Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-09-07
ioq At last She seemed to regain her

uecp HlSlOIluue my uubg - WIN my |
husband, and he-consented that |
should see you. Capt. Lane" she said,
rising as she spoke, 'do not try TO spare !
my feelings now. am prepared for
anything-ready to share his downfall. |
If you are asked as TO the contents of
the note yon sent him before the fight,
must you tell what they were? Do you
recall them?"
Unjust, Mrs. Noel. | remember al
most the exact words" he replied
gently, sorrowfully,
"But that is all, is it not. You know
nothing more about the delay in reach
ing you?" And her eyes, piteous in en-
treaty, in shame, in suffering, sought
one instant his sad face, then fell be-
fore the sorrow and sympathy in his.
For moment there was no answer,
and at last she looked up, alarmed.
Mrs. Noel" he said, II could not
help it. l was eagerly waiting their
coming. | saw them approach the ford
and the pass. | saw that there were
only six Apaches to resist them, and
the next thing | saw was the retreat"
"Oh, Captain Lane" she cried, ''must
you testify as to this?" And her tremb-
ling hands were claSpcd in misery. lis
there no Wayne way?"
even if there were" he answered,
slowly and mournfully, MIR Mason's
testimony and that of the men would be
still more conclusive"
Throwing herself upon the sofa, the
poor girl gave way TO fit OF uncon-
trollable weeping; and Lane stood help
eSSly, mserably by. Once he strove to
speak, but she could not listen. He
brought her glass of water presently
and begged her TO drink it: there was
still something he had TO suggest
She took the goblet from his hand
and looked up eagerly through her
tears. He was thinking only of her
for her-now. The man who had rob-
bed him of happiness, of love, of wife
and home and hope, and who had done
the utmost that he dared to rob him OF
honor. and his soldier reputation-the
man now wretchedly listening overhead
to the murmur of voices below-he for
got entirely except as the man she
loved.
Mrs. Noel. your frends-his friends
are most influential. Can they not be
teegraphed to that his resignation will
be rendered? Can they not stop the
trial in that way?"
1t is hopeless 1t has been tried.
and refused. If he is found guilty there
is nothing left-nothing left she
moancd. ''but TO take him back TO the
east with me, and with the little we
have now To buy some quiet home in the
country, where our wretched past need
not be known-where we can be forgot
ten-where my poor husband need not
have TO hang his head in shame. Oh,
God, oh, God, what ruined life
lis there nothing | can do for you.
Mrs. Noel? Listen, that court cannot
begin the-thc case tomorrow. -Four
members are still TO come. 1t may be
two days yct-perhapS three. Perhaps
Mr.. WitherS and his friends do not APP
preciate the danger and have not
brought pressure to bear on the preSi-
dent: but-forgiye me for the pain this
must give you-thcrc are other new
charges coming from the division head
quarters. that | fear will harm still
more. | grieye to have to tell you this.
Try and make Mr.. WitherS understand.
Try and get the resignation through.
If YOU will see Mr.. Falconer and-and
the captain now. | can get the telegraph
operator.
What changes-what new accuSa-
tions do YOU mean" She asked. her eyes
dilating with dread. Are We not crush
ed enough already? oh, forgive me,
Capt. Lane, ought not to speak Bit
terly, you-you have been so good. SO
gentle. You, the last man ON earth from
whom | should seek mercy" she broke
forth impetuouSly; you are yet the one
towhom first appeal. Oh, if after this
night ! never see you again, believe that
| suffer. that | realize the wrong | have
done. was never worthy the fainteSt
atom Of your regard; but there's one
thing-one thing you must hear. | wrote
you fully, frankly, imploringly before
before you came-and saw. Indeed, in |
deed, had waited days for your reply. |
refusing to see him until after papa died, /
and then was weak and i'll. You never |
read the letter. You sent them all back |
unopened. | can not look in your face. |
1t may have been hard for while, but |
the time will soon come when you will |
thank God-thank Cod proved faith
less"
And then. leaving him to make his
own way from the house, she rushed
Sobbing TO her room. When next he saw
her Reginald. her brother with LowndeS
and his fearful wife. was lifting her
into the ambulance that was to take
them to the railway, and the doctor rode
away beside them. But this was ten
days after.
True to Lanes prediction, the court
met and adjourned on the following
day. Col. Standard and Mai. Turner
telcgraphed that they were delayed on
route to the railway, and nothing was
heard from the other missing members.
Two DAYS more found the court in read
mess, but the trial did not begin There
arrived on the express from the east, the
night before all seemed ready for the
opening session, Lieut. Brown of the
cavalry recruiting service. with two
guards who escorted the eX-clerk Tain
tor.
kilograms for Capt, Noel had been
coming in quick succession. but he him
self had not been seen. 1t was LowndeS
VINO LOOK JHc I'pIltS W wv "iiiN'' INV
first meeting of the court was to have
occurred on Monday. Tuesday even
ing the Judge advocate sent to the ac-
cused officer a copy of the additional
specifications to the charge of conduct
an officer and gentleman.
and notified him that the witnesses had
Just arrived by train.
At4 o'clock Wednesday morning VI Rs
LowndeS was aroused by tapping at
her door. and recognized the voice OF
Mrs. Noel calling her name. Hastily ,
she arose and went to her, finding her
trembling and terrified. Gordon. she
said. had been in such misery that he 1
would not undreSS and try to sleep, but
had been reStleSSly pacing the floor
,,,+u oftpr midnight. Then he had