His gray eyes met hers, and then turned away, his lips pressed together.

"Nothing until the day we fought at Fisher's Hill," he said slowly.
"Then I was dismissed from the service--for cowardice."

"Cowardice!" repeating the word in quick protest. "Why, how could that
be? Surely your courage had been sufficiently tested before?"

"Cowardice, and disobedience of orders," he repeated dully, "after I
had been under fire almost night and day for three years; after I had
risen from the ranks and commanded the regiment."

"And you had no defence?"

"No; at least, none I could use; this man might have saved me, but he
did not, and I never knew why."

"Who was he?"

"My senior captain, detailed on Early's staff; he brought me the orders
verbally I was afterwards accused of disobeying. I was temporarily in
command of the regiment that day with rank as major. There was a
mistake somewhere, and we were horribly cut up, and a number taken
prisoners. It was my word against his, and--and he lied."

She took the haversack from him, studying the scarcely legible
inscription.

"'E. L. F.' Are those the letters?"