The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-15

CHAPTER XII Continued. }


gled with so many singular traits prom
inent in her that could show itself at SO
critical a moment, touched responsive
Irish chord in his Irish heart and brought
him TO terms.
"For your sake. darlin, Oil do it,"
he said in despairing voice.
There was scarcely time for him to
speak the words--indeed they were
whispered with his lips touching her
ear-when the three cavalrymen rode
up to where the two were.
whats it all about, corporal?" ask
ed one Of them.
II found this--this lady-lying here
Her buggy is broken. She is badly
hurt" The corporal spoke the words
haltingly, and drops Of sweat stood out
on his forehead
"Who is she?'
"Well, that's to be found out some
other time. One of ye'd better ride back
for an ambulance and surgeon"
Never mind the surgeon" said
Miss Baggs family.
"Well, bring the ambulance any
way" said Ratigan. "Ye can oil go
back if ye like. Oil stay with her.
She's me own prisoner.
There's no need of all going" said
the man who had spoken. "I'll go my
self.
He turned and rode away, while the
others dismounted and threw the reins
of their brides over fence rail. One
of them caught Bobby Lee, who was
cropping the grass near by, occasionally
looking up as though suspicious that
something had happened. The men loi-
tered about, now and then approaching
to take look at the prisoner. but soon
turning away again, quite willing to be
free from the responsibility which Cor
poral Ratigan seemed disposed to take
upon himself.
Rats" said Miss Baggs, who was
now rapidly recovering strength and
GOODNESS, cit will not be long before ]
shall be separated from you. Before
then wish to thank you for the kind
ness, the interest, even the tenderness,
with which you have treated fallen
enemy. And wish to ask your forgive
ness for the deception / praoticed ON
you once when you were deputed to see
me through the lines +"
"What was that compared with what
| Olive done?" he moaned.
'Do you forgive me?"
"Oi do But Olive nothin to for
give"
"And, Rats, you have uncopsciously let
me know that you-you feel more kind
lv toxyard ma than''-
you've robbed me of me heart In.
tirely"
"Well, I'm both glad and sorry. 1t
is delightful to be loved, but sad to
think that your very love must make
you grieve. Our meetings have been
few and strange-very strange" she
added musingly. "Who are you, Rats?
know you are well born. / can see it
in every word and motion"
"Oi'm second son of Sir Thomas Rat.
igan, ESQ. of County Cavan, Oireland.
At his death me older brother succeeded
to the estate. So came to America to
shift for meself. A year ago Oi enlisted
in the Union ranks, and here Oh am. Oi
wish to God me brother was in his
coffin and Oi in possession of the es-
tates, that Oi could give them all to
save your life F"
mo, no, Rats. You are q soldier
and an honorable man. Remember
what ] have told you. You will do
your duty hereafter as you have done it
heretofore. Your words in that respect
are meaningless. Your sense of honor
will always triumph over your sym
pathy when that sympathy is alloyed
with dishonor. For this / have con-
ceived for you an unbounded respect.
! Perhaps were not so soon 10 be"-
Don't speak it, for Gods sake don't
speak it.
well, Rats, we will try for the
brief time we shall be together to fix
our minds on pleasant picture. Let
US think of that day when the south
will be independent, or at least when
north and sonth will be at peace This
region, new trodden by soldiers wear
ing the blue and the gray, will be given
up to those simple people who till the
soil. Instead Of the sound of shotted
guns there will be the lowing Of cattle.
Instead Of the singing OF mlnle Daiii
there will be the songs of birds. There
will be peace, blessed peace. Oh, if !
could only live to see itl Then perhaps
I may take you by the hand, say TO you
But, Rats, this can never be for u.s. II
is only fancy picture I've drawn tc
relieve that terrible suffering sec II
your face. You've aged ten years in a
many minutes. Don't look at me in tha
dreadful way. can't bear it. "
The two cavalrymen's backs wer'
turned. They were strolling toward I'll
woods. Ratigan put his arms about he
and both yielded to long embracc
There were no more words spokeH
Words would have added nothing /,
what both felt. There was more pai
and more pleasure concentrated in til
bosom of each than had been there IN
all the years they had lived.
CHAPTER XIII.
| ssrtrpNrr. ovrp -