Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-05-23

1T is true, them" she said, starting
to her feet. My God. Are all men
! liars"
And you, sir!' | cried Give NE
ten minutes with this woman, or III
run you through as you stand"
IF she agrees 1 will. Otherwise
go on with your cutting" he answered
with a gallantry that only intensified
my rage.
She bowed her head: he seized her
hand and kissed it warmly before
he obeyed her implied command
Madame, l compliment myself that
| have been able to see through YOUR
plot, and compliment you upon your
success. If your lover has me- hanged.
forgive him: if l kill him within the
hour, forgive yourself. Farewenr'
My words had effect, for she dropped
upon a chair as if she were stunned.
She held out her hands entreatinglv.
and l answered her by a laugh as l
Whirled upon my heel and then
plunged down the stairway, sword in
hand, prepared for the end which |
knew my treatment Of the captain
must have precipitated.
Half dozen redcOatS were huddled
about the doorway, with the captain
in front Of them, grasping the sworj
Of one Of his lieutenants. Lee stoo
by the fireplace. AS he recognized me
his ugly face lighted up with triumph,
while he retreated to the side Of the
captain and sneered:
"Captain, there's the man we want
ed. My SOCIOLOGY, you are tapped.
Now, say your prayers. Your counting
excursion means that We'll hang you
in Philadelphia in the morning"
you dog Of a traitor and you ours
Of Englishmen, not all Of you will be
present at that hanging. AS for you,
cur Of the Quaker garb, I'll see if
you can fight with anything but
words"
1 saw tie face of the captain dis
tinctly, | saw the face of Lee, now
white with fear, distinctly. l felt the
beating Of my temples; l raised my
self slightly on my tiptoes, ready to
spring; my sword was as light as a
rattan stick in my hand; knew how
1 should land my blows to bring
down two of them before | should
fall myself was properly mad for
killing.
Just as l was about to strike l felt
some one touch my arm. The woman
had come down stairs. and she stood
between us, looking like some beauri-
full statute with dilating nostrils.
"Yu must kill me first she said.
''The gentleman is free to go" said
the captain. ''Sir, you will pardon III
the captain. ''Sir, you will pardon my
sudden anger. Whatever you have
done l should not have broken my
word
The woman seized hold of my arm,
and those eyes were looking into mine
as [ had seen them in the afternoon.
You will forgive me-" she begged.
Say you will before l go. Forgive
me, as l forgive you for the same
offense"
Il think l can straighten matters
not" said the captain. She thought
General Lee, here, was working in
behalf of the American cause, and
that his grievance against Washington
was just. General Lee told her that
you were Il British spy, who was
doing dangerous service against the
American cause. When she saw you
in a British uniform she believed that
you, too, had been hypocTitical. | sub
nit. | only ask that what happened
in love shall not be turned to account
in War-and this be forgotten. This
Lee. with whom | am serving at the
command Of my general, is a bleating
calf. who must hang himself by his
own rope sooner or later. I beg of
you to keep my sword. [ surrender il
when beaten in love, as we'll as war"
And then I held this woman, whom
l loved more madly than ever. in my
arms-and was no longer a mailman.
New York Press.