The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-03-07

She's mo own prisoner.
| 'There's no need Of all going" said
| tho man who had spoken. "I'll 20 my.
self"
Ho turned and rode away, while the
others dismounted and threw the roins
Of their brides over fonco rail. Ono
OF them caught Bobby Lee, who was
cropping the grass near by, occasionally
looking up as though suspicious that
something had happened. Tho men loi
tered about, now and then approaching
to take look ut tho prisoner, but soon
turning away again, quite willing to bo
free from tho responsibility which Cor
poral Ratigan soemod disposed to take
upon himself.
Rats" said Miss Baggs, who was
now rapidly recovering strength and
coolness, cit will not DO long before
shall be separated from you. Before
then wish to thank you for tho kind
ness, tho interest, oven tho tenderness,
with which you havo treated u fallon
enemy. And wish to ask your forgive
ness for tho deception I praoticod on
you onco whom you were deputed to 500
me through the lines
Oi've done?" no moaned.
"Do you forgive me?''
"Oi do. But Oi've nothin to for
givo."
"And, Rats, you have unconsoiously lot
mo know that you-you feel moro kind
ly toward mo than
"You've robbed mo Of mo heart in.
tirely."
"Well, I'm both glad and sorry. 1t
is delightful to bo loved, but sad to
think that your very love must make
you grieve. Our meetings have been
few and strange-very strange" she
added musingly. "Who arc you, Rats?
know you are we'll born. I can SEQ it
In every word and motion
"Oi'm second son Of Sir Thomas Rat
igan, Esq. Of County Cavan, Oiroland.
At his death mo older brother succeeded
to tho estate. So came to America to
shift for meself. A year ago Oh enlisted
i'll the Union ranks, and here Oh am. OF
wish to God mo brother was in his
coffin and Oh in possession Of the os-
tates, that Oi could givo them all to
save your life"
"No, no, Rats. You are q soldier
and ali honorable man. Remember
what l havo told you. You will do
your duty hereafter as you have done it
heretofore Your words in that respect
arc meaningless. Your sense Of honor
will always triumph over your SYM
pathy when that sympathy is alloyod
with dishonor. For this I havo con-
ceived for you an unbounded respect.
IN0 I ~ 10 1>151
"Don't speak it, for Gods sake don't
speak it,
"Well, Rats, wo will try for tho
brief time wo shall DO together to fix
our minds OH pleasant picture. Let
us think of that day when tho south
will be independent, or at least whom
| north and south will DO at peace. This
| region, now troddon by soldiers woar
lug the blue and the gray, will bo givol
up to those simple people who till tn,
soil. Instead Of the sound of shottet
guns there will be the lowing of cattle
Instead Of tho singing of mimic balls
there will be the songs Of birds. There
will be peace, blessed peace. Oh, if
could only live to SEQ it'll Then perhaps
may take you by the hand, say to you
But, Rats, this can never be for us. It
Is only n fancy picture I've drawn to
relieve that terrible suffering I see in
your face. You've aged ten years in as
many minutes. Don't look at mo in that
dreadful way. can't bear it.
Tho two oavalrymen's backs woro
turned. Thoy were strolling toward the
woods. Ratigan put his arms about her,
and both yielded to ~ ong embrace.
There wero no moro words spoken.
Words would have added nothing to
what both felt. There was moro pain
and moro pleasure concentrated in the
bosom Of each than had been there in
oil the years they had lived.