The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-20
MJ1lIll EAGLE

CItS buEllCu uua SdW ioefEJs DIEkSOL.
He was soldier Of theregular army, and
had for several years been in her hus-
bands regiment, he continued: ''Yeu
viii be seen If yeu stay. The prisoner
and the squad-the firing squad, maam
aren't more'n five minutes away. Your
husbands coming too. I beg pardon, but
1 didn't suppose you wanted him to find
you here"
81 do not care" she said inpassiveiy.
"Wen, maam, you said-at least
know young Wllett's your lover, and
p
FEYou are ready enough to ascribe the
worst to nay INTEREST," in him. Iwish my
husband would. be as uncharitable."
She was speaking meditativeiy, but
seeing that her words puzzled the SER
geant, she added: Il would at this instant
give all I possess for proof Of what you
are SO ready to believe"
81 can give it oyou, and the sergeant
displayed the letter that had drawn
Oliver to the city, that had been partly
burned and hidden, and that he had given
to Mai. Dimmock. He held it up so that
Mrs. Armytage could see it, and asked,
eIsn't this your letter to your lover|
eyes, yes" she eagerly answered.
GLOW did you get it?''
Il got it where he hid it after he had
tried to burn ii.
"Give it to me-" She reached for it,
but he drew it away.
Excuse me, ma am. I'm a man that
sees an unexpected chance before him to
rise in the world. 1 did a service for you
last night, end you're under promise to
pay me-to pay me with a promotion in
the army. 1 let you get to the prisoner,
who was In my charge, and you agreed
to have your husband make a captain
Of me-"
''And I VIII keep my promise"
eve gotno right to doubt you, na'am;
but a mans first duty's to look out for
his own interest. That mayn't be Scrip
ture, but its sense. To put it plain,
and here he rested his hand on his
horses name, and went closer to her,
cit seems to me as if this letters kind
of written note, payable on demand
payable in promotion on demand. OF
course don't understand it ALL but do
know this is d love letter from Col. Ar
mytage's wife to this young man that's
going to be shot. Before l got it l had
Your bare word thai I'd be made a cap
tain. Now hold something thatu COM
pei you to keep your promise
Sergeant, hear me-" There was not
p trace Of discomposure In her manner,
but her brilliant eyes seemed to the SOL
dier to be blazing at him. ''You reason
Bhrewdly, yet you are at fault. You
think dread your showing that letter
10 my husband. You are mistaken. If
had it, would put it in his hands my
self. The man they are gaing to shoot
Is not a spy. lie came to meet me, and
he is going to die because he has sup
pressed this evidence. That letter is
proof Of the truth, and 7 would use it if
I could, for his salvation and my de-
Ttruction."
''Your destruction"
eyes; but what Of that?'
"I'll tell you what of it, ma'am, as
fairs it concerns me-" The sergeant had !
been dun1foundeda at first by her avowaI, |
but he had, nevertheless. comprehended |
the new bearing of the letter. eff your
husband discarded you, how could you
pay me what you owe me? Where'd be |
your power to have me promoted"
She still sat calmly on her horse, but |
her eyes were so burning in their gaze /
shat the sergeant no longer dared to meet /
shem.
''Wil you let an innocent man be shot |
when you can save him?' she asked.
He deserves it, doesn't he?" and the |
Bergeant's lack of confidence in his argu-
ment was shown by his retreatng a step. /
Its not for me to go betwixt him and .
his resolution"
''Give me the letter, implore. You |
see that it will give you no power over /
me, for only desire to make it public"
You do now, ma'am," and the ser
GeanUs tone gained holiness as his argu-
ment grew logical; but you viii not
after your lover is dead-when no good .
10 him could come of your disgrace.
Then it viii be worth TO me-
''How much? Name the sum and 1
VIII pay it"
you haven't enough money with you,
ma'am.'
q can obtain it. You shall be paid to-
morrow
What would be your tomorrow if
this letter came to light? You'd be home
less, penniless, for Col. Armytage would
turn You into the street. We in the
ranks know his hard side-you don't"
The sound Of drums in the distance was
heard. They are coming; you must not
be seen"
q viii not go away" she said, firmly.
Glide yourself, then"
No"
The sergeant looked at her face. and
raw by 1t that no entreaty or command
OF his would move her. His hope of ad-
vancement was fading away. The beat
ing OF the drums came nearer and nearer;
and even the measured tramp of feet
was audible. In sheer desperation he
caught hold of the horses bride. The
spirited beast reared. The movement
was quick and violent Mrs. Arnvtage
was thrown heavily to the ground. The
sergeant had only time TO see that the
smooth white Of her forehead was
fiecked with red, and that she was IN
conscious, before the soldiers came con-
Quoting Wiilett. His terror and dread
were increasing as he felt that death was
close; but his lace, aside from its white
ness and rigiGiTy Of resolute expression.
did not disclose his mental agony. He.
with the rest. saw Mrs. Armytage lying
on the ground. The blood was trickIing