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Updated: June 15, 2025
"Your daughter, sir?" he asked quickly. "Not so fortunate, General. This is Miss Willifred Hardy, of the 'Gables." "Ah, yes!" the stern face instantly brightened by a rare smile. "The same fair heroine who brought the despatches from Johnston. I hoped I might reach here in time, my dear, to tell you in person how greatly I appreciate your service. May I ask if you are Major Hardy's daughter?"
"No, Miss Willifred," earnestly, "they are not, because they come from the heart. You are a woman, and therefore you understand. You cannot be angry with me, no matter how hard you try. You are endeavoring to deceive yourself, but the effort is useless. You do care for me that was why you waited for me to get safely across the river; that was why you have come to me now.
"A needle in a haystack," I answered, suddenly suspicious that she might know something of the fugitive. "Will you help me search?" "I I hardly appreciate your humor," haughtily. "Is is it Captain Le Gaire?" "Why do you suspect that, Miss Willifred? Is it because you imagine the man may be here?" "Because I know he got away; because I know your feeling toward him, your effort to take his life."
"When the war ends I shall probably no longer be Willifred Hardy." My heart beat like a trip-hammer; I could hear it in the silence. "The man yonder?" She bent her head. "You will not," my voice firm with swift conviction. "If that is all, I am not afraid. If you loved him would you be standing here even to say a word of farewell? Whatever pledge may be between you, on your part it is not love.
It would be simply madness to attempt crossing the river before nightfall, and yet I could not hope to remain where I was all the afternoon without discovery. As soon as the duties of hospitality were over Miss Willifred would certainly recall her prisoner, and it could not be long before my escape from the room above would be known. I must be safely out of the house before this occurred.
If I did that I would certainly lose, while if I fought it out there was still hope. No woman at least no woman like Willifred Hardy ever loved a coward, or a quitter, and I was determined she should not catalogue me in either class. All this came to me rather in instinct than thought, yet I was ready enough when she began questioning. "Now you will go away, won't you?" "Go away?"
"I presumed as much, sir, but first, and before we proceed further, I should like to have some explanation of the trouble between you and Le Gaire. You are doubtless aware that I am the father of Willifred Hardy." "Yes, Major, and I am perfectly willing to tell you the whole story. Shall I send for Miss Hardy to corroborate whatever I may say?" "No, sir.
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