The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-16


Brigadier General.
Colonel Maynard read the missivt
over twice, slowly, without looking up.
He had not read dozen words before
he knew that he held In his possession
one whose life was forfeited as his owr
life had been forfeited to the Confoder.
ates a year before. His keeping his eyes
on the paper was to gain time, to avoic
speaking when his utterance was chok.
ed with a strange emotion. His thoughts
were far away. He stood on the bank on
the Tennessee river below Chattanooga.
1t was in tho gray Of the morning. He
saw skiff tied to the shore. He jump
ed down to seize it and found himself
among group of Confederate soldiers.
Personating O member of General
Bragg's staff, he commanded them to
row him across tho river. They started
TO obey. As they left the shore suddenly
boat swung around Moccasin point.
1t was full of armed men. He was tax.
en back to Chattanooga, tried and con-
demned to ho hanged for spy.
All this passed before his minds eye
as he stood pretending TO study the com.
municatiop before him, not this bare
statement of it. bat each detail. each
feeling of hope, fear. despair, as they
rapidly succeeded each other from the
moment of his capture till his escape
and safe return to the Union lines.
Looking upat last with an expression
of commiseration which surprised the
prisoner, he said:
Madam, will you please accept my
heartfelt sympathies?'
Miss Baggs, who had already recog.
nized Colonel Maynard, simply bowed
her head in acknowledgment without
speaking, but fixing her large dark eyes
upon his When placed in similar
position, Maynard had met his enemy's
glance with affected GOODNESS in vain
hope of deception. Not so the woman
before him. The time for deception had
passed with her. She was Charlotte
Corday, knowing that the guillotine
awaited her, a martyr in whose eyes
CLEANED the divine light Of willing
sacrifice to cause she believed to be
sacred.
The colonel spoke again:
Madam" he said, cit is my duty !
to report your case to my commanding |
officer for transmission to the headquar- |
ters of this army. There is little house |
across theroad. IL you are able to &C |
there, you will be more comfortable |
while we are awaiting the reply"
AS you like, colonel Z"
Perhaps it would be better to use
tho ambulance.
II can walk. would prefer it. ("
"Will you accept my assistance?"
She took his offered arm, and the two
walked slowly toward farmhouse n
fow hundred yards distant As the colo
mel passed sentry he directed him to
have tho officer Of the guard summoned
and sent to him. On reaching the house
and mounting the few steps that led W
to tho door, they wore received by q
farmers wife aud ushered into small
sitting room Bowling to the prisoner.
Colonel Maynard stepped outside 10 in
struct the guard. 1t was not esseutia
that he should hasten, bat he did no
feel equal 20 an interview.
After seeing asontinel posted on eacl
side Of tho honse Mayna.d turned 10 r.
70 his tent He was drawn by some M
accountable instinct to look once moi
at the abode Of his prisoner She WI
gazing out'at him with pair Of ey,
melancholy. unresisting, fail Of resi- ~
ton.
What cend had suddenly threwu (.
beautiful woman. this queen OF ms
tyrs, into his Keeping, with death sta
iLg her in the face, and ho PERHAPS
infiiot tho penalty? Why, il no rlu
suffer this turning Of tho tablcS by fat
could not the victim havo been MA
somc coarse creature who would d, 4
likoa brutes Aud why had it net c,n!
upon him before love had introduces
Lin To that instructive delicacy, thai
rcHtleness, those finer heart impulse, o,
womail?
20 Goc" he murmurcd, suppose 4
SUPPOSE sho were--Laura?r
ho cnulg not bear to look and &C ult
not turn away. For few moments th,
two g9zed upon each other, while th,
ratural feminine discernnem
tod her that she was piticd: told Ter
~ what Maynard suffered:
that her enemy wa really her friend. ]