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THE WAR. LIBRARY. ,”
ak
~ ‘ ae
de family, madame. Well, we'll be dar in
time fur you ter enjoy desolemnities””
Sambo turned away and began to untie
his horses with the deliberate dignity of a
well-bred colored Virginian, but the young
woman followed him, much to his surprise.
“Make haste, make haste!” she exclaimed.
Sambo felt deeply injured.
** Certainly, madame, dough dar’s no dan-
ger ob missin’ de solemnities. I hab assured
you we will be dar when de jooful event 13
consum materated.””
“There is no time to lose.” . |
_ Sambo began to be angry. His dignity
could not stand everything.
. Was he, who knew all the points of the
affair, and was deeply in the confidence of
the contracting parties, to allow a doubt to
be cast on his judgment by a guest who, as
nearus he knew, was an uninvited one?--
“I ’spect Lis,” he thought, “but it goes
ag’in’ de grain.” .
‘They entered the carriageand drove away
at a moderate trot.
onthe whip!” ° .
Sambo swelled with indignation.
* Dis horse am capable ob locomoting wid-
outa whip,” he said. stiflly. ‘* He's got four
good feets, de hoss hab.” ~
And the fact was proven as the animal
struck into a brisk trot without the aid of
the whip. so,
“Is Walter Spencer there?” the passenger
demanded. ,
**Major Spencer, ob de United States
army, an’ staff ossifer wid Gineral Warfield,
is dar, madame. ’
“And going to be married?”
Ves.
“Who's that woman ?’?” .
“‘“What woman?” asked Sambo, looking
around. ‘1 don’tsee no woman?”
“Fool! The one he is going to marry.” .
“De young lady dat Major Spencer is
about to espouse in de bounds ob patrimony
is Miss Barbara Belleville Deane,’ was the
sonorous reply.
“The miserable creature!’ vehemently
cried the unkuown.
“Wh—wh— what?” gasped
“Who’s a mis’able critter; mum ?””
“That woman. Who is she—what is she—
that she dares aspire to Walter Spencer’s
hand? I say she shall not marry him; no,
not though bave to shoot her at the al-
tar?’
“The whip!” exclaimed the woman. ‘Lay |,
Sambo.
Sambo gave such an impulsive bound that
he nearly fell from the carriage, and though
he tried to speak, his words were wholly in-
articulate. . :
** Fool!” the woman again cried; ‘fcan
you see nothing? Iam not here to rejoice
over that marriage, but to prevent it. Allow
ittogoon? Never! It shall bestopped by
some means. Man, your horse is creeping.”
The horse was doing very wellindeed, but
the strange passenger caught the whip from
its socket and applied it witha few sharp
cuts which made the animal bound wildly,
andin a moment more they were fiying
madly over the road. . .
Sambo had been nearly paralyzed by the
startling news that his passenger was going
to Waters’ to stop the ** solemnities,” buthe
uow found it necessary to give all his atten-
tion to his legitimate work. ‘
‘* Whoa, Gineral Scott!" he yelled, tug-
ging at the reins. ‘Great Cicero, de hoss
am runnin*away, an you didit, mum; you
did, by golly!’’ . : .
‘* Let the brute go!’’ was the terse reply,
and down came the whip again.
Sambo’s kinky wool stood onend. It was
not so much the effect of fright as of the
cwind, but Sambo was a badly scared colored
gentleman. . _
General Scott was going likea veritable
race-horse, heedless alike of rein and his
adriver’s voice, and the carriage spun over
the road like mad.
The negro hung on tothe reins in dire
alarm, but the woman seemed to exult at
’ their rapid progreas.
“ We'lt be shipwrecked, sure!” cried the
negro; and then, as though to prove the
truth of his prophecy, one wheel struck a
stone and both persons went flying from the
vehicle, while General Scott galloped away
with one-half the wagon attached to him.
The shipwreck had come. .
How different was this scene from the one
transpiring at Abram Waters’ house! There
the assembled guests made a gay and happy
company, and thegiddy youngladies looked
likeso many angels in white. A brilliant
gathering; a happy one; a momentous oc-
casion. ~
-* Sambo is very late in returning,” said
ri
Waters, looking at his watch for the twen-
tieth time. :
“It must-be General Warfield has not
come,” said Major Spencer, disappointed)y-
“That is no reason. why Sambo should
loiter by the way.” .
“Well, our friends all seem to be enjoying
themselves; we can wait a little longer.”’
-They did wait longer, but as Sambo did
not appear, it soon became clear to all that
they must goon without him. —
That the general had. come seemed im-
possible, and as Sambo was not essential to
the grand occassion, it was agreed that the
ceremony should proceed without further
elay. - .
- So the young. couple took their places,
and the Reverend Mr. Truhart put on his
wedding expression and began the cere:
mony. . ‘ .
. CHAPTER Y-
THE INTEREST INCREASES. _
Barbara Deane and Major Spencer made
a fine looking couple; that was agreed by
all, and especially by the whimpering wom-
en who were overjoyed to sadness, as wom-
en always are at weddings. = -
Mr. Truhart cleared his throat and. com-
meuced. oe mo : :
Just then there was a commotion at.the
rear of the crowd,and a shrill, feminine
voice arose. .
“Let me past; I will pass. Stand: out of
my way!”
A woman in a torn, dusty suit was shov-
ing the spectators aside, and they gave
way all the more readily because they
judged by her wild manner that she was in-
sane, ~ ‘ :
The women ceased weeping to shriek a
little, but one practical, level-headed man
seized the intruder and held her, despite
her struggles,
“That'll do, mam,” he: said, sturdily.
‘You ain't wanted here, and you will please
walk out with me.”
‘‘Let me<alone!” she cried, passionately.
“Twill pass. I call on honest people to
protect me—to hear me. \I am come to stop
this marriageand prevent a crime. Walter
Spencer is my husband!” +
Every one in the room heard the words,
and those nearest to the major saw that he
shrank back and grew very pale.
“That voice!” he muttered, hoarsely
“that voice!” + .
But the practical man was not so easily
induced to release his prisoner. -
“You're mistaken—out of your head—
crazy!” he exclaimed. “The major ain’t
no husband o’ yours. Come; go awa
quietly and not interrupt the festivities.” y
am in my right miud,and I know
whatlam doing. I command you, let me
ss. Would you see a crime Committed?
a
pass
She writhed from his hold, and as th
others fell back, advanced quickly to the
ront. : '
Somehow, her wild gaze first fell
Barbara, and she laughed mockingly. "pon
“So you arethe person who would steal”
my husband. Ha. ha! I baveswornt ~
veutit, and I will! Where is the wreteh
who has forgotten his vows to me——"
She paused, as, turning her head, she en-
countered the gaze of the major,
Dead silence followed. . . °
@ major stood like a statue, but hi
eee was still pale and dismayed, and in his
e8 Was an expression al i
eyes was Pp almost as wild as
Indeed, her aspect of wildness ger; d
faded as’she Jooked at him, and inits place
as expressed doubt, wond i
iendorat ” erand surprise.
he word fell from the jor’
and Barbara started.” moon's pale lips,
She knew then who was before 3
was the Glendora, Marchmont of nehout
Bpencer had falked in his delirium follow-
& his wound, but whom he had
professed to regard lightly. Ad sfterward
nee Barbara had felt jealous of Glen-
passed, b
was the woman to forbid the vaio ne
Walter Spencer to another person.
abut Glendora’s face whsa perfect pano-
ma of emotions, and W: v
was tn Gemot , alter’s saw thatshe
3 face brightened. It seemed as tho
she had made a mistake a
hoped for the best,» {tet All, and he
Ruddenly Glendora aroused.
“* What mockery is this?” t
““Why is that mab here 2” she demanded.
. Half unconsciously she had looked at the
ter Spencer is my husband. Let me.
minister, and that gentleman answered with
unexpected coolness:
“That gentleman, miss,is Major Walter
Spencer, of the United States army, and he ©
is here to take an estimable young lady as
his wife. Youclaim himas your husband,
and it is now your duty to prove your state-
ments or acknowledge an error.”
““Walter. Spencer is my husband,’ Glen-
dora quickly replied; ‘but yonder man is
not he. Fools, has he deceived you all? .He
isno Unionist; he isa rank rebel, and he is
an oflicer in the Confederate army. His
name is Robert: Bridewell!”’ a.
Bridewell! . Barbara Deane was dazed
and confused, but even then she remember-
ed her present lover’s old-time assertions of
bitter hatred for Captain Bridewell, of the_
rebel army. .
He Captain
surd.
She confronted Glendora, quivering with
excitement and anger, a red glow in het
cheeks, . -
- “Woman, it is false!’’ she cried, loyally.
“He is Walter Spencer, a brave Union sol-
dier, and he is not your husband, How .
Fa
dare you malign him? -
. Glendora looked at her almost pityingly.
“He isnot my husband,” she replied; ‘2
have no desire to claim. such a monster,
But I solemnly swear to all here assembled |
that he is not Walter Spencer.- He is
Robert Bridewell, one of.the bitterst of
secessionists, a promotor of the-first diy
cord in Virginia, and now a Confederate of-
cer.”” . -
fi x,
‘The Reverend Mr. .Trubart rubbed his
head doubtfully. -He would have believed
that this uninvited guest was a madwoman,
but he saw that the bridegroom was stand-
ing in blank dismay, which certainly did
not become an innocent-man. Therefore,
Truhart answered practically : ‘.
“Let Major Spencer speak. for himself.
He is the person most interested; let him
clear away the mystery.” © - cot
The major started, his vague look gave
place to one of manly resolution, and he ad-
vauced a step. . :
“ Friends,” he said, in a ringing voice, “I .
beg that none of you will believe this ab-
surd charge. Ium Walter Spencer, as I can
easily prove. Have you not all known me.
for months? knew Robert Bridewell
once, but he was my bitter enemy, as well
asthe enemy of this young lady. know
her, tod. She is Miss Glendora Marchmont,
or was—if she is married,I certainly am
not hérhusband. There is some grievous
error; I can only believe her. reason is
shaken. Glendora, we were good friends
once~let me speak with you seriously.”
He advanced and put out. one hand. per
suasively, but she shrauk away. ve
“Stand back!’? he cried. “Your hands
arered with crime, Robert Bridewell; you
shall not touch me. Neither shall you de-
ceive nor cojoleme, What! doI not know
the man who was my neighbor from ‘the
time we were children? Sir,” to Truhart, “I
again declare that this man is Captain
Bridewell, a rebel officer!” :
Her former wildness had disappeared,
and her cool confidence staggere:
who wished to believe in the major’s up-
rightness and patriotism. =’ . °
ut Trubart caught at astraw.
“Was there a resemblance between Spen-
cer and Bridewell?”” he asked.
‘Not the slightest. You see this man
large and dark. Walter Spencer is much
lighter in weight, and his bair is a very
light brown.” :
The~ spectators. were staggered..“Now
;
that Glendora had recovered her calmness,
she was one to command respect, and to
carry an impression of truth with what she__
said .
She was a. tall, queenly woman,and s0
rarely beautiful that more than one man in
the room becamé her champion at heart, if
not openly.
Bridewell?_ The idea was ab-
those ~
But the tide turned the other way when '
i ee
the major answered.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, per-
suasively, “I beg that you will not believe
what this lady says. She is a lady, for I
now her well; she comes of one of the.
best of-old Virginian families; but she is
now laboring under a-strange hallucina-
tion. Shesays Walter Spencer is her hus-
band. She is wrong, for I am. Walter
Spencer, and 1 was never married to any
womar. ShesaysI am -Robert Bridewell.
Again she is wrong, for Brjdewell is my
bitter enemy—and hers. ean only con-
clude that the unfortunate lady {s suffering
Tom mental aberration.”
‘Villain! exclaimed Glendora.