The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-02-21

Ou buc COnildiy, sic l1OIc llldH Hail III
clined to our side," returned Camion ca
gerly. "She told me almost as much. In
her heart she loves the Union BEST
This unlikely assertion increased my mis-
givings tenfold; bat before could make up
my mind what to say was summoned to
attend another victim of our mysterious en-
envy on the opposite bank. The man was
mortally wounded; but before he died he
was able to state that he had seen his execu-
tioner-a young fellow with dark blue
shirt, who parted aside the bushes and
looked across at him, the smoking rifle in
his hand.
''If anyone with good aim had been with
me-" added the poor chap, "we,d had him
potted then sure.'
They were his last words. But it was
not the first time the sharpshooter had been
said to have shown himself under similar
clrcumstan ces; and it set me thinking again
OF Belmont's scheme of the night before.
At O'Clock that afternoon the officers
and non-commissioned officers of our COM
pany were summoned to meet the colonel: |
was also present t. As anticipated, it was
Belton's scheme that was the subject of dis
cussion; the long and short of it was as fol-
lows: A volunteer was to be found to show
himself on the bank and take the enemy's
fire. Bolton, meanwhile, was to conceal
uAihoSll SlOoV db uduu, duu, DIS SOUu DIS IuG
young fellow in the straw hat'' peered out
of his ambush to see the effect of his shot,
Bolton was to put "a minnie ball through his
head. There were only three things that
might interfere with the successful prosecu-
ton OF this plan; the lack of volunteer pre-
pared to meet almost certain death the pos
sible omission on the enemy's part to re-
veal himself; and, finally. the chance that
Bolton might, after all, miss his aim. New
ertheless the colonel gave his consent that
the thing should be tried in default of any
better suggestion, and the following morn
ing was appointed for the experiment.
At o'clock l saw Camlion leave his tent
and set off in the direction of his left. had
already noticed Bolton headed the same way
about quarter of an hour previous; and,
putting this and that together, Iawaited the
issue in some suspense. But before Z o'clock
Camlion returned, passed me with strange
look on his face and without returning my
greeting, and Immediately re-entered his
tent, where, as was afterwards inferred, he
must have spent great part of the night in
writing and arranging some papers. What
had happened, as nearly as can Judge from
subsequent developments, was this: He had
started with the intention of calling on Ros-
alind Capel at her house. The way lay
through wood but just before emerging
.ion' ~ iHto Iuc opcH SrOuHu III ITOlL VI HIS
house, he saw a man and woman standing
beneath the shade of some trees about fifty
yards away. The man was Bolton, the wo-
man Rosalind. Bolton was apparently
speaking eagerly and excitedly, Rosalind
occasionally replying briefly, and moving
her head as if in assent. After minute or
two Bolton ceased; she extended 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 passionately 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. Then he
stopped; cold and torpid feeling came over
him; he turned about, and, suggishly 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, Hay
don by name-a reckless, daredevil fellow,
who had volunteered for the post of danger
on the occasion-moved silently and eau
tiously down toward the fatal spot on the
rivers brink. The adventure was kept
strict secret, for, since the night previous,
there had been whispers of treachery in
camp, and we knew not where to look for
the traitor among us. 1t was, of course, in
dispensable to the success of our plan that
VIZ ohoi PohOOICl lave ITO SuSplClOu
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 a few yards from the
place. Then Camlion, with Hayden in his
charge, slipped a little way down towards
the left, until they were concealed from our
sight by the intervening shrubbery Bel.
ton got his rife in readiness, and 1 made my
to do all that could be done for
Hayden, as soon as the enemy's bullet had
struck him. When last caught sight of
the poor fellow there was droop about the
corners OF his mouth, and a yellow palor in
his cheeks, which showed that he was not
insensible to the gravity of the situation.
But Camilon had taken care to bring flask
OF brandy along with him, and quiet,
steady cheerfulness of demeanor that was,
perhaps, a better cordial still.
Left to ourselves, Bolton and had nothing
to do but wait; and we did wait for what
seemed to us many intolerable minutes.
The river lapsed smoothly and silently by:
a bird skinned over the surface; breath
of wind rust]ed the leaves over our heads.
l began to fear lest the suspense should
make Belton's hand unsteady. Just then a
exclamation reached our
ears from the direction of our unseen COM
panions, and almost simultaneously with it
ohO oOuiAt Va O. uCdFy otCP pdooluS llCul Iuc
bushes to the open margin of the stream
The time was come. Bolton crouched with |
his rifle at his shoulder; our eyes were fas-
tened on the opposite bank. Suddenly a
white puff of smoke leaped forth-a sharp,
fiat report, like the cracking of who; then |
the low unmistakable thud of bullet strik- |
ing its quarry. The white smoke drifted |
down to the windward. Before it had |
passed away saw the figure for which we
were lying in wait emerge quietly from it's
covert on the other side and stand revealed |
At the same instant the bang of Belton's rifle |
rent the stiffness; yeti had time to remark |
inexplicably familiar in that alert
graceful form-something not compatible
with its blue-belted blouse and high boots.
And what happened next? To me it all
seemed like an ugly, tumultuous dream / |
leaping down through the bushes
to the waters edge. l remember seeing
Haydon, alive and unhurt, supporting Cam
ions dying head on his knee, while he tore
open the front of his uniform, and disclosed
the shirt stained with blood. 1 remember
Bolton, with CHASTITY face and sobbing breath,
tearing loose the painter of small skiff
that was moored close at hand, and putting
Oft with frantic haste across the stream.
And knew-but how can not tell-that
he was going to fetch the body of the wom-
an he loved, and whom he had slain For
The famous sharpshooter of the Rapidan was
Rosalind Capel.
She was still living when he brought her
IN; but she had been hit MORALLY in the |
right side, and was fast bleeding to de tn. |
But she smiled as we lifted her out, and her |
voice, though faint was distinct and com
posed.
"Lay me by Captain Camilon,' she said;
II shall like to die beside him.
81 was the one you were to have had,''
said Hayden; "but at the moment the cap |
tain flung me down and went forward him |
self. 1t was too late to help it then. God |
knows am sorry!" and he burst into tears
as he said it.
Rosalind smiled strangely, az moved her
hand until it touched Camlion's.
'Captain Camion acted like the hero he
always was" she said, now almost inaudibly. |
Il loved him-never any one else-never
you, you double trai.orr' she added, turn
ng her darkening eyes on Bolton, who knelt |
in voiceless despair before her. "Last night |
you sold your adopted country for kiss"
Her eyes half closed for moment, and she |
breathed stertorously. She opened them |
once more, turned her face towards Cam
lion, and made an effort to lift his hands to
her lips. 1 helped her to accomplish her
purpose. "ThanksW she whispered. 81
am not fit to kiss his mouth buff he were |
allve-I would ask his leave--and-his par
ionp'
She did not sneak after this and in a few |