People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-02-17

risk of losing what girl like you could
never dream! A moment more, the
relief comes, and al is lost; for | swear |
piR not leave this hut alonel No; do not
answer: there is no time. II your own
honor is rlsked, if your mothers
heart is broken,-if little Fairfax dies
for want of remedies his prideful sister
might have won him,-then call God
to witness that the sin is on your
headp
The woman's bosom rose and fell;
words rushing to her lips died upon
them; she heard her own heart beating
thunderous in her throat
Come! For the sake of all dear to
you,-cause, mother, brother,-come"
the man pleaded vile, despicable as
am in your eyes, let me atone in part,
by saving you-and Fairfax"
The sob so close to Carolyn Clay's
lips burst through them. A great JOY
CLEANED in the deep eyes of the traitor
Virginian; and again-with dissertation
piteous in its meekness-he held out his
hand.
With bowed head, but quick gesture
of dissent, the woman withdrew her
own, half extended to take it; but she
pointed to the door, without word
Into the binding drifts of snow,
whirling and eddying now in the colder
wind, passed those two, he carefully
closing the door, to hide all CLEAN from
within. A few PAGES through the soft
white carpet, then the woman drew
back shivering, with what had been a
cry, but for his warning hand upon her
arm.
My Cod You killed -"
"'Sh! No! Carolyn, are you child?"
Fitzhugh whispered Zone sound, and
they are upon us. Be womanl Remem-
ber-Fairfax!"
Again on, swiftly and noiselessly, to
the skirt of woods, into its heart,
through crisp, snow-clad underbrush,
out into the open, hundred yards be-
yond. There stood noble horse sad
died but untethered, a cavalry blanket
wound about the pommel to form la
dy's seat
As Fitzhugh approached, the brute
reared his muzzle, about to Whitney,
but was silent at his masters quick
touch. 800, boy! Steady, Custerw
He turned to the girl, who started in
stinctively at the name. THAT is his
name; you must use it, for he knows no
other. Nor does he know whip or need
spur. Speak to him as you were his
mistress, and he will carry you to safe
ty and-freedoml Let him have his
head-he knows every foot of road
until day breaks. Then you should be
at Scruggs' farm. Take the left fork
there. An hours gsllop should bring
you to Rosser's advance, Col. Randolph
in command. They are moving straight
for Harper's Ferry to cut us off. They
are in our rear"-he hesitated an in
slant, speaking very slowly, as the girl
stared blanllly at him you under
stand; they are in our rear; and the
general riR not strike them at Beckley's
CROSSROADS this morning as he expects.
Now mount"
The mans tone had changed from
that he had used in the hut. Perfectly
respectful, he yet spoke in a voice of
command that swayed the woman
with a sense of power.
He held out his hand. Without hest
tation she placed her foot in it, and was
lifted lightly to saddle, the reins easy
in her firm grasp, her foot in the
thoughtfully shortened stirrup.
Then the man barred his head in the
binding, driving snow, speaking with
quiet Difference her lover lords had
never used to Britain's virgin queen:
You understand, Miss Clay; let Gus
ter 60 his own way until you strike
Scruggs'. Then the left fork and Ros-
ser's advance" He paused, listening
lntently. mo time to lose: | hear dis
tant change of arms. The relief is out.
God speed you and save-your boyl"
The woman sat motionless, wordless.
as though she were in a dream and
feared to wake and find it so. Suddenly
she broke down, with great effort half
sobbing:
"0h! I-should-thank- Oh! if"
Hush" he answered, softly, but with
a great tremOr in his voice; and his
hand involuntarily stretched towards
her, changed its direction and stroked
caressingly the tense, wet neck of the
horse, that rubbed its muzzle softly on
his shoulder.
Then he turned away,-hesitated,-
spoke:
God! girl, do not tempt me-even
for sake of you!-to say what should
not-must not! Go, Carolynl gol War
is uncertain-my life in unusual peril.
If you hear / have died the spy's death,
pray for the soul you believe false to
everything, the soul that God in Heaven,
looking on US now, knows true"-a half
sob bore the words-to youi"
The clank of arms came family on
the wind. At his touch the horse
moved softly on into the snowy road,
the man standing still, with barred head
and eyes appraised Then, when the
whirling eddies hid the rider from his
sight, that bold rider, that reckless SOL
der, that traitor Virginian, fell upon
his knees and dropped his face in his
clasped hands.
Soon he rose, with gesture of defiance
to the now clear-sounding arms, turned
into the denser woods and strobe rapid
ly away.
| Five minutes later the relief reached
the extra post at the hut No sentry
challenged; and the lank New ENGLAND