Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-23

realized what they meant to the man who would save her it was transformed into an expression which can only be described as bordering on the confines of angel land. There was Q holy look ill her eyes, a radiance of purity from the soul expressed in every feature. There was the superhnman attribute of choosing death before life and liberty at the price of wrong.
 "No, colonel, we Fitz Hughs cannot accept sacrifice, and especially wrong. from others. We give; we are not ac- customed to receive.
 Maynard stood gazing at her with n look as if in refusing tho sacrifice she had stabbed him.
 What then," he said at last. ''can I do?''
 "Send tho news of my condition, of my expected" shuddered at pro- nouncing the word-''execution to our lines Knowing that am condemned, they can bring what influence they may be able to save me.
 "It will avail nothing. "Try it. Fate, luck, Providence works strangely at times. Let us push on and leave the rest to a higher power
 The colonel looked at his watch. Ut is now half past 9. We are but 0 few miles from the Confederate lines. Your brother is''- "In --'s cavalry division and on the Confederate right. I heard from him only few days ago. He was then at Ringold. "
 That is not far from here. | l,, .,l,, fully.
 'Somo one must steal through the lines. If not shot, he may accomplish something. In half an hour shall be-
 "You?'
 "Yes, l! will not trust this only thread on which your life hangs to any one else, though l confess. v he added i gloomily, II have no confidence in it. |"
 No colonel, I cannot accept this from you. You are the commander here and are all that stands between me and 1 death. Sou must remain herA and send | a messenger.
 "who would l dare intrust with such message?"
 "Send for the man who captured me, Corporal Ratigan. Let him bear the message.
 "He:"
 The colonel looked at her moment. as if to question why this man should be so trusted, but her eyes were lower. ed. He knew there was a secret which it did not become him to pry into.
 T will send him. if he can be found at once. If not, Twill go myself. And if the mission fails
 The words were not finished, for he well knew how precious time was, and turning from the room and the house strodo rapidly toward his tent.
 He had gone but dozen paces before ho heard some one call.
 "Colonel!"
 He did not hear. The call was re. peated
 "Colonel!"
 A man approached him. whom in the darkness he did not recognize.
 ''Is there no hope. colonel:" the man asked in choked voice.
 Who are you:"
 Tho man who captured her, point ing to the house. "Oi'll never draw sa Der again
 "Corporal Ratigan:" ''The same.
 "This is fortunate. Come with me. '
 The two started together to a thicket wherein they would neither be observed nor heard.
 'Oi m hangin round, ye see, colonel Oi'm away from camp without leave. O hope they shoot me for a deserter.
 Colonel Maynard did not speak til they reached the thicket. Then, turn ing and facing Ratigan. he said ear nestly:
 "You would like to save her. would you not" God knows I would" Then go to the picket line and ge through unohserved if possible, Go t Ringold and find Confederate office Cameron Fitz Hugh. if he is there Tell him that his sister is condemned {, bo shot at sunrise tomorrow morning : Say that Colonel Mark Maynard send him this information. that he may us whatever influence he possesses-tak any measures he may consider honor . ablC-to save her Tell him, the colo nel lowered his voice, that I offere, to attempt to do so, taking ruin upol myself. but she would not accept tn sacrifice. Go; there is no time to lose When the sun rises, it will be too late. "Oh, colonel" cried the man il 3 agony, there is so little timol" Go! It is not yet 10 o'clock. w , , have six hours. "
 The corporal was moving away whel tho colonel stopped him.
 You will need tho countersign."
 Ratigan returnrd and tho colone 4 whispered it in his ear, "Carnifa !, Ferry