Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-01

pushed the coffee and pie between the
bars.
Drink it she murmured. IT shall
see you again"
He nodded to her and gulped the hot
drink down and took the pic.
Mother Revell had been gone but two
minutes when she came back to the
guardroom.
Ibid that brute frightcn you?" cried
Martin. "You are white as your apron.
FLUSH, Martini" said the old lady,
with shiver. Don't call him that. It
was only the dark and the cold of that
lonely cell that frightened me-"
"Ha, haP' the troopers laughed. "a
veteran Of the war frightened by tho
dark Oh, Mother Revellp'
The delicate flush, SO readily provoked
on Mrs. Revells check, saved her pallor
from being again noticed.
"IIas the major seen him?" she asked
quietly of her son.
mo, only the adjutant; but the fell
lows cute. He won't talk. Nobody is
allowed to see him. Angels of mercy
are of course, excepted"
He pattod his mothers check, and she
tried to laugh, then took her basket and
babe them all good night and quiet
guard. She walked steadily home,
tramping bravely through the drifts,
answering cheerily enough tho greetings
of party of officers she met as they
came out Of the club; but, once homo,
she locked and barred the door, put out
tho light, and sat, her face hidden in
her hands, until morning by the stove.
Before the bugles sounded reveille
round tho white counterpaned parade
ground she was up and busy, poking
into odd corners for something she
frowningly sought. At last she found
it, little steel tool, and she slipped it
in tho bosom Of her dress. She fed the
stove and made coffee again and filled
her can. Then, while the dawn hung
timorously in doubt and the sky in the
cast was very slowly trembling from
violet to gray, she pulled on her boots
and took her shawl and once more start
cd for tho guardhouse. There the men
were weary, and those not out on post
were sleeping The young sergeant was
wrapped in his blankets, sound and
snoring, and drowsy corporal was in
charge. He frightened at sight of Moth
or Rcvcll's can.
Begun, but you'll spite the SER
geant with yer coddlin!" no said
"Shall l wake him?"
Mother Revoll shook her head and
poured out a mugful for the grateful
corporal.
'Is he asleep" she asked, nodding
toward the prisoners cell.
Mop. Just now he was swearin at
the cold"
1T is horribly cold in there" she
said. Wont you give him q cup?"
"Shucks, Mrs. Revell, yo'ro all heart.
Twas him killed the paymaster.
THAT'S not certain yet" said Moth
err Revell, suddenly shaking. "But it
would be cold for dog in there. Let
me.
1.-The corporal shrugged his shoulders.
1t was hard to refuse Mother Revell
anything. So again she slipped along
the corridor. The prisoner must have
heard her voice, for he was already at
the bars.
Bessie" he hoarsely whispered.
"You re the same as evcr-a good old
girl. And you haven't forgotten tho old
man. A corner Of your heart for him
still, eh?'
She shrunk from his bloated face fol-
moment the next she stepped deter.
minedly to the grating.
Listen" she murmured hurriedly.
Don't touch my hand. I'm going tc
help you, but not for your salSe--for the
same reason helped you before, when,
in your drinking craze, you shot the
cowboy in Dodge. 1 wanted to save my
boy the shame of hearing his father was
hanged. want to savo him again.
"'Little Martin-the baby. Bessie
is he here? Let me see him-Bcss. 4"
"'Never," she cried fiercely. Hes
doing well; he's boy to be proud Of
He studies and will pass for commits
sion in time. He knows nothing of youl
life, Of you, and never shall. I'd die
first. Do you think I'd sec the boy
-"cco about in shame for his father. c
descrter, twice murderer? Could he
hold up his head among his comrades
when he's an officer and gentleman,
as he will be, as he deserves to be? See
you'll Never! You must go away-os.
cape, elsa there are some hero will rec
ognize you"
She was trembling now, and he gulp
ed the stoaming coffee sulllily. The men
snored the corporal nodded over his
stove.
"What name have you gono by? Yor
dare not call yourself Revell:"
Hardly" he grinncd
"Take this" she said, and gave hin
the tool from her dress. "It's all coult
find-a gimlot. You bore hole aftel
hole in the planking of tho floor until {
piece is loose. It's slow, and you mus
be cautious of the guard seeing you
Get through by night after next if YOU
can, for they are eager to send you t
prison. There's foot and half be
tween floor and ground. You can craw
out. 1t was done once by man at For
Mckinney. Look out for No. /. HI
passes round the guardhouse every quar-
ter Of an hour"
Ho took the tool eagerly and sh
turned away.
"Bessier'
She paused.
~ saw in paper that Pollock wa
made n major. He always had luck
You and l remembered him as Il bi
buck private when was sergeant il