ep
you from searching the house, and I accomplished my purpose."

"And you got those letters from me to give to him?"

"Yes."

Lieutenant Haines groaned. "It may be some satisfaction to you," he said,
"to know that this may mean my undoing, disgrace, a dishonorable dismissal
from the service."

"I shall take no pleasure in your dishonor," she exclaimed, the color
slowly mounting to her cheeks. "I did not intend that Lieutenant
Pennington should show himself. It was his rashness that has brought all
this trouble."

"How can I return to camp without arms, without a horse? It would have
been a kindness to me if your friend Lieutenant Pennington had put a
bullet through my brain."

Mr. Osborne now spoke. "Lieutenant Haines," he said, "my daughter speaks
the truth when she says I knew nothing of the Confederate officer being in
my house. Had I known it, I should have tried to conceal him, to protect
him; but I should not have invited you to be my guest. As my guest, you
are entitled to my protection, and I shall make what reparation is in my
power." Then turning to the colored boy who had stood by with mouth and
eyes wide open, he said, "Tom, go and saddle and bridle Starlight, and
bring him around for this gentleman."

"Surely you do not intend to give me a horse, Mr. Osborne," said Haines.

"As my guest, I can do no less," replied Mr. Osborne. "If Lieutenant
Pennington had not taken his, I should have let him have one to continue
on his way to Kentucky. So you see, after all, I am out nothing."

Just then they were aroused by the sound of horses' feet, and looking up
they saw Sergeant Latham accompanied by two soldiers coming on a gallop.
Riding up, the Sergeant saluted, and casting his sharp eyes around, said,
"Lieutenant, excuse me, but you were so long in joining us that I feared
something--an accident--had befallen you, so I came back to see. Where in
the world is your horse, Lieutenant?"

"Coming," answered his superior, briskly, for he had no notion of
explaining just then what had happened.

When the colored boy came leading an entirely strange horse with citizen
saddle and bridle on, the Sergeant exchanged meaning glances with his
companions, but said nothing.

Mounting, Lieutenant Haines bade the family good day, and rode moodily
away. No sooner were they out of hearing than the Sergeant, forgetting
military discipline, exclaimed, "What in blazes is up, Lieutenant? I
suspected something was wrong al