The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-22
suspicion Of unusual anti. ..dpatiop an,

with tenderest detail years afterward.
She found him pale and despondent as
she hung over his armchair, loath to leave
him for one of the few hours which re-
mained of his stay at the manor. But he
sent her resolutely from him, giving to
her u letter for his brother, as was his
wont on these market days--a letter which
She was TO deliver to trooper who would
be dispatched TO receive it.
She rode forth, while Augustus, mount.
ed on a tall horse and carrying huge
basket, paced soberly behind. Spring rains
had broken The avenue into alternate
courses of mud and water, and, as she bent
TO lift her habit yet farther from the prob
able splashing, Pelham's letter slipped
from her waistband
With such haste as years and stoutness
permitted, Augustus descended from his
saddle and restored the packet to her.
Alas, 1t was wet and stained
"It will be the delay of merely ten min.
utes to return and bid Captain Pelham
address another wrapper" she murmured,
glad of this excuse to behold the welcome
IN her lovers eyes.
She tore off the drenched envelope hur-
riedly, lest the damp should have pene-
trated. and looked at the inclosure with
keen daintiness. Her look changed. Her
color faded. Her lips set sternly Hapri-
ness went out of Lydia Barrington's life
while she stared at the letter conflded to
her transmission by the man for whose
honor she had pledged her own.
Yet presently she lifted her head, and
turning her orse toward the manor she
rode up the avenue at speed Augustus
found difficult to emulate.
Beside the high oak chimney In the en-
trance hall stood massive writing table.
There she tore Pelham's letter to tiny
pieces, and sealed thom carefully within a
fresh envelope, upon which she inscribed
his name.
Explain to Captain Pelham the mis-
chance to his packet" she said. Though
her lips were white her voice did not fal-
ter. Inform my mother that have rid
den forth again unattended. Ask her to
prevent my father from hearing that /
have done SO until / return"
OF that bitter journey, which led her by
devious ways through rough country
lanes, dangerous alike from marauding
bands of friends or foes, there is slight
mention in her journal. Nor is there more
than the mere statement that she reached
Washington's presence and delivered the
warning she had brought.
Il told him that our roof sheltered
spy" she wrote; THAT l knew not how
far his treachery extended, but that the
visit with which the general intended to
honor my father must be abandoned. !
found him." she added briefly, $50 cour-
teous In trusting my information and in
absteining from question as shall make
my memory ever grateful to him."
Even of her interview with her father
hon, t.
save of its conclusion.
when informed him of the treachery
Of our guest and how / had been enabled
to warn the noble man whom that treach
cry would have doomed, my father drew
me down within his arms" she wrote
and the tear blisters show upon those lines
after 100 years my father blessed Inc. +"
1.-The honor of our name has always been
well guarded" he said, "but 1t has never
been safer than with you, my daughteri
Go now, and bid your wretched lover fare
we'll"
Mistress Lydia has recorded every slight
est detail of that final meeting with Cap
tain Pelham to which her father sent her
as though impelled by terror of the future,
in which love might reproach disdain with
too stern a cruelty.
They met in the withdrawing room,
where pair of candles and a dying fire
made flickering light. There those two
gazed at each others pale faces, with eyes
through which humiliation and scorn
burned that passion which would survive
either.
"The one grace you could have bestowed
upon the house whose shelter you desired
to betray was to leave it when your treach-
cry had been discovered" she said. "Yet
you are herep
Gould you conceive that / would depart
before your return?'
How should l conceive correctly the
moods or motives of spy?"
Twelve hours ago you loved me'
81 never loved you, Captain Pelhaml
The man loved was the creation Of my
/ Dreams"
"Take not the past from mel You loved
me-me!" he cried, sinking to his knees.
what I have done was for love Of you
to bring nearer the day when I might
claim you-nay, but you shall listeni With
that great rebel free, the war, which parts
us, may drag on for years. With him a
prisoner his cause would fail. Peace
would come, and with its coming I should
win my wife!"
"Your wife, whom you would have dis
nonoTcu Uy mdkiuB ueI Uu0 UNCONSCIOUS
means through which you betrayed her IA.
ther's friendP'
II never intended you to guess my share
in his capture, nor could dishonor reach
you'll"
"No. God be thankedi Not 80 much an
BY the touch Of your flngers!" she said,
withdrawing from his grasp the fold Of
her habit skirt.
She walked to the door. There she
looked back.
Still kneeling, Pelham had flung his
arms across table and laid his head upon
them.
She returned swiftly to him. She drew
his fair, bowed head to her bosom and pas-
sionately kissed his white face, wet with q
mans agonizing tears.
II lied" she gasped. IT love you-you
always-you eternally--as you love ma
In SO much falsebood this Is truth. Yet
better the width Of the world between us
than that you should read daily In mine
eyes the memory of your dishonor--and so
farewelll'
There arc other records in that journal
OF Mistress Lydia's-her fathers death,