The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-05-09

u
horse?" The negro shook his head
''No horse can cross whar 1. gointer
60" He led away briskly into the
Chickahominy swamp, and when
Richard Somers found the stars again
he was within the dimes of his enc
my with the Richmond lights in
sight. Not until then did he remem-
Der that he had no knowledge of Ray
mond Holbin's whereabouts. He
stopped, amazed that he had failed in
this vital matter.
'Do you know Mr.. Holbin in Rich
mond," he asked of the negro, "Mr.
Raymond Holbin?''
Eyes, sab, course I know him. We
all b'longs to es ma"
der! Whose is that?''
Oats his house, sab, reck'n. Don't
nobody come out but him, to see es lit
tie gal"
His girl! Her name-what is her
name?'
'Calls 'er Chicky most generally.
| Sometimes he called 'er Nanon." Som
ers stopped then and stood with his
face toward the stars in breathless
reverie a few moments.
my boy he said, you saw the
| woman who was shot?"
Yes, sab"
She is dying; that is her child and
she does not know it. Here is all the
money 1 have with me; it is yours if
you will go back with all your might
and tell her about the child. Do this,
my boy, and God will bless you
How you gointer get back, mars
ter?'
THAT doesn't matter!-go! go! Here
is your money-be, quick now!"
Bring it along wild you, marster.'
The negro vanished as a shadow with
in a shadow.
And now, Louise said the soldier,
as he plunged on into the city, God is
comforting you!"
So far as the chance of detection
was concerned, Richard Somers was as
safe on the streets of Richmond that
night as in his own camp; but he re-
allied that perhaps he had a difficult
task before him to find Raymond Hol-
bin. And if he found him, what then :?
The city was in a turmoil. Excited
men and women crowded the streets
and wounded soldiers were on every
side. There was to be little sleep that
night in Richmond or in the next five
to come, for the fate of the city hung
in the balance during the seven days
battle. Somers carried off his novel
experience boldly, and, passing into
the Spotswood hotel, he sought a direc-
tory. His search for Holbin's name
was at once successful, and, taking a
note of the address, he went forth and
prepared himself for the final trial.
His safety lay in the character of the
service he was rendering to the woman
to whom Holbin owed much. At least
he argued so. How little he knew the
depths of villainy he was about to
probe!
y policeman directed him to the ad-
dress secured, and he found himself
before spacious and pretentious man
sion of the older style. There were
lights in front and he hesitated,
prompted by some intuition. If he
could get to the rear, he imagined.
and question a servant, the risk would
be less. There seemed to be a garden
and wing, and upon side street he
found an entrance through an iron
gate, which stood ajar. Entering and
passing a horse tied in the shrubbery,
he approached the wing-room without
connecting the place with any impress
sion Of memory; but suddenly, as he
neared the closed door, the FLASHING of
fOunt ain smote his ear, and the expe-
rience of memorable night rose to
mind. The iron gate, the gravel walk,
the shrubbery and the. wing-room! All
were there; and above all the low mu-
sic of the fountain. Then, swift as a
fash of lightning, rose his promise. He
was pledged not to enter. But as he
stood, his mind confused and without
power to measure the significance of
the new facts, the door opened and a
from the iron lamp swinging overhead
fell full upon her. He saw that her
face was womanly, sad, and beautiful,
| face hallowed by the sufferings of
Others like unto those he had seen so
often in the convent and hospital. A
vague half memory of it arose in his
mind. He lifted his hat ins tinctively as
she paused in surprise.
Il fear you have made a mistake,''
she said, gently. Whom do you seek o.
At the sound of her voice he uttered
low cry; and then
'Frances!'
At the same instant she recognized
him and started forward; but, check
ing the impulse, she drew back,
stunned and distressed.
God has arranged it for u.s." he said,
a glad note in his voice. II have found
you without seeking; I have looked
into your face without knowing-why
what is it?" The girl had drawn be-
You'd the reach of the arms stretched
out towards her and was sadly shak-
ing her head.
What does it mean?" she said, in
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