gs in cipher, others in foreign
characters, pieces of drawings, maps and the like, all of which I
destroyed. It contained also, in thin foreign notes, a sum large beyond
the belief of what an ordinary officer would carry into battle; and this
money, for the time, I felt justified in retaining.

Orme was no ordinary officer. He had his own ways, and his own errand.
His secret, however great it was--and at different times I have had
reason to believe that men high in power on both sides knew how great it
was, and how important to be kept a secret--never became fully known. In
all likelihood it was not his business actually to join in the fighting
ranks. But so at least it happened that his secret went into the unknown
with himself. He was lost as utterly as though he were a dark vision
passing into a darker and engulfing night. If I learned more than most
regarding him, I am not free to speak. He named no heirs beyond myself.
I doubt not it was his wish that he should indeed be held as one who
long ago had died.

Should Gordon Orme arise from his grave and front me now, I should
hardly feel surprise, for mortal conditions scarce seem to give his
dimensions. But should I see him now, I should fear him no more than
when I saw him last. His page then was closed in my life forever. It was
not for me to understand him. It is not for me to judge him.

CHAPTER XLIV

THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH

Within the few days following the battle, the newspapers paused in their
warnings and rebukes on the one side, their paeans of victory on the
other, and turned to the sober business of printing the long lists of
the dead. Then, presently, each section but the more resolved, the North
and South again joined issue, and the war went on.

As for myself, I was busy with my work, for now my superiors were good
enough to advance me for what they called valor on the field. Before
autumn ended I was one of the youngest colonels of volunteers in the
Federal Army. Thus it was easy for me to find a brief furlough when we
passed near Leesburg on our way to the Blue Ridge Gap, and I then ran
down for a look at our little valley.

The women now were taking ranks steadfastly as the men. My mother
greeted me, and in spite of all her sorrow, in spite of all the ruin
that lay around us there, I think she felt a certain pride. I doubt if
she would have suffered me to lay aside my uniform. It hung in our home
long after the war was ended, and my