The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-22

wnuow ana ol TIE irons wnlcn teJ5erea my
limbs.
l squeezed through the window and
dropped 70 the ground.
/ had not gone far when guard called
out sharply, Halt, Who goes there?'
"a friend" answered
Give the countersigni"
Cartridge"
Pass on!''
On reaching the corner / whistled softly,
and in answer a negro came up and said
interrogatively, "Massa Tomf"
Yes" replied.
He threw long cloak over my shoulders
and started up the street at sharp gait
followed him perhaps half a mile, when he
stopped before plain brick house, un-
locked the deor and bade me enter. / had
scarcely glanced around the dimly lighted
hall before the mysterious Mabel" ac-
companied by young lady taller and
darker than herself, hurriedly entered
from an adjoining room. They had evil
IDENTITY been waiting for me.
l only heard my bepefactress say, "Oh,
Tom, thank heavenI'' before her compan-
ion with wholly glad and half hysterical
cry, threw her arms about my neck and
showered tears and kisses upon me in most
embarrassing profusion.
/ was utterly dumfounded. Finally, col
lecting my thoughts, | turned from the ex-
cited and half crying woman held in my
arms to the one partially knew, and said:
''My dear Miss Murfree you have saved
my life, and / am bound as an honorable
man, to tell you that you have made q
strange mistake in thinking you know
mem
'Mistake" gasped the young lady who
had so passionately caressed me. "Mistakel
What do you mean? Are you not Tom
Atherton?"
Not quite" ] answered, "but if you
thought / was he, the mistake is not a
very bad one. / am his twin brother,
Ned"
The surprise and confusion which had
overwhelmed me were transferred to the
young ladies, and for moment we all
simply stared at each other. Then Mabel
laughed and said:
And so ycu are that wonderful brother
Of whom Tom used to tell u.s."
Yes, fortunately" answered.
''And you stood there and let me kiss
you without saying word Agnes q
found ont afterward she was Agnes said
reproachfully.
''You didn't give me time to object even
if / had wished to-" was my perfectly
truthful reply.
Il don't know but that it is SO" she as
sented. But, Mabel, what shall we do
with hims"
Il am entirely in your hands, and will
do whatever you wish" l said. If my
being here will erdanger you in any way
will try and get through the lines tonight"
You will be much safer here" Mabel
said. I'VE owe it TO you to do whatever
we can for you"
''Owe it to men' 1 said "for whatf'
For your brothers sake He saved my
sisters life and protected our property
from destruction and us from insult. He
is the best and truest man that ever lived.
and we cannot do too much for his brother"
| was compelled to keep dark retreat
only part of the time, ana several hours
each day were spent with Judge Murfree
or his daughters.
Mabel Murfree had saved my life, and
the gratitude felt was perhaps enhanced
by the fact that she was rarely beautiful
woman.
After weary weeks of siege the city was
captured and the soldiers of Grant and
Sherman entered it in triumph and l was
free
When the time came for me to go. having
said goodby to Judge Murfree, / went to the
parlor to see Mabel and Agnes, feeling
how hard, how very hard it was TO say
farewell, and when | saw Mabel dressed
in pure white. with white flowers in hez
beautiful hair, her cheeks flushed with ex-
citement and her deep blue eyes unwonted-
ly bright, the duty WAS not made any
easier.
Agnes is writing letter to Tom for
you to deliver" she said, as l entered the
room. "She Will be down in a few mo
ments"
Il am quite willing to watt replied,
land indeed am sorry that | must go at
all do not expect to ever again find
such friends as have found here"
.- "You must thank your brother for
them" Mabel answered
Miss Murfrce, Mabel. You wish to rob
your act of saving my life OF any personal
significance You do not want me to be
misled by the gift of my poor life TO ask
for that y which can make it valuable. re
fuse to be warned | love you, Mabel
love you madly. hopelessiy-love you as !
never thought 20 love any one ana while !
dare not hope you will return my love. !
could not leave you without speaking.
Forgive me Ii / have panied you. but is
was impossible for me TO 90 away without
telling my love, and you viii al least be
fortunate in the fact that aB opportunity
will not soon oceur for you 20 be troubled
a gain by one whose lore was stronger than
ms feor uf of- -.uiiDp "
Tears tn, led through the long dark
lashes. then. half smiling through her
tears, she lifted her brave, clear eyes to
mine and sSid;
And what Il insis: or your remaining !
to repeat rozr oiIerse2'-H Ii. T. Marsh in
Buffalo News
Boon for Farmers Boys.
vnz1E,sr.e h-s f.sers f~.4sssf7r qz5s n ~ = 7