Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-01-26

AZ any RATE, you UIe pe1llltuliu'
Never mind throwing mp your hands"
Meanwhile Mark had been giving his
heart time to cease humping, and had
gathered his wits.
Laura remained silent. staring at them
both as though she had lost her reason.
Had she a hundred things to say her
tongue could not have been made TO
utter one.
Mark turned toward Fitz Hugh and
looked him square il tic face. lie had
conceived an idea; u torlorn hope, it is
true, still hope. Quick 70 DISCERN peo
PIES peculiarit;es, he had gotten al in
sight into Fit. llugh's character when
that officer had defended him at Chatta-
nooga. He DOW resolved to take advan-
tage of that knowledge.
"Captain,' he said, Notwithstanding
the position in which you saw me few
days ago, notwithstanding the painful
situation in which you SEQ me now, yor
rave on both occasions done mo the
honor to consider me a gentleman. |
assume to perception in this respect
not less keen than yours. Indeed 50
sure am Of the dclicacy. the refinement
Of your instincts, that / feel perfectly
safe under this roof
"How SOL" asked Fitz Hugh, s'Ii prised.
81 am the guest of that young lady"
Mark stood with lis arm outstretched,
his finger pointing to Laura Fain. Laura
gave q glance at Mark as lie spoke, which
caught tho eye Of Captain Fitz Hugh.
it contained admiration. devotion. Fitz
Hugh gazed from one to the other with
out void
u need not explain further, captain"
Mark added. ga gentleman cannot mis-
take my position; only gentleman can
understand it,"
You mean, sir" said Fitz Hugh
"tbat | cannot hOnOrably enter this
louise and profit or cause my country 20
profit by what [ find here without the
consent of the inmates
~ do
"Mrs Fain is the acknowledged head
OF this house. and she is evidently de-
ceivcd. But concede to Miss Fain the
right to speak for her. l acknowledges
Miss Fain's right to hold Inc to this
secret, if any one has such right. But
when Miss Fain shall have been fully
advised of all the facts
Pardon me; she knows all you
know"
Then when Miss Fan shall have
duly considered the interests of her
country | am quite sure she will give
her consent"
The attention of both men became
| fixed upon Laura, for it was evident
that she would be called upon to make
/ a decision between her country and her
lover on the one hand and the defense
less Union spy on the other. She was
standing near the sofa on which she
had been sitting, steadying herself by
resting her hand on the back Of a chair.
/ 1t was a moment of intensest feeling to
all three. Laura knew the sterling
worth. the high sense of honor and
duty of her lover. She knew that if she
held him TO secrecy he would consider il
evidence that she permitted her interest
in the spy to overwhelm her sense OF
duty. And would he not attribute hel
protection to something more tender
than an ordinary interest? Fitz Hugh
realized Der position; indeed there
seemed to flash into both of them TIE
feeling that her decision would lie be
tween two member lover and tie
Federal spy. With Mark it was ques
ton of life or death.
Miss Fain-Laura, said Fitz Hugh
speaking slowly and impressively, 81
ask your permission to give up this I'M
pOstor-pardon me, sir, for the plainnes;
Of my language: it is essential-thissp spy
who desires to carry information norti
to the detrimen1 of our country; who
seeks the defeat of our cause.-the Caus,
in which your brother is every day risk
ing his life; lastly-though this may be
matter Of small importance-thec aust
Tor which |. Your lover, would lay dow
my life as | would lay it down for You
1t seems to me that it is a question be
tween Your duty and your inclination
Does it seem 50 tC yoU"
at does"
"Then tell me, may send for guard
to taAo liim.
Laura's eyes shown like those of {
tigreas at bay. In a fem, clear voice
sne sad:
"Nnr
t'cr a rev moments there was tn
stiffness Of death.
"She has decided in your favor. sir,
said Fitz Hugh, whose color left hi
cheek When Laura spoke the little worr
that decided his and Mark fate. "Yo'
have nothing to fear from me-" The
turning to Laura:
Il can understand the motive, IL
temptation. The act remains
"Iou may consider yourself release
from all ties with one whose act YOU d
not approve" said Laura.
BE it so" and he turned TO 20,
Marx sprang forward and seized hir
by the wrist.
My God, this shall not be! You be
lieve that this is due to more than a
ordinary womanly interest in Miss Fai
forme. 1t is not SO. swear TO You, o
the homer of Il gentleman and a soldier
that Miss Fain has manifested no Othc
feeling than one IF commiserat!on for
man hunted for his life