g so he might harm me. But I am here to free
him from the cruel suspicion you have formed." She had quickened her
step, and in her impulsiveness and agitation they were almost at the end
of the walk. He hesitated, as though reluctant to go along under the
piazza, but she was imperious, and he yielded. "No, come!" she said. "I
mean that you shall hear the whole truth, and that at once. I do not
expect you to understand or condone my conduct, but you must acquit him.
We are engaged; and--I love him. He has enemies here, as I see all too
plainly, and they have prejudiced mother against him, and she has
forbidden my seeing him. I came out to the fort without her knowledge
one day, and it angered her. From that time she would not let me see him
alone. She watched every movement, and came with me wherever I drove.
She gave orders that I should never have any of our horses to drive or
ride alone,--I, whom father had indulged to the utmost and who had
ridden and driven at will from my babyhood. She came out to the fort
with me that evening for parade, and never even agreed to let me go out
to see some neighbors until she learned he was to escort Miss Renwick.
She had ordered me to be ready to go with her to Chequamagon the next
day, and I would not go until I had seen him. There had been a
misunderstanding. I got the Suttons to drive me out while mother
supposed me at the Laurents', and Mr. Jerrold promised to meet me east
of the bridge and drive in town with us, and I was to send him back in
Graves's buggy. He had been refused permission to leave the post, he
said, and could not cross the bridge, where the sentries would be sure
to recognize him, but, as it was our last chance of meeting, he risked
the discovery of his absence, never dreaming of such a thing as his
private rooms being inspected. He had a little skiff down in the willows
that he had used before, and by leaving the party at midnight he could
get home, change his dress, run down the bank and row down-stream to the
Point, there leave his skiff and climb up to the road. He met us there
at one o'clock, and the Suttons would never betray either of us, though
they did not know we were engaged. We sat in their parlor a quarter of
an hour after we got to town, and then 'twas time to go, and there was
only a little ten minutes' walk down to the stable. I had seen him such
a very short time, and I had so much to tell him." (Chester could have
burst into rapturous applause h