Love under Fire | Page 9

special desire to
exchange further speech. The flapping of the loosened curtain was
annoying, and I leaned over and fastened it down securely into place.
She merely glanced aside to observe what I was doing, without even
opening her lips.
"This is a miserably gloomy road," I ventured desperately. "I wonder
you dared to travel it alone at night."
"Its very loneliness makes it safe," was the response, rather
indifferently uttered. "Meeting others was the very thing I was most
anxious to avoid."
"Indeed! You are tantalizing; you cannot expect me to be devoid of
curiosity."
"Of course not," turning her face toward me, "neither can you expect
me to gratify it."
"You mean you could not trust me?"
"Rather that you would not believe me, if I did. The reason for this trip
is so simple and commonplace that if I were to confess its purpose to
you, you would suppose I were attempting deceit. Oh, yes, you would,
so I might just as well remain still. Besides it can make no difference
anyway. When we reach Jonesboro this morning you will go back to
your army, and I shall meet friends. There is scarcely one chance in a
thousand we shall ever see each other again. We are the merest
strangers--enemies, indeed, for I am a Rebel clear through. We don't
even know each others' names."
"Do you care to know mine?"

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.
"May I not, in return, be told your name?"
"I am Willifred Gray," she said quietly. "That is all--just Willifred
Gray."
There was something about the manner in which she said this which
held me silent. I should have liked to ask more, a second question
trembling on my lips, but the words would not come. It was altogether
new to me, this fear of offending a woman, so new it almost angered,
and yet something about her positively held me as though in bonds. To
this day I do not know the secret of it, but I sat there silently staring out
into the night.
I could see a little now, becoming aware that dawn was approaching,
the sky shading to a dull gray in the east, and casting a weird light over
the landscape. It was a gloomy scene of desolation, the road a mere
ribbon, overgrown with grass and weeds, a soggy marsh on one side,
and a line of sand-hills on the other, sparsely covered by some stunted
growth. Far away, across the level, my eyes caught a glimmer of water,
locating the river, but in no direction was there any sign of a house, or
curl of smoke. The unproductive land--barren and swampy--sufficiently
accounted for lack of inhabitants, and told why it had been avoided by
the foragers of both armies. Seeking safety the girl had chosen her
course wisely--here was desolation so complete as to mock even at the

ravages of war. The gray in the east changed to pink, delicately tinting
the whole upper sky, objects taking clearer form, a light breeze rustling
the long grass. Tirelessly the pony trotted, his head down, the lines
lying loose. I turned to gaze at my companion, and our eyes met. Hers
were either gray or blue; I could not be certain which, so quickly were
they lowered, and so shadowed by long lashes. And they were merry
eyes, smiling, and deep with secrets no man could hope to solve.
Perhaps she deemed it only fair that I should look at her as she had
been observing me; perhaps it was but the coquetry of the "eternal
feminine" conscious of her own attraction, but she sat there silent, the
lashes shading her eyes, the clear light of the dawn upon her face. I
cannot describe what I saw, only it was a young face, the skin clear and
glowing with health, the nose beautifully moulded, the throat white and
round, the red lips arched like a bow, and a broad forehead shadowed
by dark hair. She had a trooper's hat on, worn jauntily on one side,
crossed sabres in front, and her shoulders were concealed by a gray
cavalry cape. 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