Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-12

I
court, certifying that the statement
which it contained were correct Ihn
she found no difficulty in doing, but
with the petition it WAS different Cen
eral x, much as he sympathized
with the prisoner, would not sign IT., be-
cause he said that he believed the sen.
tence OF the court was Just and 1t would
be inconsistent in him toSign q petition
for his pardon. These were also the
sentiments OF the rest OF the members
of the court-martial. IL was therefore n
very meaQre list OF names which were
telegraphed to Washington. Although
it was raining heavily Eleanor wished to
take her documents to the telegraph
Office in Brandon herself, but General
X would not allow her to do SO,
but sent an officer instead. He did not
await reply. but returned to the Office
in the evening. He was not long gone,
but it seemed ages before Eleanor saw
HIM crestinR the hill on his return.
In her impotence she ran down the
avenue to meet him. She was so ex-
cited as to be hardly able to break the
seal of the envelope which he gave her.
IlllS IL Wuhb but ISth
"Lot justice DO dene. Irefuse to interfere in
tho casen lSlgnedl ~. LINCOLN
For q moment she stood as one stun
ned by sudden blow, staring with eyes
that saw not, at the yellow sheet In her
hand.
"Is your petition granted" said the
young officer respectfully.
"No." she said. "There is no hope"
and turned and walked YEARLY up the
avenue to the house, and into the library
where General " was writing.
"Your messenger has Gomez" he said
interrogatively as he handed her a chair.
For answer she handed him the tele-
gram which she still held in her hand.
He read it, and with look full of COM
passion for the fair young girl before
him, who looked so unutterably misera-
bic, said:
"Beleve me, Miss Lyndon, from the
bottom of my heart l pity you and your
friend"
"Yet surely you cannot think that
anything you have done to save him has
proven unsuccessful ?" she said bitterly,
slluding to his refusal to sign her petit
ton.
Without giving him time to reply she
abruptly asked for permission to see the
prisoner Her request was readily
granted, and an orderly was summoned
to accompany her to Roberts prison, al
though a private interview was allowed
her.
The orderly left her at the door Of the
little building where Robert was con-
fined, and she passed in alone through
the door which the sentry opened for
her"
When Robert saw who his visitor was
an expression of joyful surprise came
over his face as he came forward to meet
her.
"Oh, Eleanor. he said, taking her in
his arms, {" this is very good OF you to
come and take last farewell. But
SLOW shall welcome thee to this sal place,
My life. my health my liberty, my all"
Oh, Eleanor, l had thought until now
that | was resigned to my fate. but the
sight of you humans me, and fills me
with oh such desperate longing to live.
You are the only tie that binds me to
earth. Yours will be the only tears shed
over my grave. You will be the only
one who will keep me in memory when
L am gone. Perhaps. indeed. may be
remembered by my comrades, and my
early and hard death talked Of around
the campfire for time. but IN the rush
and turmoil of war even they will forget
me. But if can die with the assurance
that you will always keep my name fresh
in your memory it is enough. ] ask for
no greater boon than this.
ooh, Robert, how can give you
up" she moaned. "Ihe change for
you, though sudden and terrible, will at
least give you rest and peace, while L
must live on and suffer. Verify, 10Y
affection is greater than can bear"
"Oh, Eleanor" he said pleadingly,
"do not give way thus. After all, why
should we so regret my death ? Sooner
or later il must have come, and to-mor-
row is only what seems TO us the early
arrival of an inevitable. And in the
great economy Of nature / will not be
missed. Another will take my place in
the world and fill it perhaps better than
[ would have done. But the world still
has much work for you to do, darling.
Soothe and cherish your father in his
declining years smooth the pathway to
the grave for him. and, Eleanor, tell
him for me that died blessing him for
his goodness to me. And, darling, |
have one request to make of you it is
that may be buried under the willows
where 1 will fall. viii you see that this
| is DONE"
She bowed her head she could not
speak.
Now darling" he said, when the in
terview had lasted quite long while,
farewell. Live on bravely, and In o
few more years the rest that you speak
of my obtaining here will be yours then.
Dearest Eleanor, goOd-by."
! She stood with her arms clasped about
his neck and her face buried on his
shoulders, silently praying for strength
to enable her to bear this her great
affection. Roberts arms were about
| her, and his kisses fell fast on the golden
hair as he tried TO cheer and comfort
/ her.
AS they stood thus the sun. ere it sank
behind the western hills, suddenly burst
from the clouds which had all day OBJ
scured it, and shining in at the little
window filled the room with its golden
radiance, seeming to set the signet of
Divine approval on their love so pure and
holy.
Slowly she lifts her head from his
shoulder and unclasps her arms from
about his neck, and then without word,
but with the tears streaming down her
cheeks like a summer rain, she turns and
leaves her love forever.
CHAPTER VII.
"To druhn-beat and 10 heartbeat