The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-06-20

necessity for deceit now. have long
known the singular circumstances that
surround you and him-that you both
loved the same woman; that you won.
''And that twioe-twice he gave me
my life?'
''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 it would be best
for all that should not make myself
known"
Maynard stood in amazement at these
developments, in horror at the situa-
ton as he now knew it to be.
''And you are the sister of Cameron
Fitz Hugh?''
II am. am Caroline Fitz Hugh"
"You shall not die"
When Colonel Maynard spoke these
words, there was grandeur in his tone,
his figure, the lines Of his countenance,
the light in his eye, strangely inconsist-
ens with q 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 the 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.
Twill 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
one not present, unconscious of his pow
er, to hold Mark Maynard over a preci-
pice and to cast him into a 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 possessed? Was it some invisi-
BILE fiend that had made Maynard rob-
Der of that bride from the man to whom
he twice owed his li1So.nd was now
bringing on his punishment? These
were indirect causes, but they cannot
explain that inexpressible, intangible
sense Of honor which will lead man,
TO speak paradoxically, to commit a
crime and sacrifice himself at the same
time for another.
The expression on Miss Fitz Hugh 8
face as she heard Maynard speak words
which would save her from death and
give her liberty underwent a change
For moment after they were spoken
there was a delighted look, but us she
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 holy look
in her eyes, a radiance Of purity from
the soul expressed in every feature.
There was the superhuman 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 &C.
oustomed to receive"
Maynard stood gazing at her with a
look as if in refusing the sacrifice she
had stabbed him.
"What then," he said at last, "can
do?"
"Send the news Of my condition, of
my expected"-she 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 higher power.
The colonel looked at his watch. cit
is now half past 9. We are but few
miles from the Confederate lines Your
brother is''-
"In IS cavalry division and on
the Confederate right I heard from
him only a few days ago. He was then
at Ringold.
''That is not far from here.''
"There may be time," she said hope
fully.
''Some one must steal through the
lines. If not shot, he may accomplish
something. In half an hour I shall be''-
"You?''
Eyes, I! will not trust this only
thread on which your life hangs to any
one else, though I confess" he added
gloomily, II have no confidence in it. "
mo, colonel, I cannot accept this
from you. You are the commander here
and are all that stands between me and