Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-15

trickery, there was still nobility, for
silently he had ridden away, faithful
20 his friend. He had lain under her
hands wounded by the pistol shot, and
no woman ever hated a helpless, suffer
ing man. As for his receptions, his
plots, some fearful necessity must have
compelled him. The other woman2
She had been too base for him-she had
been at heart a murderess. She il was
who had dragged him down. And was
he not caring for the child2 Frances
would not have admitted il TO herself
had she realized it. but in the depths
of that heart she had forgiven Richard
Somers. Her heart was big enough to
hold him and all his weakness. Was
there a loss Of something from her :
ture2 Or was there gain?
No message had ever come 10 her
from Somers. no good or evil report.
None? Yes, just a scrap soon after the
war began. From some one, Brodnar.
probably, since his name was upon il.
she had received a northern paper Civ
ing In its war gossip informant that
Richard Somers had been reinstated in
the army and promoted TO be captain
Of artillery.
But one day early in the spring of
1862, when the great federal movement
against Richmond was beginning and
when every tram was bringing in
bloody harvest. she leaned above a
wounded enemy. The question so often
asked, To what command do you be-
long?" drew forth an answer that
filed her with excitement. She felt
her heart begin TO beat madly and her
lin lbs yielding to a sudden excitement.
"Your captain! What is his name ?"
Richard Somers, miss!" How
strangely thrilling sounded the name
that morning!. 1t was the first time
she had heard il spoken since it's bear
or had said among the pickering shad-
owS OF her room: 'If TO carry in mem
DRY the living record of one face will
help you, take mine, and with it, right
or wrong, the love of Richard Somers."
The scene, never dimmed in all the
months that had passed, stood forth
again, ilumined IKE some strong pic
ture under the swift ms ic of the light
ning. The wounded man saw in her
face the glow of it's reflection. Tri-
umph shone IN her eloquent eyes, a
sudden agitation locked the soft white
hands.
DO you know him. miss?"
II? Yes, yes! Is he WELLS he safe ?"
The man read more than she suspected,
and turned his eyes away embarrassed.
lie was singularlv helpless from his
wounds, and she had his face at her
mercy. Her woman's instinct dis
ccrned his thought; her lips moved
without sonnd, but her soul was n the
appealing look riveted upon him
Il think-not," he said, reluctantly.
at last. In fact. l know that he's
wounded"
"Dead!-you mean!" she gasped in
the struggle to conceal her anguish.
NO, miss--not exactly that; but bad
~ wounded-very badly. am afraid"
Where is he?" She made no effort
then TO conceal the truth. She was on
her knees, her eyes close to his. IN
Gods name, my friend, tell me-tell
me all! Can't you see2 can't you ee?'
She covered her face, unable TO con-
tinue.
II can only tell you what know,
miss. He was not dead when saw him
last. Our guns we're in the line when
the charge came. The line was broken
at both TANKS, and the yelling confed-
crates we're swarn!ng about us. Every
horse we had was down, when word
came for US to look out for ourselves.
and back we went TO escape capture
what was left of us. Well, miss. some
body said then that No. had been
left loaded-double-sh otted with can
istsr; the man az the lanyard had fall
en- dead just as he lifted his hand 10
pull. And so the gun stood. ready TO
be turned upon as. Then Capt. Somers
halted and looked about for some one
to send back; but | think. miss, he
must have seen that the chance was
desperate. 1t was only an instant. and
he wouidn't order any man to go; he
rushed forward over the so yards,
reached the gun and seized the cord.
He was my capt ain, and couldn't leave
him there, you know, SO had followed
him, too. Then up in front an army Of
gray seemed to rise S from the ground
and they fred a voliey as he pulled on
the lanyard. | threw myself on my
face and escaped. When I looked up
the crowd ahead was disordered and
torn, but still coming on; and the cap.
tain lay by his gfh. l crawled over
and laid my hand upon him.
Tom he said. cool as am right
now. I'm gone, but if you get out take
the papers in my pocket and my watch
10 my mother!' took them al he told
me. He tainted, l think. and l was
afraid he was dead, but he breathed
again. And then, miss-I hsdnt tried
1t since was boy-he was lying upon
his face, and rolling over, ! lay upon
him, back 10 back, locking my arms
through his. Turning over suddenly
had him on me a dead weight, and then
somehow, I got up. The whole thing
was not minute long. The confed'
crates gave me = cheer instead of vol.
ley til the boys rushed back 10 meet us
i got it in both legs then and this shout
der, and down we went. The boys took
him and left me, which was right; for
four men had died there o save him
and ! looked like the fifth" Frsnces
was kneelng by the wounded man
when he finished, stroking his cheek
and brow, her frame trembling.
"Oh bravai hravsin che cr,ed "Gof