Part 17 (1/2)

”Never mind,” she answered gruffly. And then, after a pause, she asked:

”Is there a man named Searle in your army--Philip Searle?”

”Nay, I know not. There may be. I have never heard the name. Do you seek such a person? Is he your friend, or relative?”

”Never mind,” she said again, and then was silent as before.

With the approach of dawn, the sentry challenged an advancing troop, which proved to be the relief picket guard. Harold saluted the officer in command, and having left orders respectively with their subordinates, they entered the farm-house together, and proceeded to the apartment where Moll still remained seated. She did not seem to notice their entrance; but when the new-comer's voice, in some casual remark, reached her ear, she rose up suddenly, and walking straight forward to where the two stood, looking out at the window, she placed her hand heavily, and even rudely, upon his shoulder. He turned at the touch, and beholding her, started back, with not only astonishment, but fear.

”You needn't look so white, Philip Searle,” she said at last, in a low, hoa.r.s.e tone. ”It's not a ghost you're looking at. But perhaps you're only angry that you only half did your business while you were at it.”

”Where did you pick up this woman?” asked Searle of Harold, drawing him aside.

”She came with an invalid on her way to Richmond,” replied Harold.

”What invalid?”

He spoke almost in a whisper, but Moll overheard him, and answered fiercely:

”One that is dying, Philip; and you know well enough who murdered her.

'Twasn't me you struck the hardest blow that night. Do you see that scar? That's nothing; but you struck her to the heart.”

”What does she mean?” asked Harold, looking sternly into Philip's disturbed eye.

”Heaven knows. She's mad,” he answered. ”Did she tell you nothing--no absurd story?”

”Nothing. She was sullen and uncommunicative, and half the time took no notice of our questions.”

”No wonder, poor thing!” said Philip. ”She's mad. However, I have some little power with her, and if you will leave us alone awhile, I will prevail upon her to go quietly back to Was.h.i.+ngton.”

Harold went up to the woman, who was leaning with folded arms against the wall, and spoke kindly to her.

”Should you want a.s.sistance, I will help you. We shall be going in half an hour. You must be ready to go with us, you know, for you can't stay here, where there may be fighting presently.”

”Thank you,” she replied. ”Don't mind me. I can take care of myself.

You can leave us alone together. I'm not afraid of him.”

Harold left the room, and busied himself about the preparations for departure. Left alone with the woman he had wronged, Philip for some moments paced the room nervously and with clouded brow. Finally, he stopped abruptly before Moll, who had been following his motions with her wild, unquiet eyes.

”Where have you sprung from now, and what do you want?”

”Do you see that scar?” she said again, but more fiercely than before.

”While that lasts, there's no love 'twixt you and me, and it'll last me till my death.”

”Then why do you trouble me. If you don't love me, why do you hang about me wherever I go? We'll be better friends away from each other than together. Why don't you leave me alone?”