Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/291

FROM BATTLE TO LOVE "What, may I ask?"

I met her questioning eyes fairly, convinced that a certain amount of boldness would not be amiss, and eager to learn the real nature of her feelings.

"Principally, Miss Jean Denslow."

"Oh, indeed!" very prettily simulating surprise, "and what possible interest can you both have in that young lady?"

"You ask seriously?"

"Most assuredly. Who could be more deeply interested than I?"

"Then I will answer frankly. If I mistake not, you were at one time engaged to Lieutenant Dunn."

"Very true."

"And you are now married to Lieutenant King."

She leaned back against the dresser, her cheeks flushed, evidently struggling for self-control.

"Are you not mistaken? I had supposed my husband to be Sergeant King, of Reynolds's Battery."

I leaned toward her across the chair arm, endeavoring to see into the depths of her eyes, but she veiled them behind lowered lashes, and I was compelled to answer blindly.

"He was Sergeant King at the time of your marriage, yet I think you have no doubt as to who he is now."

"I have not had a great deal at any time," she said, looking at me directly, "although I could not be sure. The night of that unfortunate occurrence you seemed to regret my predicament, and expressed a desire to make my burden as light as possible. Would it not have [ 275 ]