Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-06

kindly, but chidingly. ''My affection fol
you, scarcely requited, Is proof to the contrary
Were naturally Jealous your plea for this
young man might arouse suspicion in my mind
as to your motive"
She crouched down at his side as he took a
seat. and put her arms around him in caress
ing way that was not common to her. He saw
that she was weeping. In spite of an exertion
nerves under any circumstances, she trembled
like coward. At length she said: You love
me very dearly. Would it disturb you to know
that some other man loved me, too?"
And that you loved him"
He said that with quickness that startled
her. She leaned on his knees, as she responded:
Why need you come SO readily to that sup
postion?''
"Who is the man?n
"Oliver Wilett."
He stood up so hastily that she was pros
and she arose unaided This rebuff at tn out,
set of a confession made her waver in her pur-
pose. She asked herself why a partial revela-
tion of the facts would not do as well; and,
hoping rather than believing that it would she
said: He made me proffer of his love. re-
pulsed him. l told him that he must never see
me again. He followed me to the city and then
asked me to fly with him. Then he was ar
rested. That is the truth, as live. He is no
spy. Now you will save him-will You not?
There must be some way of doing 1t, when you
are CONVINCED that he did not come here on the
errand imputed 20 him"
us that all you wish to say"
rs that not enough?" she replied, a little be-
W1ldered and feeling that her determination
was melting away.
You are trying to deceive me- Your motive
do not condemn, but the device fails. Your
pity Tor him has impelled you to a desperate
effort to save his life. You have exceeded
what duty to your friend required"
Il have told you the truth, as there is a
heaven above us!'
''Stopr' Could this cold, stern old man be
the petting husband she had known? She
ed a i'm in dor md fnor
forgotten one point-the document that he de-
stroyed"
She felt that this was the time and the last to
tell all that she had left untold. She raised
her eyes to his face, and saw that he was iron.
Again she resorted to fragment of the truth.
"That was letter from me to him, COM
manding him not to seek me-"
"If that be SO, why should he have DESTROYED
it? There is nothing in such a letter the hiding
of which would be worth a mans life.
She could have met this objection with the
ter contained her confession of love for Oliver
Willett. She had intended to tell that and to
trust to her husbands indulgent love for for
giveness; but now she was convinced thar ha
would not forgive that one fault. She was
silent, and ere she knew it he had quilted the
room.
guardhouSe, where Oliver W1llett was await.
ing the execution of the sentence of death
The young man had repeatedly asked himself
why he had destroyed the proof that he was
not a spy, anu as OIIen ne VlVluly remembered
his promise to Mrs. Armytage made in the SOL
emn nature of an oath, that he would sooner
die than reveal the secret of her love- Then
the idea would get uppermost in his mind that
he was throwing his life away in an unworthy
cause. Swayed by these opposing considera-
tions and oppressed by physical dread he was
fast settling into apathy-something that was
beyond his previous agitation, and relief
from it, when Colonel Armytage entered
''Mr. Willett," he said. ''you have but a few
hours to live, unless you can yet prove that
your errand was not that of spy"
the truth. and, on the quick impulse of shield
ing the woman of his worship he exclaimed; II
cannot do it. expect to die"
'Have you no desire to live?"
mo man stronger; but l voluntarily took
upon myself a solemn obligation, and I must
not be coward because the worst has come of
it."
''Yes, you might have had some other errand
that of lover meeting his sweetheart for
example Was thar it IN your case?"
Oliver was certain now that his surmise was
correct. He said as conscientiouslY as any man
ever lied, NO"
IF it were SO. and you could prove it, your
life would be spared"
Il can prove no such thing"
"Ihat removes sorrow from me, and seals
your rate. Within an hour my wife has told
me that you were her lover-that you came to
see her; and no not as spy from the rebels"
truth instead of only an Intellectual part of it,
divers only sentiment for the instant was
pride in his own sacrifice.
The Colonel left him to himself.
An hour later muffied woman was in his
presence. When she showed her face it was SO
close that ne felt her breath fall hot on his
cheek, and It was Mrs. Armytage who spoke:
II could not let you die with the thought that