The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-17

him, did not return bis salute. He OPEN
ed the door, entered the house and in a
fow minutes was in a room in which
the prisoner was confined She was
standing by q window. As he entered
she turned and stood with her hands
hanging claspcd before her, her sorrow
full eyes fixed steadily upon him.
"Colonel Maynard, she said. IT
have sent for you to ask You to deliver
my last messages. / once met you in
the house of one who is dear to you.
There received shelter from the storm
which ragged without, but which was
nothing to me beside another evil that
threatened me. was sore pressed and
in great danger of capture The women
in that house--an elderly lady. a young
girl who visited there and your wife
took me In at great risk to them
selves. Your wife certainly had much
at stake, for your honor might be in
yolved. / have sent for you now to ask
you to say to them that have treasured
their remembrance and their kindness
to me-" 81
She waited a moment for him to ac-
cept the trust. She might have waited
till the crack of doom without reply.
Ho had no power to utter word. He
simply bowed.
II Idesire also to intrust this keepsake
to you, to be sent to my BROTHER
She took locket from about her neck
and held 1t up before him. On it was
painted a miniature Of young man in
the uniform of a Confederate officer.
Maynard looked at it and started back,
with a cry, as II pierced with redhot
iron.
"He-he is"--
my brother"
"Oh, God" He staggered. to the
wall and leaned against it. shivering.
"You know him, colonel, There is no
necessity for deceit now. l have long
known the singular circumstances that
surround you and him--tbat you both
loved the same woman; that you won. "
"And that twice-twice he gave me
my life?" s-T--s
THAT he never told me. -
''Ah, he never told You that?" replied
Maynard, kind of wonder in his tones.
when at Mrs. Fain's plantation,
discovered under whose roof was shell
tered. Your wife had never seen me,
and determined that il would be best
for all that ! should not make myself
known. ;,
Maynard stood in amazement at these
developments, in horror at the situa-
tion as he now knew it 10 be.
"And you are the sister of Cameron
Fitz Hugh?"N
II am. / am Caroline Fitz Hugh" F"
lyon shalt not die. +"
When ColosSl Maynard spoke these
words, there was a grandeur in his tone,
his figure the lines of his countenance,
the lightdnhis eye, strangely inconsist.
ent with resolution he had made the
moment before they were uttered. He
had on the instant reversed his decision
made not ten minutes before TO do his
duty, in the ordinary acceptance of
what that duty was. He had determined
TO save tho woman before him, even if
it were necessary to take upon himself
far greater ignominy than the death to
which she was sentenced. There was ST.
lence between them, during which Miss
Fitz Hugh stood looking at him in ad-
miration, mingled with inquiry. She
knew that some secret charm was at
work within, but she did not know what
it was.
"How can my death be prevented?"
II am charged with your execution.
will take you to your lines myself this
night.
What was that subtle influence, far
stronger than battalions of infantry or
batteries of artillery, which gave it to
ono not present, unconscious of his pow
or, to hold Mark Maynard over a preci-
pico and TO cast him into black gulf
below? Was it circumstances that had
q year before led Fitz Hugh to accept
the very part Maynard was now called
upon to play? Was it love that had
given Maynard the bride Fitz Hugh was
TO have possessedY Was it some invisi-
BILE flend that had made Maynard rob-
Der OF that bride from the man to whom
he twice owed his life aud. was now
bringing on his punishment? These
were indirect causes, but thcy cannot
explain that inexpressible, intangible
sense of honor which will lead a man,
to speak paradoxically, to commit a
crimo and sacrifice himself at the same
time for another.
Tho expression on Miss Fitz Hugh's |
face as she heard Maynard speak words
which would save her from death and
give her liberty underwent a change.
For a moment after they were spoken
there was a delighted look, but AS she
realized what they meant to tho man
who would save her IL was transformed |
into an expression which can only be
described as bordering on the confines
Of angel land. There was n holy look
In her eyes, radiance of purity from
the soul expressed in every feature.
There was tho superhuman attribute OF
choosing death before life and liberty
at the price Of wrong T
mo, colonel, we Fitz Hughs cannot
accent sacrifice, and especially wrong,
from others We piye: wa ara not az.