White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-05-12

to morrow-Captain Elwyn. l mean
and l have come to beg his life. knew
} not when set forth, that you commanded
; at this post, or l should have spared my
self the agony of the last three hours
l suspense"
The brow of her listener had darkenei
| at the mention of his prisoners name, anC
his eye was keenly and meaningly fixed
: on Emily while she concluded. She fell
that Colonel Thorne was reading her Sc
} cret: her voice faltered, and her cheeI
grew pale.
NAY this is boon beyond my power
to grant," said the officer, in an excited
} tone-''nor did l suppose Miss Newton
had learned to plead for rebels, when
expressed my willingness to accede to hel
: wishes. Captain Elwyn must die"
Emily looked at the compressed lip
and saw the angry CLEAN of the speaker:
eye, and her heart died within her. But
despair gave her new courage.
:, Say not So" she exclaimed, "you can,
and will save his life. You are ll-pow-
elful at this post. My-Our eternal graf
itude will be yours She stopped in
] confusion, conscious that she had betrayed
herself.
! "Doyour parents know you are here 90
said Colonel Thorne, suddenly, pausing
in the hurried strides he was taking to
and fro: then witnessing her embarrass-
ment at this question. and reading in it
confirmation of his suspicious, he added
with cold civility: "Allow me, Miss, to
send an escort to see you safely home. 1t
i'll BELTS a young woman of birth and
education to be riding over the country
at night on Quixotic errands'
There was sneering tone in the latter
part of his speech, which would have
paralyzed all hope but in the heart of a
devoted woman. Emily saw that jealousy
of his rival prompted this ungenerous
speech and in terror for her lover, ali
maideniy reserve was forgot.
"Oh be not so harsh-so cruel" she
cried, raising and seizing the officer coat,
as he turned toward the door, "Spare
the life of Captain Elwyn! Do not visit
on him your anger at me. See, here ]
kneel for the boon. Grant my petition,
and viii ever pray for you. Look into
your heart and be generous
Rise, Miss Newton" said the rejected
lover, hauShtily. "You forgot yourself
and me. Captain Elwyn must die He
is a rebel, and shall suffer as SUCH" ex-
claimed Colonel Thorne, with energy,
stung 10 perfect Madness, and every noble
feeling banished from his heart in jealousy
GAS he has sown, so must he reap"
"Nay! have mercy on him or, at
least, have mercy on me. Ask anything
you wish in return, then," she added, i'm
petuOusly, as he strove to disengage him
self from her, command me never to
see Captain Elwyn more, and You shall
be obeyed-"
"Hal l will do this p said Colonel
Thorne. suddenly turning on her, and
grasping her wrist in his vehemence. till
she almost screamed with pain. "Will
you go further Will you promise ME
to be mine ? l will take you at your
word / ask this. Promise, and Capt.
Elwyn is Free"
Poor Emily, at these words, gazed in
speechless horror at the officer. Had
Colonel Thorne asked her to sacrifice
Captain Elwyn, he might have extorted
a promise to that effect but to wed him
whom she did not love, whom she never
could love, was boon beyond even her
power to grant. She felt that it would
be better that both she and Capt. Edwin
should die, than that such a sacrifice
should be made. She remained silent,
but as pale as death.
"Speak-I give you the option" said
Colonel Thorne. 81 once knell to you
you then had no pity"
"Oh do not ask it. implored Emily.
Anything else"
The face of Colonel Thorne grew white
with rage. "What p he exclaimed, pas
sionately, edo you think me more than
human Shall Igive up him whom, by
your own confession, / know to be the
rival that rihed from me your love? l
free this hated rival, when it is in my
power to be revenged on him Shall /
DO this, too, without an equivalent ? You
ask strange things, Miss Newton-ay
ask me to put my knife to my own throat!
l have loved you with passionate earnest
ness-I would as willingly die. as see
Won another's-you ask me to spare a III
yal's life, that you may wed him before
my face ! Away 70 he cried. in bitter
scOrn, finging her arm from him, COM
pletsly transported with passion.
"But 1 will promise-I will swear
never to marry Captain Elwyn," eagerly
interposed the supplicant.
"Rely on a woman's oath J" said Col.
Thorne, with q passionate sheer. ga
thing given to-day, and broken to-mor-
row / As well trust the tickle seas, or
put faith in traitors ]"
Emily arose sadly to her feet. These
last words had crushed what remained of
hope in her bosom. She saw that pas
sion had distorted nature. always prone
to selfishness, into the cruelty of a fiend.
Her demeanor suddenly assumed . digni-
ty, which awed Col. Thorne, even amid
the fury of jealousy.
"God forgive you." she said, "and
grant that on your death-bed. you may
not plead to him in vain. / have but one
favor to ask of you," she said. after a
pause; and that is. a personal interview
with-with Capt. Elwyn."
There was such a lofty majesty in her