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Bell's eyes shifted questioningly toward me. "Surely Lieutenant Galesworth will not desire to take any undue advantage," he ventured. "Was not that Captain Le Gaire's idea?" I returned sharply. "He has the reputation of expert swordsmanship." "He is a swordsman, yes, but does not profess to excel with the sabre." I waited a moment in silence, permitting my hesitancy to become plainly apparent.
"Only I must believe what you said about me to him; only I must continue to respect an agreement which has been wrung out of you by threat. I refuse to be bound. I know now the one thing I wanted most to know, Billie that you do not love him. Oh, you can never make me think that again " "Stop!" and she was looking straight at me again. "I shall listen to you no longer, Lieutenant Galesworth.
"I'm glad to know who he is; some day we may have a settlement. Well, all I know about the affair is this, but that's enough you rode with him all one night, hid him all the next day, and then helped him escape. You lied to me repeatedly, and now you want to break away from me at the last minute. It's either this Galesworth or somebody else now who is it?"
I am going to my room, papa, until until the Yankees leave." "An unreconstructed Rebel," he exclaimed, yet clearly surprised. "Why, I thought you and Galesworth were great friends." "Has he made that claim?" "Why eh no. It was what Le Gaire said." "Oh! I should suppose that by this time you would rather doubt the statements of that individual.
Under other conditions I might accede to your request, but not now not to give you over to a Yank. I've got your promise, and I propose to hold you to it." "But it is not that," she protested. "I I am not in love with Lieutenant Galesworth." "So that is the fellow's name, is it Galesworth," sneeringly. "I thought you pretended before you did not know." She remained silent, confused.
The little captain backed out still raging, and the major followed him to the door, lingering there as though listening. I watched curiously until he straightened up, struggling to keep back a laugh. "That's some liar you've got for a sergeant, Galesworth," he said genially. "Bell ran up against him in the hall, and stopped to ask a question.
She hesitated, and I thought her eyes dropped. "I I hardly know," doubtfully. "Yet you have been very kind, and, perhaps, sometime I might serve you. Yes, you may tell me." "Robert Galesworth." "Of what rank?" "Lieutenant, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, but detailed for special service." "Thank you. I I am rather glad you told me." "And you," I insisted, determined this confidence should be mutual.
"That's odd. Why, we of the staff knew all about those sabre trials in the Federal camp. I naturally supposed Le Gaire wished to try his skill with the champion for the honor of the South. Such a struggle ought to be worth seeing, but Galesworth would have the advantage of weight, and length of arm." Bell evidently did not know either what to say or do.
"I have listened to you, Lieutenant Galesworth," she burst forth, "because I had to. You have had everything your own way thus far, but now it is my turn. I am a woman, a woman of the South, a soldier's daughter, and am not likely to surrender my heart, my principles, my life before such an assault.
Suddenly she flashed a glance at me, her eyes full of laughter. "Well, Mr. Lieutenant Galesworth, have you looked long enough?" The swift question confused me, but I found answer. "No; but as long as I dare. You were observing me also." "Naturally womanly curiosity is my excuse. Would you like to know what conclusion I came to?" "From your eyes it may not prove altogether flattering."
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