The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-14

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Nothing appeared to denote her presence
on the landscape except horse in har.
nees, which he dragged in the dust,
trotting back toward heap of rubbish
ON the road. A sudden dread took pos
session of the corporal 1t was plainly
evident there bad been an accident. He
had been chasing Confederate tele-
graph stealer that he might turn her
over to the military authorities Of his
own army TO be hanged. and now he
was suddenly plunged into terror for
fear she had been killed. He went on,
but with q new object distinct in his
mind. 1t was not to injuro Miss Baggs,
but to succor her.
He soon came to the heap Of splinters
and iron which marked the point of
collapse of Miss Baggs' buggy Miss
Baggs was not visible Had she taken
to the wood beyond the fork Of the road?
For q moment there was delightful
sense of relief, but il was soon followed
by the animal instinct Of tho savage
chasing an object of prey, Stimulated
by this, or return Of a sense of duty,
or both, he was about TO ride into the
wood, when, looking down ON the long
grass by the roadside, he deserted the
unconscious body, the face apparently
white in death, of the woman he sought
In moment the corporal was off his
horse and on his knees beside her. Tho
chase in which be had been SO eager and
the cause were both forgotten ON seeing
Miss Baggs lying apparently cold in
death at his feet q
''Darlin, are ye hurti'
There was agony in the corporal's
voice. He put an arm under her head to
raise it. With the other he grasped her
hands.
ITO the divil's own keepin with the
war anyway. What's it good for ex-
cept to injure innocent women and chill
dren?'
In that nonresistance Of unconscious
ness he forgot that this woman had been
engaged in what the world condemns
openly, II not secretly, as illegitimate
warfare. To him she was innocent, not
that he reasoned upon her acts. but be-
cause mysterious ssomething-a breath
from spirit land-had made her more to
him than ali the world beside He laid
his head down upon her breast to listen
If the heart beat; he cbafed her hands
and arms; he took of his cap and fan
ned her. Still she lay limp in his arms
without a sign of life.
"Darlin, darlin, come back to life
Come back, if it's only long enough to
tell me ye forgive me for me cowardly
chasin ye. Olive killed ye. Oi know it.
Oh wish some one would run bayonet
through me own rotten heart"
A slight murmur, something like q
groan, escaped her.
praise God, there's lifel If it'd only
grow strongerl Ah, thank heaven,
there's waterl'
Laying her head down in the grass,
he went to the side of the road where
there was runnel Of clear water
Scooping some of it in his two hands, he
threw it in her face.
She opened her eyes.
Corporal Ratigan never forgot the
look with which his prisoner regarded
him when she recognizAl who he was
There were two expressions following
each other rnpidly--the first, reproach;
but when she noticed the pain with
which it was received it melted into
one of tenderness.
"Ah, Rats" she exclaimed family,
show could You do it:'
He put his great hands--brown from
exposure-before his eyes to shut out
the face which at every glance kindled
some new emotion to rack him. Now
that she had come to life another terror
came to him to administer an added
torture. Ho knew that mounted men
were following; that they would soon
appear over the crest just behind them;
that his prisoner would be taken, tried
and condemned
They're confinl They'll be here in
jiffyp' he cried wildly. TELL me
that ye forgive me. Tell me that ye
don't hate me as hate meself."
'For doing your duty, Rats?"
"Dutyl Is it a mans duty to run
down woman like a hare? Don't tall
to me Of duty. If ye suffer for this,
Oil desert and go back to Oireland, ant
God be praised if he'll send storm {
sink the ship and me in it. There's ;
drop in me canteen--a drop of whisky
Will ye tako il, darlin-I mean--l
don't know what I'm talkin about. lie
me put 1t to yer lips. Take a swallow
It'll revive ye. Nor" Sho appeared t.
be passing back TO inconsistencies
Take it for moi sake, sweethcar;
L Ily take good swallow, and yell b
righted."
She opened her eyes. Evidently sh
had heard. There was an expression o.
her face indicating that his words ha'
produced that effect upon her which
might be expected in a woman who
hears a strong man, unconsciously and
unintentionally, declaring his love.
why do you wish me TO live, Ratsi
Don't let me live. If you do, III die
on the gibbet."
"Oh, darlin," he moaned, don't be
talkin that way. Oi'll die meself first.
OIL raise n mutinv Oi'uf-