Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-01
ing close TO Hal, for she was still nervous

ing close 10 Hal, for she was still nervous
from her recent fright.
"Dou'ful," said Hal, who was Jobs
comforter.
While they are going TO Captain Suth-
erlyn may as well explain Halls APP
pearance. which will also involve an ex-
PLANTATION OF Helens "plan" before
spoken OF.
Ii was this: She was to induce Hal
10 smuggle to Sutherlyn's room rope
line used for hanging clothing on to dry
after washing, by means of which he (Suth'
erlyn) was 10 lower himself from his
window TO the ground. He was then to
endeavor to evade the guard and make
his way down TO the spring in the
meadow, where the Federals had en-
camped Hal was to meet him here and
guide him by short route across the
fields to Beechwood, where, as we haVe
seen, Helen was to meet him with a
horse.
All the details were successfully car
ried out. Hal procured the rope after
dark and under some pretext or other
managed 10 get it to Sutherlin, who,
when the house was still after all its in
mates had retired, secured one end to his
ed-post and dropped the other out OF
the window. He cautiously descended
by it to the ground, and, unseen by the
guard, who, thinking there was no rea-
son for being particularly watchful, had
stuck his bayonet in the ground and lain
down beside it, he slipped warIly along
in tho shadow of the trees down the hill
to the meadow spring.
Hal was there waiting for him, and
they at once started on their tramp,
going by an obscure path through the
woods with which Hal was familiar.
Sutherlvn was not yet fully recovered
from the effects of his wound, and moro
than once had to be helped along by Hal.
When he Mt last reached the destination
which Helen had designated to Hal, he
was almost exhausted, and began to fear
that he should be unable to proceed fur
ther on his way to freedom. He laid
down on the soft swsrd to try to regain
a little strength, while he sent Hal to
meet Helen. for whom he could not help
feeling little anxious.
He soon heard them coming towards
him, and rose 10 meet them. But his
strength was less than he thought, and
when he had risen to his feet he could
not stand, but fell to the ground in
swOon.
When he regaincd consciousness
Helen and Hal were knecling by him,
bathing his face with water, which the
latter had brought in bis cap from the
river.
81 think be is reviving," said Helon
in an anxious tone.
Sutherlyn could not at first under
stand the situation, but the sound Of
Helen's voice recalled everything.
"Oh yes, / am better now, he said,
essqying to rise to a sitting posture, but
falling from sheer weakness
al am afraid you are not much better
now," said Helen in low, troubled
tone, and pressing his hand against her
check.
81 am afraid not" he said. CATER
all / must give up my dream OF liberty,
and your devotion must have its reward
in failure"
"No, no. don't say that" Helen said,
bending lower by his side. "For my
sake make an effort. You cannot ride
now, but you may recover soon, or some
other plan may suggest itself. "
For several moments neither of the
three spoke. Hal was the first to break
the stiffness.
OFF he had some whiskey," he said
suggestively. ~.
"Oh, if / had only brought some,"
said Helen. "Why did | forget it?"
81 should have remembered it, )" said
Sutherlyn. There was a flask in my
room.
81 will 60 to the house and get some,
Helen said, suddenly starting to her feet.
al know where Aunt Helen keeps her
spirits, and / con find them as easily in
the dark as the light"
Sutherlyn demurred, but Helen was
resolute, and positively forbidding Hal
to accompany her rs Sutherlyn suggest
ed, she glided away in the darkness.