The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-05-10

20 him! lie will come-my childs
life-save the child for-her mothers
sake! Let me see herl'
The soldier had faced every danger
of the battlefield without a tremor.
In the presence of this woman's awful
agony his heart failed him. "The lost
Observation-Disclosures! Rich
mond is yours-Lee's army-de-
stroyed!" He stood up then, and was
cool his eyes reading her pale face
as an open book. He turned to the
door
Surgeon" he said, "eome to this
poor girl Louise, will return" He
rode TO headquarters and laid before
his chief all the facts. A long dis
cussion followed.
at is a desperate venture, general,
and if | fail-death! | know that.
But If | succeed, il may mean life
for many a man in this army. Still,
let me be frank; l shall go not for
that alone"
"The decision is with you, colonel.
My advice is against your plan. And
yeti that information opened the
road to Richmond-it would mean
Gen. Somers."
81 have your permssion?" There
was no answer. 81 shall start in 30
minutes, them said Somers. The
general gave his hand in silence and
turned away.
avoid capture" he said, sadly.
Day by day famlliar faces were pass
ing from him.
Il shall not be captured. If it
comes, it will be a soldiers DEATH"
was the reply. He reentered The pres
ence of Louise clad in the uniform of
a confederate captain. The old ne
gress was with her, and hat in hand
young man, her son, was delivering
a message to her. Somers caught
enough of the words to gather that
he came from Richmond.
"How did you pass through the
lines?" he asked, abruptly. The ne
gro grinned and was silent. Can you
guide me through-quick, man,
speak" The negro looked at the
uniform.
"Yes, sah But it's err long ways
now-an' through the swamp, too"
Louise, for your sake and the
child's l shall try. If | return no
more-it will be because I-have
| failed!"
"Come-to me, Richard-kneel. And
now, Goddess you. IT'S a sinful
woman's prayer-but lie will hear
even me. murderess!"
"Murderess! Louise!"
81 tried to kill him-tried to end
It! l fired to kill in my despair-it
was the wrong man. | saw dimly-
through the blinds-another woman's
room-under the light of a match
only-and | killed him-an innocent
mani"
'Louise-in Richmond-through the
blinds-a year ago."
"Ah, you heard of it?"
81 was the man."
at cannot be-"
at was wing-room. She was
kneeling before me, and the bullet
struck here' He drew aside his hair
and rested his finger upon white
spot. "Brodnar-"
God is comforting me-" she whis-
psred. THE rest viii come" Tears
streamed down her cheeks from her
closed lids. Somers chose the mo-
ment to leave her.
Keep her alive until morning" he
said. to the surgeon. 81 will come
then--or not at ALL" And then to
the negro; "Now, my boy, 500 in
gold if you guide me safely into
Richmond and back. VIII yon need a
horse?" The negro shook his head.
mo horse can cross whar gointer
GO" He led away briskly into the
Chickahominy swamp, and when
Richard Somers found the stars again
he was within the lines 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 Holbins 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?"
Yes, sab, course I know him. We
all b'longs to es ma"
'What! Then that house back yon-
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
MN M.M2