The Red Cloud chief., 1895-03-01
"And you are tho sister Of Cameron
Fitz Hughi'

AAeShh
"You shall not die"
When Colonel Maynard spoke these
words, there was a grandeur in his tone,
his figure, the lines of his ~countenance,
tho light in his eye, strangely %inconsist.
ent with n resolution he had made the
moment before they were uttered. He
had Oh the instant reversed his decision
mado 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 IL
IL wero necessary to take upon himself
far greater igloininy than tho death to
which she was sentenced. There was 81.
lence between them, during which Miss
Fitz Hugh stood looking Mt him in ad.
miratiou, mingled with inquiry. She
know that some secret charm was at
work within, but she did not know what
H. was.
How can my death be prevonted?"
Il 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 arti .!ery, which gave 1t to
n not present, unconscious of his pow.
or, to hold Mark Maynard over q preci.
pic and to cast him into a black gulf
below Was it circumstances that had
a year before led Fitz Hugh to accept
the very part Maynard was now called
upon to play? Was it love that had
s:-on Nur,nrJ tl,n hr,ln Ett, Heck ,,na
10 have possessed? Was it some invisi-
BILE hend that had made Maynard a rob.
Der II that bride from the man to whom
he twice owed his life and was now
bringing on his punishment? These
were indirect causes, but they cannot
explain that inexpressible, intangible
sense Of honor which will lead "a man,
to speak paradoxically, to commit a
crime and sacrifice himself ut the same
time for another.
The expression on Miss Fitz Hugh's
face as she heard Maynard speak words
which would save her from death and
give her liberty underwent q change.
For q moment after they were spoken
there was q delighted look, but as she
realized what they meant to the man
who would a v her it was transformed
into al expression which can only DO
described NJ bordering ON the confines
Of angel land. There was q holy look
in her eyes, q radiance Of purity from
the soul expressed in every feature.
There was the s%uperhuman attribute Of
choosing death before life and liberty
vt the price Of wrong.
mo. colonel. we Fitz Hughs cannot
accept sacrifice, and especially wrong.
from Others. We give; we are not &c.
customed to receive"
Maynard stood gazing ut her with q
look rs IL in refusing the sacrifice she
had stabbed him.
What then." he said at last, ''can ]
dor"
Send tho news of my condition. Of
my expected''-she shuddered ut pro.
nounCing the word-''execution to our
lines. Knowing that ] am condemned,
they can bring what influence they may
be able to w me-"
1T will avail nothing"
TRY it. Fate, luck, Providence works
strangely ut times. Let us push on and
leave the rest to q higher power"
The colonel looked at his watch. 1T
Is now half past o. We are but O few
miles from the Confederate lines Your
brother Isl
I'm IS cavalry division and OH
the Confederate right. ! heard from
him only u lew days ago. He was then
ut Ringold."
THAT is not far from here"
There may be time" she said hope.
fully.
Some n must steal through the
lines. II not shot, he may accomplish
something. In half an hour l shall be-
"You?"
"Yes, II will not trust this only
thread on which your life hangs to any
one else, though ! confess. " no added
~gloonfily, II have no confidence in it. ;
mo, colonel, l cannot accept this
from you. You are the commander here
and are all that stands between me and
death. You must remain here and send
o messenger"
WHO would I dare intrust with such
q m~essage?"
Send for the man who captured me,
Corporal Ratigan. Let him bear the
message"
"He?"
The colonel looked at her a moment,
as If to question why this man should
DO 80 trusted, but her eyes were lower,
cd. He knew there was a secret which
1t did not become him to pry into.
II will send him, il he can be found
at once. II not, l will 90 myself. And il
the mission fails"-
The words were not finished, for he
we'll knew how precious time was, and
turning from the room and tho hous.
strobe rapidly toward his tent.
he had gone but q dozen PAGES before
he heard some one call.
"Colonell'
He did not hear. The call was 70
peated.
"Colonelv'
A man approached him. whom in tn,
darkness he did not recognize.