The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-30

DSShA
Whatever my fate. l will bear it as becomes
an American"
Northrop Lowell was but twenty-eight,
New Yorker the elder son of a successful
merchant After leaving college he had
gone into his fathers counting room to
learn the business thoroughly, and in due
time succeed to the paternal place. He
had been there three years; had m ade
many friends; life was opening bright and
beautiful, when the war broke out. Hav-
ing learned to detest slavery from what he
had seen of it in the south, ne was one of the
early volunteers in a New York cavalry
regiment. He Joined it as a private; was
elected first lieutenant after Bull Run, and
had afterward risen to a colonelcy by gal
liant service. That was his brief career;
now the end was drawing nigh, and in the
shadow stood tbs hangman.
Such was his gloomy musing on a May
afternoon, as he paced the dark wooden
cell on the second floor of Castle Thunder,
before which a sentinel walked. A sub
official appeared from below, announcing
that lady, Miss Mabel Chalmer, wished
to see him. He remembered the name
not common one-vividly. 1t was that
of an attractive girl he had often met at
friends house at home. She had an elder
married sister living in New York, whom
she had visited several times, and she was
a social favorite there. Lowell and she had
been very good friends; had had, indeed,
various sentimental passages, which meant
nothing, as she was considered desperate
fiirt and Northrop was not susceptible.
The winter previous to the firing on Sum
ter they had actually quarreled because
she was so violently southern and he so
ardently northern. Could the caller posi-
bly, be she?
Lowell found that IL was she, and that
she greeted him cordially. She was living
in Richmond; her father, brother, ali her
surviving kinsmen were in the Copfeder-
ate army. and, through their influence,
she had been allowed TO visit the colonel
as former friend. They were allowed TO
converse freely and alone. She told him
that he would certainly be executed, though
she believed him innocent, unless be could
escape. That is impossible" he replied;
Il have thought il all over. / an con
stantly watched"
She had thought il over, too, and she had
formed plan, which was 20 brioe the sen
tinel stationed before the cell, descend the
stairs quietly, and then take his chances
with the guards in front OF the prison. Il
have no money" he said. "But / have"
she answered and offered him rell of
bills She added that she knew house in
town, giving the name and exact place-it
was the house OF Unionist-vhere he
could go and be concealed until the excite
ment over his escape lad subsided-
He did not understand this lie could
hardly trust her, her who was so intensely
southern in her sympathies, so ferceiy in
imicai 70 the north. He frankly said as
much. why should you" he asked, do
al this for me, Way should you turn
against your dearest friends 70 help ne.
your ensmy' Why should believe you'"
She tried in vain TO convince him He lad
refused her aid absolutely, when. in par
oxysn OF feeling. covering her face Sith
her hands and bursting into tears, STE
cried. IN a low, passionate tone, Way
should ! do this' Because love you"
Covering her facs with her veil, aud
poipsingro the roll of bills she had thrown
on the aooF, she walsei rapidly oct. Tnis
be secured a moment before the official en-
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