The War Library: Phil, the Scout — page 10: what you’re looking at

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10 Will vou cease your course toward Laura Doane?” ‘*f{ willnot! You have youranswer. You dare not varry out your threat to tell her the old past. You dare not, Isay!” ‘* Wait and see,’' was the response, as the stranger rose. ‘‘ Whea we meet again, Font- neroy, you shall say whether you were right ornot. Adieu!” The next instant the place where he had stood was vacant. Struggling to the bell-pull the Confederate colonel rang loudly, then half stumbied upon bis couch once more. “T’ll do it,’’he hissed. ‘‘The villain has pushed me too closely. I'll let the law take its course with him.’’ A soldier appeared at the door. ‘*The man who wounded me just passed this house. Tell Drury this and give him my orders not to let him get away alive. Be quick now.”’ The Confederate disappeared. Five minutes later Arthur St. Clair hasten- ing toward the Doane mansion was arrested from his reverie by the clatter of pursuing horses. “Ha! sosoon as this! Well, I am ready. Ou, Ned, my boy; we have arace ahead.”’ Asif understanding the words of his mas- ter, the noble animal fairly flew over the ground, causing his’ beautiful mane to stream out bebind like silken threads. in a brief space of time, however, the pur- suing force came in sizht not far in the rear. ~Halfa dozen rifle-balls whizzed through the air. This showed that he was within reach of the Confederate weapons. ‘Pll show you a little trick, I think,”’ said the disguised man, as the second round of bullets cut the air, Shuffiing off a worn and soiled coat which concealed a better suit, the man waited for | the next shot from his pursuers. When it caine he dropped the bridle to the ground, and threw himself low down upon the side of his horse, clinging like an Indian when he was entirely out of sight, while the cout he had let fall bore every appearance of » man shot from the saddle. A yell of triumph burst from the Confed- erates. They believed they had brought down their enemy. Riding almost breathlessly up, they halted around the garment St. Clair had cast off, when a howl of rage rent the air. They saw ina moment the deception which had beeu practiced upon them; but if was tov late. When they were ready to take up the chase again the object of their pursuit had vanished as if into space. “ortwo hours the search was kept up. Vain were all the endeavors of the Confeder- ates to determine the whereabouts of St. Clair. Cursing loudly and dreading the reproyal of Foutneroy upon their return, the troop vode back to camp. Meantime where was St. Clair ? Seeing the troop of horsemen draw rein at ihe spot where his coat lay, and knowing that their attention was no longer upon him he turned his horse abruptly to one side and plunged deeply into the forest beside the road. Making a wide detour he chauged his course at the end of an hour, and, with the accuracy of one who has perfect knowledge of the section of the country around him, emerged exactly in the rear of the grand old house of the Doanes. ‘*T said I would do it, and I will not break my promise!’’ muttered the strauger, as he dismounted and secured his horse within easy reach should he be surprised. ‘ Font- neroy shall learn that he told the truth when he said that the hunted stag finally turns against its persecutors, that the sting of the seapent cannot be borne forever.”’ Making his way up to the mansion, he asked for Laura, and a few minutes after- ward he was sitting face to face with her in the parlor. The girl was pale, still lovely as ever. The effects of the late scenes of excitement had told upon her. ‘You, no doubt, wonder at this intrusion, and think if unwarranted, perhaps, that a stranger should come to you in the way I have. Tam not without my reasons for so doing.” The man’s words were so utterly at vari- ance with his personal appearance that Lau- ra, from that moment, knew that he was in disguise. ‘“f must confess to some little curiosity,”’ she said, smiling. ‘‘A woman is supposed to be a curious creature, you know.” THE WAR LIBRARY. A grave expression settled upon the feat- ures of Laura’s visitor. ‘* Mine is an errand which cannot bring you immediate happiness, Miss Doane; yet [am fully sure that when you are over the sharp pang my words bring you, you will be thankful to him who now speaks to you. You have a lover, Colonel Fontneroy."’ Laura started quickly, and a look of ter- ror depicted itself on her countenance. Why was it that her lover's name had never brought her the peace of mind she had a right to expect? Why must thoughts of him ever be coupled with feelings of unrest aud forebodings of something awful, something indefinite and incomprehensible, yet awful? ‘‘T percieve you start. Believe me, I would not say one word to cause you needless pain. Neither do I come to you for the purpose of striking any man behind his back. I[ am not a coward. I am here for your good, to thwart the schemes of asinfamous a villain as treads the earth!” Luura sprung to her feet, a gleam of fire lighting her eye. ‘Of whom do you speak? of Colonel Fontneroy? He is the very soul of honor. I will not listen to words like these.”’ ‘*Listen, then judge,’’ was the calm re- sponse. ‘First, let me tell you that I shall utter no word which is not as true as that the sun shines in the sky. Lady, there was once, not long ago, a home so happy that God’s purest blessing seemed to rest upon it like a curtain of love forever. One man and one woman, not more than two years wed- ded, knowing the love of no one, save their own, dwelt in that home. ‘“‘ Even as the serpent entered the home of that first couple long ago, so thatsame slimy reptile crept into this peaceful abode. ‘*He stole away the love of that wife once devoted and true. He changed that hus- band into a common criminal, wallowing in the gutter. He caused the arrest of that husband for a forgery done in an hour of drunken madness, and stayed not his hand till he saw him shut up behind prison bars, afelonintheeyesofthe law. 4, ‘““He kept on till he brought that wife in tears to the grave. Then, and there only, did he pause. ‘* Need I say what name that serpent bore? It was Norman Fontneroy !”’ Listening with wide, staring eyes, as the stranger proceeded with his story a hand, as of ice, seemed to close slowly around the heart of poor Laura Doane. With a cry she pressed her hands tightly over her forehead, and fell insensible into the arms of St. Clair, who sprung at that in- stant to her side. Placing her gently upon the sofa, he pa- tiently waited for her to recover conscious- Hea When that moment arrived, Laura said : ‘*Strange man, do you kuow this is true? God pity me!”’ ‘‘TDo I know itis true? Would to Heaven Idid not. Here before you, with the Maker as my witness, I tell you what I have said is true! I could say more. I know it is not needed. Thisis hard for you to hear, but it 1s better that you know it now.”’ ‘‘Better! From what has it not saved me! I shudder to think of what might have come to me but for this. But I[ will wring the story from his own lips. I must know more than this, and from him only will I ask it.”’ ‘* Let that be as you wish, I have no more tosay. Butstay; I have something further to tell you. Not content with compassing your destruction, he is plotting with a fiend like himself to destroy the happiness of Mol- ly Grame.”’ “My cousin! What is this you say? Speak quickly.” ‘“They intend she shall wed Oliver Ogle- thorpe.’’ “That villain!” ‘‘This I have but recently learned. At this moment Oglethorpe and his paid emis- saries areon the track of brave Phil La- monte, who stands, as he believes, in the way of his own success. I fear that evil may have befallen bim.’’ ‘This is terrible! And 1, I had ever dreamed him so true and so noble!”’ The girl rose and began to walk nervously up and down theroom. Stopping ata win- dow, she said: ‘* Was this the secret of the dreadful mis- givings which have always possessed me since 1 knew him? [t must be true. It must be.”’ Then coming back, she continued: ‘* Where is Philip Lamonte?”’ ‘* He escaped from the hands of the enemy Certainly not | when surrounded in this house, and hurried to overtake a Confederate scout who was bearing dispatches toa distant point, intend- ing to convey them to Nashville, if success- ful. By this time he should be there.”’ ** Molly tuust know of this plan against her and her lover. Brave Phil! He must not full for her sake. Can you do anything to- ward putting him on his guard ?”’ ‘*] shall at once bend my energies in that direction. I pledge myself to do all I can. Now I must say farewell. Pardon me for the pain I have caused you. Adieu,” In a moment he had gone. Rushing into Molly’s room the exeited Laura, with glittering eyes, told the tale te which she had just been a listener. many were the interruptions which the | sweet little cousin made, and wrathful were — her exclamations when she knew the plot — against Phil Lamonte. ‘““And you are at heart a rebel, Laura? > You sympathize with such men ‘as these? — Shame—shame upon you! T should think © this would be enough to turn you from such a horde of fiends!’’ ‘But, Molly, it is not men, but principles, [ uphold.”’ ‘““The principles are just as false as the men who are defending them. Both are de- ceptive and must fall.”” | Molly's cheeks were aglow with rage. The story of her cousin had set her brave | heart all on fire. ‘‘ But they shall not kill Phil Lamonte. He is too good and brave to fall by the weapons — of such a set of poltroons.’’ The girl leaped up quickly. ‘‘What will you do, Molly ?” ** You shall see.”’ And Laura did see. Justas night was dropping its mantle over this Southern homestead, 2 woman rode out of the yard adjoining the Doane mansion, and set her face resolutely toward Nuash- ville. It was Molly Grame. CHAPTER X. RESCUED FROM THE BURNING BUILDING. After rescuing Phil Lamonte from the clutches of his rival und enemy, Oglethorpe, the stranger urged his horse hotly on till they had left the Confederates far in the rear. Nat a word had been as yet passed between > them. Phil, though wondering much who this bold horseman was, aud why he had hap- pened to make his appearance so opportune- ly, chose to let him open conversation in his own timeand way. The manner in whiex™ he did this only added astonishment to our — hero’s already deep surprise. ‘‘Are the dispaiches safe?”’ The dispatches! What did the man mean? How had he gained his information regard- ing this mission of Phil? Such were the questions which run through the mind of the scout. . ‘* What dispatches do you refer to?’’ asked Phil, guardedly. ‘“‘Lam not ignorant of your mission, sir,’’ — was thereply. ‘‘ You can trust me. Though ~ Iam notin Union uniform my heart is loy- al; I wear the blue in my bosom. You have been following Confederate couriers from Beauregard’s camp, and have gained from — them messages to Price and Van Dorn. Are they safe?” - Phil sought to catch a glimpse of the face © of this stranger who had such perfect knowl- edge of his own movements, but the twilight was now deepening into night and he failed, ‘‘Pardon me,’’ he said, ‘* but I must be eareful. I acknowledge your kindness in helping me out of what promised to bea — tight box; but I do not know you well enough to——”’ ‘*T will prove to you that Iam what I pre- tend to be—a friend. I come here direct from the home of the Doanes.”’ “Ah! youknow them, then?” ‘* Notas fully asI could wish; yet some- what. I know that Molly Grame loves rou——"’ mu Loves me! Then you know more than I do. Explain yourself.” ‘“Itis not my right or province to do that. She will prove it to your satisfaction if you ask her. I know, further than this, that you have arivyal, a dangerous man; no other than Oglethorpe, the leader of the band from which you have just escaped.”’ . ; ‘““A rival! This i3 all news to me. [did — not dream of such a thing. Then that fel- © low had a double reason for desiring my ar- rest. I begin to see. What else is there to tell me, strange man 7’ nus (oy Gomichbooks. co