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

the shed a hoarse challenge, and then 9
lnurlnur of voices, among which the
prisoner distinguished one that sounded
strangely familiar to him. Then the
door was unbarred, and in came a young
man Of his own age, in the uniform Of
Confederate officer.
Years had passed since those two men
last met, but they knew each other in q
moment, and the brave young south
erner, starting back, exclaimed in a tone
of strong emotion:
ssGood heavensi Ar
Hush, Perciyal," said the other, in
stinctively trying to lift his bound hands
in warning. THAT name must never be
spoken again; ] will die as I have lived
unknown"
For an instant the young officer eyed
his friend in silence, biting his lips till
they bled, and then he said despairingly:
'sYou know would give my life for
you any day, but even for gour sake I
must not forfeit my honor. You are
my best friend, but still you belong to
the enemies of our cause; / cannot let
you escapeln
II know you cannot, my dear boy
rejoined Arthur kindly, and should
never think Of asking you to do it, you
may be sure Of that. Now, If you have
anything special to say to me am at
your service.
The words were spoken as calmly as il
addressed to neighbor at dinner
table, and indeed it was curious enough
to see how, all through this strange con
ference, the man who was already in the
grasp of death seemed perfectly cool and
collected, while the man who was free
and armed with all the power Of COM
mand was completely unnerved by ex-
citement
81 can't say it, broke out the gallant
lad, with a look of strong disgust on his
handsome face ut would be hard
enough to give such a message to stran-
ger; to give it to You would choke me
outright"
II can guess it, said the yiscount,
smiling sternly; you are sent to offer
me life once more if will turn traitor.
viii spare you the shame of doing SO,
for you know what my answer viii be,
and what yours would be in my place.. .
81 do, indeedln replied Percival em-
phatically; but if there is anything
whatever that can do for you, short Of
betraying my trust by letting You go.
I'll do it, come what naylp
Nothing" said the other, 'sbut let
me write a letter, and have it sent to its
address,"
Il understand. OF course I have your
word not to attempt an escape if unite
your hands,"
you have, said the prisoner simply;
and Percival, unbinding his arms, hand
ed him small pocketbook with pencil
in it and then stepped aside, leaving the
doomed man to write his last words I'M
watched.
.sThey were soou written, and the
young southerner, taking the note, bound
the prisoners arms once more, and then,
looking for moment at his old friend
with paler face than the brave man
had ever worn amid the hottest fire Of
the Federal batteries, strobe fercelyo out
of the shed without word of farewell
'sThank GodI" muttered Fortescue, as
the door closed behind him, ''she will at
least know that | was true to the last"
But it seemed fated that Arthur's
frmness should be tried to the utmost;
for hardly had this agitating scene end
ed when it was succeeded by another ex-
perience more trying still
1.-THE fellers cay" remarked one of the
two senineIs to his comrade, "that
thar's gal somewhar round peddlin'
fruit and white bread, with a Niger to
help her. wish she'd come down our
way. for feel as holler as dead logi'
4You bet that's jest how feel too
said the other; land If she's got any
whisky among her truck Ireokon I'd
give every cent I've got for a taste of it
and that amt sayin' much, nuther."
The hungry soldiers appeared to have
the luck of the hero of fairy tale, for
their wish was hardly spoken when they
saw the figure Of q woman coming slow
ly toward them through thesfast falling
shadows of night. carrying small
basket, while negro bore u larger one
behind her. They hailed her, and as
she answered them Arthur Fortescue
started at the sound of voice which he
had never expected to hear again.
It was indeed Constance Leigh herself,
accompanied by the trusty colored scout
who had brought the news Of Arthur's
capture. Her assumed character was
undoubtedly the best that she could
have chosen, for in this region, where
war had done its worst, the spectacle OF
q young lady Of good southern family
driven to support herself by selling bread
OF her own baking and fruit of her own
raising, was nothing uncommon, and
the presence of the negro, presumably an
old family retainer, still true to her al
tered fortunes, was quite In keeping
with this idea
Not without q long and weary search
(being, of course, compelled to proceed
with the utmost caution) had they dis
covered Arthur's prison, and even now
their task seemed well nigh hopeless.
The sturdy frames and resolute faces OF
his two guards showed that they would
not be easily overcome either by force or
cunning, and even if he could be freed
his rescuers would still have to get HIM
and themselves out Of the camp unde-
tected.
Constance proffered her basket to the
two soldiers who saluting her with