
my fate clad in the faded gray of my
own regiment With odd Benße of re
lief I hastily stripped off the gorgeous
trappings, flung them in the ditch be
side the road, and pressed on, feeling
like a new man.
There was small need for caution
here, and for more than an hour l
tramped steadily along, never meeting
a person or being startled by a sus
picious sound. Then, as I rounded a
low eminence 1 perceived before me
the dark outlines of trees which marked
the course of the White Briar, while
directly in my front, and half ob
scured by thick leaves of the under
brush, biased the red glare of a lire.
1 knew the stream well, its stoep
banks of percipltate rock, Its rapid,
swirling current which, I was well
aware, I was not a sufficiently expert
swimmer to cross. Once upon the
other bank I should be comparatively
safe, but to pass that picket post and
attain the ford was certain to require
all the good fortune I could ever hope
for.
Hut despair was never for long my
comrade, and I had learned how de
termination opens doors to the coura
geous—lt la ever he who tries that en
ters In. It took me ten minutes, po«-
slbly, creeping much of the way like
a wild animal over the rocks, but at
tho end of that time I had attained a
position well within the dense thicket,
and could observe clearly the ground
before me and some of the obstacles
to be overcome.
As 1 supposed, it was a cavalry out
post; I could distinguish the crossed
sabers on the caps of the men, al
though It was some time before 1 was
able to determine positively where
their horses were picketed. There
must have teen all of twenty In the
party, and 1 could distinguish the lieu
tenant In command, a mlddleaged
man with light-colored chin beard,
seated by himself against the wall of
a small shanty of logs, a pipe In his
mouth and an open book upon hla
knee. Ills men were gathered close
about the biasing Are, for tho night
air was decidedly chill as It swept
down the valley; a number were
sleeping, a few at cards, while a little
group, sitting with their backs to
ward me, yet almost within reach of
my hand, were Idly smoking and diß
cusslng the floating rumors of the
camp. I managed to make out dimly
the figure of a man on horseback be
yond the range of flame, and appar
ently upon the very bank of the
stream, whon some words spoken by
an old gray-beared sergeant Interested
me.
"Bob," ho said to the soldier loung
ing next him, "wbut wus it thet staff
officer sod ter ther ieftenant? I didn't
Just Bit ther straight of it."
The man, a debonair youg fellow,
stroked his little black mustaches re
flectively.
"Ther cove sed as how Cole's di
vision wud be along here afore day
light, an' thet our fellers wud likely
be sent out ahead of 'em."
"Whar be they a goin'?"
"The leftenant asked him, an' the
cove sed as it Wus a gineral advance
to meet ol' llanoock at Minersville."
"Thet's good 'nough, lads," chimed
in the sergeant, slapping his knee. "It
means a dance dowi, me valley after
Karly. I'm a guessln' we'll have a
bang-up ol' fight 'fore three days
more."
"Pervldln' allers thet ther Johnnies
don't skedaddle fust," commented an
other, tartly. "Wbut in thunder Is
ther matter with them hosses?" he
asked suddenly, rising and peering
over into the bushes beyond the hut,
where a noise of squealing and kick
ing had arisen. -
"Oh, the bay filly Is probably over
the rope agin," returned tho ser
geant, lazily. "Sit down, Sims, an' be
easy; you're not on hoss guard 4ter
nlght."
"I know thet," growled the soldier,
doubtfully, "but tbet thar kid. Is no
good, an' I don't want my hoss all
banged up Just as we're goin' on
campaign. 'Tain't no sorter way ter
hitch em anyhow, to a picket rope:
ruins more hosses than ther Kebs
dew."
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Btandard of Colors.
Tbe call for international standarda
of all kinds Is becoming every day
more insistent with the progressive
unification of the industries of the
world. Tbe latest demand of tbla kind
Is for an international standard of
colors.
Chemists. , manufacturer of dye
stuffs and pigments, and many others
would benefit by such u standard. It
is suggested that wben once the de
sired color scheme has been decided
upon, the best method of perpetuating
the standards, and rendering tbem
available for comparison everywhere,
would be by means of colored glasses
with which a tintometer could be con
structed A tentative instrument of
this kind, based on an arbitrary color
scheme, has been made.r—Youth's
Companion^
J.
Exception: The Foundling.
Every mother's son of us has rels
lives ho doesn't the. —Chicago News
HELP CAME
JUST IN TIME
Lady in Pierce Relates Aa Expert
ence of Interest to all Girl*
and Women. v
Pierre. Neb.—Mm. Dollle Schllow
eky, of this place, says: "Cardul did
me so much good? I had dreadful
backache and dizziness, and suffered
from pains In my eyes and in the
back ofapy head, aa well as low dowu
In my body.
Sometimes, it seemed like I would
die with the pain. I was compelled
to see the doctor, but he did not help
me.
At last, I began to take Cardul, and
three bottles gave me great relief.
My health Is getting better every day.
I can recommend Cardul to suffer
ing women, for it helped me wonder
fully. It is a wonderful medicine."
Other women, who suffer aB Mrs.
Bchilowsky did, should learn from her
what to do, to be relieved. Take Car
dul.
For women's pains, for female troub
les, for nervousness; for weakness,
it is the best remedy you can use, the
most reliable you can obtain.
For over 50 years, Cardul has been
helping weak and miserable women
back to health and happiness. These
many years of success prove its
merit.
Pure, strictly vegetable, perfectly
harmless, Cardul Is su.e to help and
will leave no disagreeable after-ef
fects. Try It.
N. D.—Write toi Ijiilfi' Advisory
Dept., Ckalliaoocn Wcdlctnc Co., Chat
tiiooc*. I>an., for ftpcelnl Inatrae
tloaa, and M-pucr book, "Home Treat
ment for Women," seat In plain wrap*
per, oa request.
SURE NOT.
Editor—That expression Is too hack
neyed.
Reporter—What expression?
Editor (reading copy)—" The jury
acted u.B a body."
Reporter—Geo whiz! You surely
don't expect a jury to act as a brain.
Works Either Way.
Tatterdon Torn—Wot drove you ti
drink, T'irsty?
Thirsty Thingumbob—Me love for a
woman.
Tatterdon Torn —Did she turn you
down, or marry you?
Deep-Sea Version.
Tommy Cod —What is It they call a
pessimist, pa?
Pa Cod—A pessimist, my son, is a
fish who thinks there is a hook in ev
ery worm! —Puck.
Numerical Logic.
"What makes you think Jones is on
bis feet again in the factory?"
"1 noticed he had so many hands."
After meeting a nice young man for
the first time a girl remains awake
half the night wondering if she made
an impression.
Like a
Pleasant
Thought
of an old friend —
Post
Toasties
with cream.
Sweet, crisp bits of white
Indian corn, toasted to an
appetizing, golden brown.
A delightful food for break
fast, lunch or supper —always
ready to serve instantly from
the package.
"The Memory Linger*"
For a pleasing variation
sprinkle some Crape-Nuts
over a saucer of Post Toast
ies, then add cream. The
combined flavour is some
thing to remember.
Foatum Cereal Company, Limited
Battle Creek, Michigan