The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-05-14


and short of it was as follows: A vol
unteer was to be found to show himself
On the bank and take the enemy's fire.
oeiton meanwhile was to conceal him.
sell close at hand, and as soon as the
young fellow in the straw hat" peered
OUT OF his ambush to see the effect OF his
snot, Bolton was to put minnie ball
through his head. There were only
three things that might interfere with
me successful prosecution of this plan
Cne lack OF volunteer prepared to meet
almost certain death; the possible omis-
sion on the enemy's part to reveal him
sell, and finally, the chance that Bolton
might, after all, miss his aim. Never
theless, the Colonel gave his consent
that the thing should be tried, in default
OF any better suggestion; and the fol-
lowing morning was appointed for the
experiment.
at six O'Clock saw Camlion leave his
tent and set off in the direction of our
lett. had already noticed Bolton head
ing the same way about quarter of an
nour previous; and putting this and that
together, awaited the issue in some
suspense. But before seven O'Clock
Camlion returned, passed me with
strange look on his face and without re-
turning my greeting, and Immediately
re-entered his tent, where, as was after
ward inferred, he must have spent a
great part of the night in writing, and
arranging some papers. What had hap
pened Gas nearly as can judge from
subsequent Developments was this /:
Ho ho n cfa rfad xyift ho i,,ta 0fo
ing on Rosalind Capel, at her house.
The way lay through q wood; but just
before emerging from it into the open
ground in front of the house, he saw q
man and woman standing beneath the
shade of some trees about fifty yards
away The man was Bolton, the woman
Rosalmd. Bolton was apparently speak
ing eagerly and excitedly, Rosalind oc-
casionslly replying briefly and moving
her head as if in assent. After a
minute or two Bolton ceased; she ex-
tended her hand to him, which he
grasped IN both his and raised to his lips.
The next moment he had drawn her to
his breast and kissed her face passion
ately and repeatedly, she not resisting.
When Camlion saw this hoarse cry
broke from him, and he strobe forward
a step with fire in his heart. There he
stopped; acold and torpid feeling came
over him; he turned about, and, slug
gishly at first, then more rapidly, made
his way back to the camp. .
A little before noon next day Camlion,
Bolton and myself, and another man,
Hayden by name-a reckless, daredevil
fellow, who had volunteered for the post
OF danger on the occasion-moved ST.
lently and cautiously down toward the
fatal spot on the rivers brink. The adj
venture was kept strict secret, for
since the night previous there had been
whispers of reachery in the camp, and
we knew not where to look for the traitor
among us. 1t was, of course, indispen-
sable to the success of our plan that the
sharpshooter should have no suspicion
OF there being more than one person in
the neighborhood. Keeping heedfully
behind cover, we crawled along, and at
length lay hidden in the bushes q few
yards from the place. Then Camlion,
with Hayden in his charge, slipped a
little way down toward the left, until
they were concealed from our sight by
the intervening shrubbery. Bolton got
his rifle in readiness, and l made my
preparations to do all that could be done
for Hayden, as soon as the enemy's
bullet had struck him. When l last
caught sight of the poor fellow there
was q drop about the corners of his
mouth and yellow pallor in his cheeks
which showed that he was not insensible
to the gravity of the situation. But
Camlion had taken care to bring flask
of brandy along with him, and quiet,
steady cheerfulness of demeanor that
was perhaps better cordial still.
Left to ourselves, Bolton and 1 had
nothing to do but wait; and we did
wait for what seemed to us many intol-
cradle minutes. The river lapsed
smoothly and silently by, a bird skim
med over the surface, breath of wind
rustled the leaves over our heads. / be-
gan to fear lest the suspense should
make Belton's hand unsteady. Just
then q half-smothered exclamation
reached our ears from the direction of
our unseen companions, and almost
simultaneously with it the sound of a
heavy step passing from the bushes to
the open margin of the stream. The
time was come. Bolton crouched with
rifle at his shoulder; our eyes were fas-
tened on the opposite bank. Suddenly a
white puff of smoke leaped forth-a
sharp, flat report like the cracking of a
whip; then the low, unmistakable thud
of bullet striking its quarry. The
stricken man staggered and fell-still
out of our sight, could we have had eyes
for him then. But all depended upon
our absolute immobility during the next
few moments. The white smoke drifted
down to windward. Before it had
passed away saw the figure for which
we were lying in wait emerge quietly
from its covert on the other side and
stand revealed. At the same instant
the bang of Belton's rifle rent the still
ness, yet l had time to remark some
thing inexplicably familiar in that alert,
graceful form-something not oompati-
Bile with its blue belted blouse and
high boots. And what happened nextp
To me it seemed like an ugly, tumultu-
Gus dream. remember leaping down
through the bushes to the water's edge.
| remember seeing Hayden, alive and
unhurt, supporting Camlion's dying
head on his knee, while he tore open the
front of his uniform, and disclosed the
shirt stained with blood. l remember
n II = r I