The War Library: Phil, the Scout — page 22: what you’re looking at

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or-— 22 the strong beast, nerved to the utmost, cleft the darkness, and in the twinkling of an eye carried him beyond the verge of the forest. Ounce more the scout pulled out his watch, panting heavily. Four o’clock! The hour had come. Upon the grass beside the rolling Tennes- see the scout kneels and draws from his bosom the rocket he has carried through the scenes of this venturesome night. He scratches a match ona stone beside him, The scout hovers the spark, and trembling- ly holds it to the fuse of the rocket. It hisses. Then holding it high in air he sends it far above the hill-tops. It is done. The red stars flashes like a meteor, and bears its tidings to the Union general waiting outside. The strange red light has not yet died out of the sky when the boom of acannon wakes the far-off silence. General Grant has seen the signal. He know its meaning. Again the crimson tide of battle will roll down upon Pittsburg Landing, When it recedesit will leave the turf wet with the blood of freemen, but the war of the rebellion will be decided. CHAPTER XNIII. A WOMAN'S DEVOTION. A step or two backward. Laura Doane, Keeping her vigil by the side of the Confederate colonel, anxiously noted the flight of time, and momentarily longed for the return of Phil. It was a trying position in which to placea girl of her passiovate nature. The colonel for some time remained silent, regarding the girl, and inwardly chafing at his imprisonment. But at length he broke out into a thrilling appeal. ‘* Laura,’’ he began, ‘‘I did not think you so heartless as this; indeed, it seems to me your rea! character, your own heart is not leading youon inthis matter. It cannot be that you actually hate me, as your actions indicate. Some one is urging you on to in- jure me.”’ The girl remained quietly looking into his face foratime. Then she replied: ‘Then you think me dead to all true wom- auly emotion, do you? ThatI can listen to the tale of the wrong you have done one of my sister women. and still remain constant in my devotion to you? If you do, then you have not yet learned the nature of Laura Doane.”’ ‘*But, Laura, must 1 again tell you that this is not true—that it is but the evil tale ofanenemy? Iam not guilty as you seem to believe. Why cannot you take my word instead of that of astranger ?” ‘Colonel Fontneroy, there are seme things a woman needs not to betold, I did love you once, deeply, fondly; but my affec- tion brought me no peace of mind. Even there rose up between us a barrier. What that unseen thing was I could not tell. I kpow now; I have known it ever since I learned the story of your infamy to Arthur St. Clair and his innocent wife. As plainly asif [had seen the whole tragedy enacted do I discern the course you took to accom- plish your base desigus. You have never ut- tered one word in denial—you cannot!”’ ‘“*Tcan—I will, Hear me——”’ “Stop! You shall not perjure yourself now. It is useless.” The colonel turned his face away. ‘‘ Laura, I tell you truly I dolove you bet- ter than any other one in all the world—better than Lever can love anyone else. You see me now in weakness, and hear my honest avowal. Believe me when I speak, and tell me if you cannot accept my affection.”’ The beautiful girl’s face became whiter than the driven snow. Again she was being put to the test. Would she yield? “*T cannot.”’ “Speak not thus, Laura. More depends upon your answer than you think. Yield, I pray you!” ‘‘Tt is impossible.’”’ Something like a groan escaped Colonel Fontneroy. Silence ensued. ‘*[T have only one request further to make, Laura. [Lam burning withfever. My thirst seems intolerable. At the foot of the bank not twenty rods from here there is a clear spring. If I had some of its:water—do you eae would dare to go?” 8 THE WAR LIBRARY. Laura gazed keenly upon the colonel. Was it indeed true that he was ill ? did seem flushed. Now that he might be suffering, the old fond affection came rushing back. Narrowly did the colonel watch the effects of his words upon the girl. Would she grant his request? ‘‘T will try to find the spring,’’ was her an- swer. ‘‘Can you tell me where to geta pitcher ?”’ ‘* Lift the cover of that box yonder. There, do you see it?” ‘*Yes,’? replied Laura, as she took the pitcher and started for the water. Her footsteps had not died away in the distance when Fontneroy threw himself to a sitting posture, and managing to crawl to the door of his tent, called loud enough to reach the ear of a sentinel pacing a short distance away. ‘“‘Help! help! Come here quickly !” At the sound of this appeal the soldier sprung to Fontneroy’s side. ‘* Sever these cords, will you? Curse them, how they have cutiuto my flesh. Ha! ha! I’ll cheat you yet, my fair she-devil!”’ The cords were severed speedily and the Confederate rose with a bound. ‘* Now, see here,’’ he continued; ‘I can trust you, I think. I want alittle help. You Ba ane Doane leave this tent a moment ago yy ‘*T saw a woman.”’ ‘* When she returns, she must be captured. Do you understand? I am willing to pay you well for your assistance. Here.”’ eee slipped a coin intu the palm of the sol- ier. ‘*Stand in the shadow of this tree, and the moment she makes her appearance, seize her.’ ‘“Your word is my law, colonel,’’ was the response, and the two men secreted them- selves and wait It was but a minute before the girl’s form appeared, approaching quickly. She had allowed her sympathy to supplant her better judgement for the time being, and was now eager to serve the man she pitied. As she neared the spot, a hand was thrown over her mouth, completely smothering her voice, and the next instant she felt a grasp of iron on her wrists. ‘*Now, my pretty fiend, we will see who is master of the situation,’’ laughed Fontne- roy. ‘‘It wasaclever ruse, was it not? I couldn’t play it again, doubtless. But now we will go. Perhaps, after all, you may be induced to change your mind and accept me at last.”’ Again he laughed sardonically. ‘‘ Bring her along, will you I'll be re- sponsible to the officers of the guard. I think I know of a quiet place where she can reflect forawhile. She may change her mind re- garding her suitor by and by.”’ Hereupon the colonel turned upon his heel and walked away, closely followed by the soldier conducting Laura, who made no at- tempt to escape, but submitted, with flash- ing eyes, to the insults applied to her. A little way outside the camp there stood an ancient farmhouse, now deserted and cold. Toward this Fontneroy took his way with his prisoner. Leading her to the rear of the building, the two men passed through the door left partly ajar, and entering, roamed about till they found asecure room high from the ground, and cheerless enough. Into this they thrust the proud girl, and left her still bound as they had brought her thither. She heard the key grate dismally in the rusty lock, and listened to their footsteps, becoming fainter and fainter as they hurried away. When all was still, Laura tried to discover some place of escape. The attempt was useless. Could she have discovered a way out, it would have been impossible for her to have made it available, pinioned as she was. Night wore slowly away and found her restlessly pacing up and down the limits of her prison, A stern look had gradually settled down upon her face. She had slain the last vestige of her affec- tion for Fontneroy. He had proved un- worthy of even her pity. And when pity ceases to move a woman, the last avenues to her heart has been closed. Lostin thought, Laura scarcely was con- scious of a noise at the single window of the room, andit was only when the figure of a man raised itself above the sill that she started from her reverie. ‘ate ‘**Laura.”’ His face Surely she knew that voice. Quickly she ran to the window. he There outlined against the glass she saw St. Clair. @ < “Mr. St. Clair! Than Heaven for your timely appearance.”’ ; With one quick movement the strange — man, still in disguise, shattered sash and © pane, and stood beside the girl. , “Tell me you are unhurt.” ; ae I am.” ‘My heart rejoices to hear it. might not be so.’’ ‘*T cannot understand how to find me.” 3s ‘‘Il have searched for you, Laura. All this night long I have earnestly sought you.” ‘‘Anad Molly—know you aught of her?” ‘‘She waits a short distance outside. Poor — girl, she 1s almost beside herself with distress and apprehension for you.” ae ‘ Dear girl. I long to see her once more.” — ‘‘Come, then. But first, Laura, forgive me - for addressing you thus. I cannot go from — here without knowing whether I may not at least call you friend. 1 am unworthy; [ know it. I have been a lonely man, but I | cannot deceive myself. You are very dear © to me. When this war is over, mayI not come to you with hope that you will receive me kindly? Lam not handsome. You your- — oe see it. Iam rough, but my heart is ten-— er.”’ J ‘““Wait,’’ said Laura, gently, ‘ till the time © you mention is here, then come to me with — your question.”’ . ‘*That is all I ask,’’ said St. Clair. Then, lifting the girl in his arms, thestrong — man stepped out of the window, and let him- — self down to the ground by means of an old | ivy vine which clambered up the side of the houses. | We pass the scene of the meeting with Molly, and hasten to the stirring events tak- ing place elsewhere. I feared it — you happened ; CHAPTER XXIV. IN THE MORNING TWILIGHT, With countenance unmoved by the volca- no over whose crater he was treading, the Union general stood almost alone in the gray light of that eventful morning, watching for the signal from Phil Lamonte. ; Not for an instant did he remove his keen eyes from the place where he knew’ the onfederates lay, unsuspicious of his inten- tions. . General Buell had now arrived, and his norces had marched to the position assigned em. The deceived Wallace had also discovered ( his grevious mistake, and hastening on the double-quick, his division had been honoréé@ -. with the privilege of opening the contest on — the extreme Confederate left, in case the © Union secout’s signal was favorable. 5 It was already understood by Wallace that no soouer should the rocket be seen than he © should command his gurs to speak. Pacing to and fro under a wide-branched ~ tree, with his coat buttoned close up te his throat, the general soliloquized: ‘‘Itis placing a good deal of confidence in that young scout. But I don’t think he will deceive me. Faces are the indices of charac- ter. In his I read sterling integrity. If this thing turns out allright, he shall not be the loser for the work he is now doing. Let's see. Whatis the hour? Four o’clock this > minute. Now for the signal.” If possible, the general gazed more sharply than ever before in the quarter he had been watching so closely for the last half-hour. ‘‘Ha! thereitis! Lamonte is prompt, at least. Now what color does he show ?”’ As the meteor-like thing shot higher and higher, General Grant intently looked for the color. ‘‘ Victory is mine!’’ he exclaimed. ‘It is — aredalone. Now, Wallace, to the work!”’ Mounting his horse, the general dashed to the front. A moment later the thunder of cannon on the left woke the morning echoes. Here, in person, Beauregard was in com- mand. He could not trust his most careful general to guide his forces there against the heroie Unionists. What a day that was! Has American history another like it? It was a struggle not simply for the old field held by Grant, It was life or death for the leaders who were directing the fight. Each knew it, and each was determined not to yield. And their men seemed to en- ter as fully into the spirit of the battle as their commanders. Eomichooks:com —