The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-07-06

strokes Of a clock at midnight sounded
II her nnreasonaflv like 4 bnelI: and
fron, that she went into a daze of won
derina why the bells familiar noise sug-
gested s,,ch an idea TO her. AS persons
IN dreams condense hours into seconds.
So her thoughts had wandered far and
wide before the twelfth stroke: and
then loolxing mn. she saw her husband
standing before her.
ssNot abed vet?' he said.
That was not like what she expected,
and she thought it was a trivial preface
for the real matter; but he seemed to ex-
meet = rerlv. and so she said: SLOW
copla I sIeeng'
.sTrue.u he answered. while she lis
Tened with every Fiber strained to meet
an accusation. the sad event of tonight
has shalxen nav nerves. and thew are
STRONGER tbar, vorrs."
He kissed her ON the forehead. She
took the endearrnent with a heartbound.
as an indication that somehow the ca
lanitv had been averted. and hesitatinc-
" asked aWhat-what was the result?
lie explained thatn
ssHe explained nothing. It was not
nossible for him 70 clear himself. He
was caught at the enemv,s headquarters
on the NIGHT before AN iIuportant move
naent. Probably he supposed that his
acouaintance with Won would be a plaus-
lille excuse for his presence. and he was
brave enough to take the chance. His
bold pIan might have been successful
had he not carried a paper that cor-
demned him.
"Condemned hins'
eyes; for although he managed to
DESTROY the paper before ANYBODY read
IT.
HE destroyed itY"
'sThe careless guards gave him the OPP
portanity. Doubtless it contained memo
randa of what he had learned. 2
Mrs. Armytage understood full well
that Oliver had kept his vow to protect
her reputation, although in doing SO he
had DESTROYED the proof that he was not
a spy. In the first warmth Of her graft
tude she glowed with blind desire to
save him in return. Hence she exclaimed:
s.The paper contained no such thing
How do you know
The question brought her to the point
of confession, il she intended to make
one. but instead she shrank from it.
s.Who knows that it did?''
"SEell, he refused to deny it when =
reasonable account Of the papers con-
tents might have saved his life.
rs his life in danger?'
'.He has only few hours to live He
is sentenced to be shot at daybreak.s
Once more the woman forgot herself
in her appreciation of the sacrifice that
had been made for her, and she ex-
claimed: sob, it will be murderl He is
not spy"
Il would like to think so, but he will
not plead not guilty." he added, as she
sank back in her CHAIR, covered her face
and wept. II know it is shocking to
you to know that the man who was your
host yesterday is to be shot this morning.
and that your husband is in a sense his
executioner. War necessities are brutal. .
Mrs. Armytage stood up and put her
arms around her husbands neck. "You
never denied rae anything I asked,
reasonable or unreasonable. Save this
this mans life. Help him to escape, if
it can be done in ne other way"
Her impulsive action was astonishing
to him, and he was by it distracted from
her words; but when he comprehended
them, he said: "Your proposition is dis
honorable"
s'yNould Won be murderer" She was
as vehement now as she had just been
wheeling; and she took her arms from
around his neck. she is not a spy-T
know it. By saving him you would keep
yourself clear of an innocent mans
blood
ssProof that he is not a spy would save
him. Can you furnish that" and he
gazed searehingly into her face.
Eyes, :" she answered quickly and some
what defiantly; but being thus again
brought to the point Of confession, she fell
short of heroism. emo, NOT she said. 81
mean that a woman's discernment is so
matimes better than mans. I have
seen him in his home and have become
acquainted with his qualities. lie is
honorable, brayeY---
sTllose- are qualities that would fit him
for a mission OF peril"
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