Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-10-07

the feat of gaining the generals assent
60 my pian-and waited for her reply.
She stood for awhile looking down at
the floor in deep meditation.
at is not the generals magnanimity
that grants this parole; it is yours"
That doesn't matter. Even though
I may have suggested it, the general Is
still the one 70 act. In order that you
may understand his generosity, must
remind you that the ordinary course to
pursue in the case of spy caught as
YOU have been is to try him by drum
head court-martial and hang him at
sunrise the day after trial
lis that the way it's done" she
asked, blanching.
1T is"
%-What am to do?"
I sat down at the table and wrote:N
| II. Margaret Beach, in consideration
| OF being relieved from confinement I'M
| der guard, promise not to aid the con-
federate cause or attempt to escape"
She seized the paper eagerly, read it, |
and signed it with impatient haste. |
Her action impressed me with the sus-
piciop that she only wished TO get
chance to save herself by flight But
/ had gone too far in the matter to re-
treat; Indeed, were it not that shrank
from her disgrace. would have hoped
| she would go. 1 took the paper to the
general, who declined 10 read it.
AS turned TO leave him I remem-
bored that had had no opportunity to
speak of having again seen the face at
the window.
General, little circumstance oc-
e ~. ahnuld
report" ~ sAsss,,z,,as
Fl :.Yhat is itP"" ~-s5E-Tss "a.
Il saw that face again" ~
"Whcn?" ''~'-.4 49, "
e During the fight ] got turned
round"
n WAS it your horse that was turned,
j. or is IT your head that is turned?'
Se Igot turned round" went on, color
re ing, but REFRESHING my anger, and,
Il; looking up at the house, saw the face
IN "Indeedl"
r In the single word he contrived tc
n throw n world of irony. you have not
ee told me-" he added, whether this face
~ belonged to an old man, young man
re or n boy"
10 ITO tell the truth, general, I couldn''
IL tell YOU whether IL was man or woman
i There was a curl of the lip that woul'
iri have made me insubordinate had
be dared TO be so. Lieutenant" he said
III ''have you ever had any severe illness?
ct NO, general"
'e- ANY accident? Did you ever fal
Ell from your horse and light on the top o
your head?"
NO, general"
"Well, if hear any more of that fac
lid | TIL send you north on an indefinit
r n leave to recover your health in go'
aw eminent hospital. You may 60"
ii turned and left him. For the frs
10 ! time IL occurred to me that perhap
M after all, the face at the window migl
an. | be the creation of my own fancy.
-iy. I selected n good man and directe
me | him to occupy the room had slept in c
the | the night of our arrival at the plant
of ton He was 10 go there after all we
18th nsleep and remain awake an night
anything unusual occurred he was
-ith call me. 1 chose a room on the secoi
raj | floor, and, after the house was sti
him went upstairs and TO bed.
orr NV room was at the front of Z
! IN house. / could hear the burial parti
on still at work, and see through windC
, 70 the dare of the torches on the leaves
to the trees. The mystery of Margal
Dir, Beach. the uncertainty of her fate, h
IRA, / by this time so excited my brain tina
coaid not sleep. No sooner would
drop of than volley outside wol
- awaken me, and the knowledge that
was fred over some poor fellows grs
san was by no means conducive to the
turn OF slumber. However, obliv
49, came at last
At midnight was brought back
!. consciousness by the man had pla
below, standing over me with Ugh
candle
- Lieutenant"
- ~WeuY''
go The young girl has gone"
- ~VThere9''
-Ont Of the door; out of the ga
. .hs assay from the plantation"
10 ~ [ rubbed my eyes and glared at
= man standing beside my bed.
She slipped away with the tread
-, Ieat, sir"
did you stop her?"
-ND; had no orders"
=, lyon were right"
~Is that all, sir?"
yes; You may go to bed
My first feeling was one of joy
Margaret had fed, my second on
regret that she should have broker
parole
2o- There was no more sleep for me
ANY n ;nss - dsr;Do, the lone hours b,,,
but at ...S,s,,-+ o,.,.,,,;ed NV axc;ted hra,r
-. w1s Margaret Beach.
1g- VI
IN INC SUDDEN CHANGES.