Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1912 — My Lady of the North [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

My Lady of the North

TMILOVESTORY OF A GRAY JACKET

by RANDALL PARRISH

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SYNOPSIS. !•—The story opens In a ■tent of the Confederate army at a critical * th 2. Civil War. Gen. Lee imparts to Captain Wayne a secret ;™ es sage to Longstreet, upon the delivery depend great issues. AccomSergeant Craig, an old army scout, \\ ayne starts out on his dangerous mission. CHAPTER IL—The two messengers make a wild ride, dodging squads of solaiers, almost lose their bearings and finally are within the Mnes of the enemy, having penetrated the cordon of pickets unmolested. -.S3jAFTER Til.—Encountering a small soldiers in the darkness, Wayne is taken for a federal officer who came to keep an appointment, is accepted as his representative, and a young lady on horseback is given in his charge. „,CHAPTER IV.—The female companion i e i WO sou thern scouts is a northern .Kiri, who, when she becomes aware of their army affiliations, slashes Wayne with but falls S w hip and attempts to escape , CHAPTER V.—One of the horses giving out, Wayne orders Craig to get /through with the dispatches to LongStreet. He and My Lady of the North Are left alone near a rocky gorge. . Vl.—The Confederate officer And the Union girl thread the mazes of "h® woods. He discovers a lonely hut, entering it in the dark a huge mastiff attacks him. The girl Shoots the brute Just in time. ch A?TE r VlL—The owner of the hut, Bungay, appears and he and his (Wife give the captain a welcome. Suddenly a party of horsemen are observed Coming down the road. CHAPTER Vlll.—They are led by a man claiming to be Red Lowrie, who orders Mrs. Bungay to give them food, find her husband to act as a guide. The woman discovers the man to be a disguised impostor, attacks .the Intruder and there is a general melee. CHAPTER IX.—The disguised leader proves to be Major Brennan, a Federal Officer whom the Union girl recognizes. He orders the arrest of Wayne as a spy. The girl protests and says she will appeal to General Sheridan. CHAPTER X.—Wayne held prisoner in P. copse, sees files of Confederates pass K w , road at a distance and knows that vralg has delivered the message. Xlj—The captive is brought nera2 Sheridan who refuses to message fre6 unless he reveals the secret XH—Captain Wayne is led i® that the w °man he admtfes 5s Edith Brennan, wife of the Federal ofhate?. hlm - He 13 given the . rev ealing the Lee message or of being shot as a spy. CHAPTER Xlll.—Wayne is rescued from his prison by Jed Bungay. One of them must get a quick report through the lines to General Lee and Jed starts on the mission.

CHAPTER XIV. I Became a Colonel of Artillery. My own situation at this moment was too critical, too full of peril and uncertainty, to afford opportunity for moralizing over Bungay’s chances of escape. Only one possibility lay before me —there remained no choice, no necessity for planning. It was pure luck which pries open most doors of life, and it was upon luck alone I must rely now. I have often won-

dered since how I ever succeeded in squeezing my body through that narrow opening into the empty fireplace without at least knocking over something during the difficult passage. But I did manage, working my way down slowly, creeping inch by inch like a snake, carefully testing each object I touched ip the darkness for fear of its proving loose, until I finally lay stretched at full length upon what was evidently, from its feeling, a carpet of unusually fine texture. The room proved to be an inner one and ynlighted, a bedchamber, as I soon determined, for my outstretched hands encountered the posts of a bed. Then a slight gust of air partially 'swept aside a hanging curtain, which rustled like silk, and I caught a brief glimpse of the adjacent parlor. - It was likewise unillumined, but the door leading into the front hall stood ajar, and through that opening there poured a Stream of radiance, together with the incessant hum of many voices in animated conversation, the deep blare of the band, with the ceaseless movement of dancing feet Satisfying myself by sense of touch that the bed was unoccupied, for I was far too experienced a soldier to leave an enemy, in my rear, I crept

cautiously forward to the intercepting curtain, and drawing it aside took careful survey of the outer apartment. It was a large and handsomely furnished room, a polished mahogany writing-table littered with papers occupying a prominent position against the farther wall. A swivel chair stood beside it, and across its back hung what appeared to be a suit of clothing. I saw no other signs of hu--1 man occupancy.

Convinced that the apartment was deserted, and discovering no different means of egress, I crossed the room on tiptoe, and peered cautiously out into the hall. It was not a pleasing prospect to one in my predicament. The lower portion, judging from the incessant hum of voices, was filled with people, who were either uhable to find place within the crowded ballroom, or else preferred greater retirement for, conversation. Even thb wide stairway' had been partially preempted, a young lieutenant, as I judged from his shoulder-straps, sitting just beneath the landing, whispered eagerly into the attentive ear of a pronounced blonde who shared the broad carpeted step with him.

I drew back noiselessly, to figure out the situation and determine what was best for me to attempt It would be sheer madness to venture upon a passage to the front door, clad as I was in travel-worn gray uniform; to rush through that jam was impossible. If I were to wait until the dance was concluded the later hours of the night might indeed yield me somewhat clearer passage, yet it was hardly probable that the house, used as I knew it to be for a military prison, would be left unguarded. Besides, such delay must absolutely prevent my getting beyond the Federal picket lines before daybreak, and would hence render valueless the news I sought to bear to Lee. I moved to the only window and glanced out; it opened upon the back of the house and presented a sheer drop to the ground. At the slight 'poise of the moving sash a sentry standing at the corner glanced up suspiciously. Evidently each side of the great building was abundantly protected by patrols.

Something had to be attempted, and at once. The room I was in bore unquestionable evidence of recent occupancy, and at any moment might be re-entered. My searching eyes fell upon the articles of clothing carelessly folded over the chair-back. I picked up the garments one by one and took them out; they composed the new uniform of a colonel of artillery, and v. ere resplendent with bright red facings and a profusion of gold braid. With all my soul I loathed the thought of disguise, and especially the hated uniform of the enemy. It was repugnant to every instinct of my being, and would certainly mean added degradation and danger in the event of capture. Yet I saw no other way. Sheridan, Brennan, Caton, the three who would certainly recognize me on sight, I was assured were absent, although they might return at any moment. The greater reason for haste, the less excuse for delay. But if I should chance to run foul of the rightful owner of the garments amid that crush below, and he should recognize them, what then? I stood close beside the writ-ing-table as I revolved these considerations rapidly in mind, and my eye chanced to fall upon an open paper. It was an official order, bearing date at 5 p. m. that same day, commanding Colonel Culbertson to move his battery at once down the Kendallville pike, and report to Brigadier-General Knowls for assignment to his brigade. Evidently the new dress uniform had been carefully brushed and laid out to be worn at the ball that evening; the sudden receipt of this order had caused the owner to depart hastily in his service dress, vigorously expressing his feelings, no doubt, while his servant, now enjoying liberty below stairs, had neglected to pack up his master’s things. i This knowledge was the straw which decided me; I would chance it. Hastily I drew on the rich blue and red over my old gray, adding the dress sword I had discovered in a closet, and then, wondering curiously what sort of figure I might cut in all these fine habilimenjts, sought a glance at myself within a mirror hanging upon the bedroom wall. Faith! but it was God’s mercy that I did! Such a face as grinned at me from that glass, peering over the high-cut, decorated collar, would surely have created a genuine sensation in those rooms below. Serious as my situation was, I laughed at the thought of it until tears ran down my cheeks, leaving white streaks the full length ot them; for no chimney-sweep in the full tide of his glorious career was ever worse sooted arid begrimed. I thought of the elegantly dressed lieutenant and the blonde young lady upon tne stairs—-surely they would have supposed the very devil himself was coming down.

It took me nearly a quarter of an hour to get myself tolerably clean, and I could not have done that had I not used some grease that was upon the stand. At the end, however, I stepped back from the glass confident that with good luck I should run the gantlet safely.

Just as I prepared to step forth a new thought occurred to me—who was I? If Questioned, as was highly probable, how could I account for my presence? Who should I pretend to be? I turned over the mass of papers lying before me on the table. They were mostly accounts and detailed orders about which I cared nothing, but finally my search was rewarded by the discovery of a recent army list. I ran my eyes hastily down the artillery assignments—Barry, Sommers, Fitzmorris, Sloan, Reilly. Ah, there at last was exactly what I wanted — “Patrick L. Curran, Colonel Sixth Ohio Light Artillery, Mcßobert’s Di vision. Thomas’s Corps, assigned special service, staff Major-General Hal leek, Washington, D. C.” “Curran, Sixth Ohio”—good; and the other? I glanced again at the open order. “Culbertson, Fourteenth Penn sylvania.” I would remember those names, and with a jaunty confidence in my success, born of thorough preparation, I stepped to the open door and strode forth into the brilliantly lighted hall. Barring the single accident of encountering a possible acquaintance in the throng below, I felt fully capable of deceiving his Satanic Majesty himself.

CHAPTER XV. At the Staff Officers’ Ball. The young officer glanced up hastily at sound of approaching footsteps, and rose to his feet to permit of my passage. He wore the full dress uniform of an artilleryman, and his evident surprise at my presence made me realize the necessity of addressing him. "Lieutenant,” I asked courteously, resting one hand easily upon the balustrade, “could you inform me if General Sheridan and those members of the staff who accompanied him down the lines this afternoon have yet returned?” “They have not, sir.” “Ah, I was in hopes they might have arrived by this time.” I bowed to them both, and passed slowly down the wide stairway, several couples rising as I drew near to permit of my passage. The lower hall was very comfortably filled with figures moving here and there in converse, or occupying seats pressed close against the walls. The greater portion were attired in uniforms of the various branches of service, yet I observed not a few civilian suits, and a considerable number of women, some wearing the neat dress of the army nurse, others much more elaborately attired —daughters of the neighborhood, probably, with a sprinkling of wives and sisters of the soldiery. Guards, leaning upon their muskets, stood in statuesque poses on either side of the main entrance, while the wide archway, draped with flags, opening into the ballroom, revealed an inspiring glimpse of swiftly revolving figures in gay uniforms and flashing skirts. Over all floated the low, swinging music of the band. A fat, good-natured-looking man of forty, an infantry major, but wearing Staff decorations, and evidently officiating in the capacity of floor-man-ager, after whispering a word in the ear of another of the same kind beside the ballroom door, hastily pushed his way through the laughing throng directly toward me. “Good-evening, Colonel,” he said, bowing deeply. "Your face Is not familiar to me, but you will permit me to introduce myself—Major Monsoon, of General Sheridan's staff.” I accepted the fat, shapeless hand he extended, and pressed it warmly. “I was just meditating a retreat, Major, when you appeared,” I replied frankly. "For I fear my face is equally unknown to all others present. Indeed, I feel like a cat in a strange garret, and hesitated to appear at all. My only excuse for doing so was a promise made Colonel Culbertson previous to his being ordered out on duty. I am Colonel Curran, of the Sixth Ohio, but at present serving on the staff of General Halleck at Washington.” The Major’s round, red face glowed with welcome. “Extremely pleased to meet you, Indeed,” he ‘exclaimed eagerly, “and you may be sure of a. cordial greeting, Will you kindly step this way?” As we slowly elbowed our way for l ward, all desire to escape from the ordeal fled, and I assumed tiie risks of the masquerade with the reckless audacity of my years. Before we reached the ballroom my conductor, his fat countenance fairly beaming with cordiality, had stopped at least twenty times to present me to various military titles, and I had accepted innumerable invitations without in the least knowing who gave them, or where they were to be fulfilled. Finally, however, we broke through the massed ring, and succeeded in reaching the tall individual In spectacles to whom the Major had spoken previous to seeking me, and I learned through the introduction which followed that I was in the presence of Brigadier-General Carlton, chief of staff.

For a moment, as T responded to the hearty cordiality of his welcome, I was enabled to take my first glance at the ballroom, and found it to my unaccustomed soldier eyes an inspiring spectacle. The room was magnificently large,—a surprising apartment, indeed, even in so superb a Southern honie as this had evidently been, and

lt» proportions wore magnified ny numerous mirrors extending from floor to celling, causing the more distant dancers to appear circling in space. Brilliantly illumined by means of hanging chandeliers that oscillated slightly to the merry feet; decorated lavishly everywhere with festooned flags and tastefully arranged munitions of war; gay with the dress uniforms of the men and the handsome gowns of the women, it composed a scene so different from any I had looked upon in years as to hold me fascinated. The constant clatter of tongues, the merry laughter, the flashlag of bright eyes, and the gleam of snowy shoulders, the good-humored repartees caught as the various couples circle swiftly past, the quick, musical gliding of flying feet over the waxen floor, the continuous whirl of the intoxicating waltz, and over all the inspiring strains of Strauss, caused my heart to bound, and brought with it an insane desire to participate.

Yet gazing, entranced, upon the animated scene, and feeling deeply the intoxication of the moment, my eyes were eagerly searching that happy throng for sight of one fair woman's face. Strange as it must seem to others, in spite of the fact that to meet her might mean betrayal and death—• ay! might even result in the destruction of an army—in my weakness I secretly longed for just such a happening; felt, indeed, that I must again see her, have speech with her, before I went forth alone into the manifold dangers of the night. It was foolhardiness, —insanity In very truth, — yet such was the secret yearning of my heart. If I could only once know from her own' truthful lips, that

she already belonged to another, I could, I believe, tear her image from my memory; but while I yet doubted (and in spite of all I had heard I doubted still), no desperate case should ever prevent my seeking her with all the mad ardor of love, no faintness of heart should intervene between us. That she was present I knew from those chance words overheard in the chimney, and my one deep hope ever since I donned that Federal uniform and ventured down the stairs (a hope most oddly mingled with dread) was that we might in some manner be brought together. I was yet vainly seeking a glimpse of her among the many who circled past, when I was suddenly recalled to the extreme delicacy of my situation by the deep voice of the Major asking me a direct question: "Do you ever dance. Colonel?” Exactly what I may have replied I know not, but it was evidently translated as an affirmative, for in another moment I was being piloted down the side of the long room, while he gossiped in my rather Inattentive ear. “As you have doubtless remarked, Colonel, we are extremely fortunate in our ladies to-night. By Jove, they would grace an inauguration ball at Washington. So many officers’ wives have joined us lately, supposing we would make permanent camp here, and besides there are more loyal families in this neighborhood than we find usually. At least their loyalty is quite apparent while we remain. Then the General Hospital nurses are not especially busy,—no battle lately, you know, —and there are some deuced pretty girls among them. Ballroom looks nice, don’t you think?” “Extremely well; the decorations are In most excellent taste.” “Entirely the work of the staff. Great pity so many were .compelled to be absent, but a soldier can never tell. Here upon special duty, Colonel?” "I brought despatches from the President to General Sheridan.” “Wish you might remain with us permanently. Your command, I believe, is not connected with our Eastearn army?” “No, with Thomas in the Cumberland.” "Ah, yes; had some very pretty flghtirfg out there, I understand —oh, pardon me, Miss Minor, permit me to present to you Colonel Curran, of General Halleck’s staff. This Colonel, I believe, Is as able a dancer as he is a soldier, and no higher compliment to his abilities could possibly be paid. Miss Minor, Colonel, is a native Virginian, who is present under protest, hoping doubtless to capture some young officer, and thus weaken the enemy."

I bowed pleasantly to the brighteyed young woman facing me, and not sorry to escape the Major’s inquisitiveness, at for the remainder of the waltz. The request was laughingly granted, and in another moment we were threading our way amid the numerous couples upon the floor. She proved so delightful a dancer that I simply yielded myself

up to full enjoyment of the measure, and conversation lapsed, until a sudden cessation of the music left us stranded so close to the fireplace that the very sight of It brought a vivid realization of my perilous position. If it had not, my companion’s chance remark most assuredly would. "Row easily you waltz?” she said enthusiastically, her sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks testifying to her keen enjoyment. "So many find me difficult to keep step with that I have become fearful of venturing upon the floor with a stranger. However, I shall always be glad to give you a character to any of my friends.” "I sincerely thank you,” I returned In the same spirit, “and I can certainly return the compliment most heartily. It is so long since I was privileged to dance with a lady that I confess to having felt decidedly awkward at the start, but your step proved so accommodating that I became at once at home, and enjoyed the waltz immensely. I fail to discover any seats in the room, or I should endeavor to find one vacant for you.” “Oh, I am not in the least tired." She was looking at me with so deep an expression of interest in her eyes that I dimly wondered at it. “Did I understand rightly,” she asked, playing idly with her fan, “that Major Monsoon introduced you to me as Colonel Curran of General Halleck’s staff?”/ What the deuce am I up against now? I thought, and my heart beat quickly. Yet retreat was Impossible, and I answered with assumed carelessness: “I am, most assuredly, Colonel Curran.” “From Ohio?” This was certainly coming after me with a vengeance, and I stole one quick glance at the girl’s face. It was devoid of suspicion, merely evincing a polite Interest. “I have the honor of commanding the Sixth Artillery Regiment from that State.” “You must pardon me, Colonel, for my seeming inquisitiveness,” and her eyes sparkled with demure mischief. “Yet I cannot quite understand. I was at school in Connecticut -with a Miss Curran whose father was an officer of artillery from Ohio, and, naturally, I at once thought of her when the Major pronounced your name; yet it certainly cannot be you—you are altogether too young, for Myrtle must be eighteen.” I laughed, decidedly rel’ 'ved from what I feared might prove a most awkward situation. “Well, yes, Miss Minor, I am indeed somewhat youthful to be Myrtle’s father,” I said at a venture, “but I might serve as her brother, you know, and not stretch the point of age over-much.” She clasped her hands on my arm with a gesture of delight. am so glad; I knew Myrtle had a brother, but never heard he also was in the army. Did you know, Colonel, she was intending to come down here with me when I returned South, at the close of our school year, but from some cause was disappointed. How delighted she would have been to meet you! I shall certainly write and tell her what a splendidly romantic time we had together. You look so much like Myrtle I wonder I failed to recognize you at once.” She was rattling on without affording me the slightest opportunity to slip in a word explanatory, when her glance chanced to fall upon some one who was approaching us through the throng. "Oh, by the way, Colonel, there is another of Myrtle’s old schoolmates present to-night—a most intimate friend, indeed, who would never forgive me if I permitted you to go without meeting her.” She drew me back hastily. “Edith,” she said, touching the sleeve of a young woman who was slowly passing, “Edith, wait Just a moment, dear; this is Colonel Curran— Myrtle Curran’s brother, you know. Colonel Curran, Mrs. Brennan." (To be continued)

I Saw Ne Other Signs of Human Occupancy.

“I Am, Most Assuredly, Colonel Curran.”