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others turned indignantly upon him； they saw that in his face that
held them in awe。 What they saw in the ambulance did not transpire；
what they felt was not known。 Strangely enough； however； what they
repressed themselves was mysteriously communicated to their horses；
who snorted and quivered with eagerness and impatience as they rode
back again。 The horse of the trooper who had laughed almost leaped
into the air。 Only Sergeant Cassidy was communicative； he took a
larger circuit in returning to his place； and managed to lean over
and whisper hoarsely in the ear of a camp follower spectator； 〃Tell
the young leddy that the torturin' divvils couldn't take the smile
off him！〃
The little column filed out of the gateway into the road。 As
Captain Fleetwood passed Colonel Carter the two men's eyes met。
The colonel said quietly； 〃Good night； captain。 Let us have a good
report from you。〃
The captain replied only with his gauntleted hand against the brim
of his slouched hat； but the next moment his voice was heard strong
and clear enough in the road。 The little column trotted away as
evenly as on parade。 But those who climbed the roof of the
barracks a quarter of an hour later saw； in the moonlight； a white
cloud drifting rapidly across the plain towards the west。 It was a
small cloud in that bare； menacing； cruel； and illimitable waste；
but in its breast was crammed a thunderbolt。
It fell thirty miles away； blasting and scattering a thousand
warriors and their camp； giving and taking no quarter； vengeful；
exterminating； and complete。 Later there were different opinions
about it and the horrible crime that had provoked it： the opposers
of Peter's policy jubilant over the irony of the assassination of
the Apostle of Peace； Peter's disciples as actively deploring the
merciless and indiscriminating vengeance of the military； and so
the problem that Peter had vainly attempted to solve was left an
open question。 There were those； too； who believed that Peter had
never sacrificed himself and his sister for the sake of another；
but had provoked and incensed the savages by the blind arrogance of
a reformer。 There were wild stories by scouts and interpreters how
he had challenged his fate by an Indian bravado； how himself and
his sister had met torture with an Indian stoicism； and how the
Indian braves themselves at last in a turmoil of revulsion had
dipped their arrows and lances in the heroic heart's blood of their
victims； and worshiped their still palpitating flesh。
But there was one honest loyal little heart that carried back
three thousand milesto England the man as it had known and loved
him。 Lady Elfrida Runnybroke never married； neither did she go
into retirement； but lived her life and fulfilled her duties in her
usual clear…eyed fashion。 She was particularly kind to all
Americans；barring； I fear； a few pretty…faced； finely…frocked
title…hunters；told stories of the Far West； and had theories of a
people of which they knew little； cared less； and believed to be
vulgar。 But I think she found a new pleasure in the old church at
Ashley Grange； and loved to linger over the effigy of the old
Crusader；her kinsman； the swashbuckler De Bracy；with a vague
but pretty belief that devotion and love do not die with brave men；
but live and flourish even in lands beyond the seas。
TWO AMERICANS
Perhaps if there was anything important in the migration of the
Maynard family to Europe it rested solely upon the singular fact
that Mr。 Maynard did not go there in the expectation of marrying
his daughter to a nobleman。 A Charleston merchant； whose house
represented two honorable generations； had； thirty years ago； a
certain self…respect which did not require extraneous aid and
foreign support； and it is exceedingly probable that his intention
of spending a few years abroad had no ulterior motive than pleasure
seeking and the observation of many thingsprincipally of the
pastwhich his own country did not possess。 His future and that
of his family lay in his own land； yet with practical common sense
he adjusted himself temporarily to his new surroundings。 In doing
so； he had much to learn of others； and others had something to
learn of him； he found that the best people had a high simplicity
equal to his own； he corrected their impressions that a Southerner
had more or less negro blood in his veins； and that； although a
slave owner； he did not necessarily represent an aristocracy。 With
a distinguishing dialect of which he was not ashamed； a frank
familiarity of approach joined to an invincible courtesy of manner；
which made even his republican 〃Sir〃 equal to the ordinary address
to royalty； he was always respected and seldom misunderstood。 When
he wasit was unfortunate for those who misunderstood him。 His
type was as distinctive and original as his cousin's； the
Englishman； whom it was not the fashion then to imitate。 So that；
whether in the hotel of a capital； the Kursaal of a Spa； or the
humbler pension of a Swiss village； he was always characteristic。
Less so was his wife； who； with the chameleon quality of her
transplanted countrywomen； was already Parisian in dress； still
less so his daughter； who had by this time absorbed the
peculiarities of her French； German； and Italian governesses。 Yet
neither had yet learned to evade their nationalityor apologize
for it。
Mr。 Maynard and his family remained for three years in Europe； his
stay having been prolonged by political excitement in his own State
of South Carolina。 Commerce is apt to knock the insularity out of
people； distance from one's own distinctive locality gives a wider
range to the vision； and the retired merchant foresaw ruin in his
State's politics； and from the viewpoint of all Europe beheld
instead of the usual collection of individual Stateshis whole
country。 But the excitement increasing； he was finally impelled to
return in a faint hope of doing something to allay it； taking his
wife with him； but leaving his daughter at school in Paris。 At
about this time； however； a single cannon shot fired at the
national flag on Fort Sumter shook the whole country； reverberated
even in Europe； sending some earnest hearts back to do battle for
State or country； sending others less earnest into inglorious
exile； but； saddest of all！ knocking over the school bench of a
girl at the Paris pensionnat。 For that shot had also sunk
Maynard's ships at the Charleston wharves； scattered his piled
Cotton bales awaiting shipment at the quays； and drove him； a
ruined man； into the 〃Home Guard〃 against his better judgment。
Helen Maynard； like a good girl； had implored her father to let her
return and share his risks。 But the answer was 〃to wait〃 until
this nine days' madness of an uprising was over。 That madness
lasted six years； outlived Maynard； whose gray； misdoubting head
bit the dust at Ball's Bluff； outlived his colorless widow； and