Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-21

sSdb SloSC DcsiaC iiSi anu OoAblhuSu
in his old confidential, half-appealing
way: Louise, I am ruined, dis
graced man, and ripe for anything
that will take me out of this city"
He paused, but she did not answer or
seem to hear him, and he added:
my downfall began when / was un-
true to myself-to you. 1 have never
had moments good luck since;
everything has gone wrong with me-"
Still she did not answer him, but her
bosom heaved once or twice, and q
strange look came into the white face
she turned towards him. 81 have now
no chance on earth except chance
to play for even and quit the country.
Louise, if I succeed will you go back
with me into the old sweet life?
will be true to you; I will right all
| of your wrongs-and 1 will be fa-
ther indeed to your child. Let us go,
Louise, out of this wild, heartless
country back across the ocean to the
little English home, back to our flow
ers, back to the old life" He took
| her hand. and this time she did not
withdraw it.
my child" she said, almost in
audibly, her face lowered and her
bosom rising and falling rapidly.
"That will be all right-all right.
/ swear to you she is well and has
not forgotten you. She never fails
to ask for you, and at night to say
her little prayer" A cry burst from
the wretched woman
"My baby! My baby!" She sank
her face in her hands, then sprang
to her feet. You deceived me-" she
said, frantically. beginning to walk
, the floor, 81 cannot cannot believe
you
. 81 have no cause to deceive you,
! Louise-none." He spoke very ten
derby; land l would not if l could
, now. This uniform, these shoulders
straps, mean nothing in my case but
: disgrace. l am a stay-at-home. The
, billiards of my class at West Point
are brigadier generals in the field;
! I am uniformed clerk
"The woman-?" Louise could not
conclude her question.
y "She will not assent" he said, saw
t agely; and then quickly, lest nat
e ural inference should array her.
e against It'll nave pun POSSiy
d made myself so obnoxious to her that
r she would rather be a pauper than
: share a fortune with me. She has
g vet time to decide, for she is not
t, 81; but l know her decision in adj
J. vance"
d y "And then?"
n "Then life with you, Louise, our
e. child's happiness provided for. i do
IA not count upon that fortune; the
G. slaves will be free and all values up
lie set; land will not be worth much in
ID this state" Louise came close to him
y. and laid her hand upon his shoulder.
i IF / could only trust YOU she
is said sadly, "all might yet be well, for
err / have way"
,e What do you mean?" She hesi-
l. tated and, leaning over, whispered a
IS sentence in his ear. He lifted his face
ne quickly.
is "How much?"
o. "Our own price"
nd ''Our own price,"
or 'sAnd revenge, Raymond, revenge fol
you"
,r- Revenge?-yes-well said. No prizes
no could be complete without that. AnG
al what a revenge! The assassin stabs
DIS his foe and is infamous; the man who
lie slays his country's foe is hero
bo Louise, you have made me happy, ant
,r. YOU little know how chance has ia
ed vored you. l am connected with tn
pb war department - l have friend
I'd around me; and, better, I have m,
to facts in hand
th 'sYou were planning then, too"
To- 81 did not know. what might arts.
or. and / was determined to be ready;
G- was tired of doing the work while eth
to ers reaped the benefit. But now come
de- the greatest difficuity-and that r,
ew minds me. How did you get he,
ng through the lines?"
he ..You remember the little farm i
to which l had only life interest, til
nrt only thing we could not sell? I We
warned that it would soon be with
the southern lines and was sent thel
!, uu to wait. Jackson's army passed owe
Jay it, and came on to Richmond and d
An liyered my messages" Holbin was a
founded.
eiS who do you know here?"
'nu She shook her head ''Not hums
ned -: Lss;sa ,..,,saIs n,oa.a :,
led
papers in certain receptacle to whit
had / had been directed. If there is an a
de- swer l shall find it in the same pla.
uld at an appointed time" Holbin walk'
as the floor in great excitement.
do ITO be Continued)
She