The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-10-31
CHAPTER XIV.

the murdered man with the Official
order for which he had committed the
crime. The order read: "Pass the
bearer. Thomas Riley. paroled prison
er. through the lines" ut will not
do Louise much good. anyway" he
said. seven were I disposed TO give IL
TO her" The name Martha Somers"
upon the sealed packet attracted his
attention, and he recognized In Della
ware address beneath the home Of
Richard Somers. lie remembered then
the dead soldiers description OF the
battle In which he was wounded. and
guessed that the packet contained the
papers given to him TO deliver. Holbin
would hardly have troubled himself TO
wade through a score OF farewell pages
from a soldier to his mot her. and would
have promptly destroyed the whole
collection. but that the remaining en-
velope. addressed TO Richard Somers.
lay before him, and upon IL his eye
caught the Brooklp crest.
"This is very different" he said TO
himself with interest. Let us see
what Frances has TO say TO the fellow"
He broke the seal and read:
~ send you back, well and free. the
man who saved your life; found him
grievously wounded-a prisoner. IL is all
that have been able to do In return for
your kindness TO me. a stranger. aud for
the wound you received In my house. Think
me not indelicate when l say that the
sweetest memory my heart carries is In
the memory OF your face beneath the
match that night and of the words
my xxif xyh IN ve n
eraved In your locket, and over which
have placed a message TO you. Forgive me;
II can never matter much for a sea OF blood
rolls between US. Good night. God be
FRANCES"
Holbin sat gazing blankly upon the
lines. His head was In whirl.
"Her husband! her husband! !!
Pshnw!" he exclaimed with an uneasy
laugh, springing to his feet and begin
ming to walk the floor. "this comes Of
the damnable work out yonder to-day;
my nerves are simply unstrung." He
took bottle from his dresser, poured
out a stiff drink, and tossed It of with
one guip. Then he went back to his
table and, picking up the letter, read
| aloud: "wound received in my house"
your face beneath the lighted
match" AS he stood thus the letter
slipped from his hand. "Louise!" he
whispered. "the man whom Louise
| shot!" Not in all the vicissit udcs Of
his wild career had Holbin received
such a shock OF surprise. His mind.
dazed and bewildercd, could not ar
range a deduction beyond the discov.
cry that Richard Somcrs was the man
| around whom so much of mystery had
gathered. and that Frances referred TO
him in the tender word husband" lie
laid his hand upon the bell-cord and
hesitated: then his wicked smile came
back again as he pulled II.
Tell your mistress I shall be glad u
she will favor me with her presence
here" he said TO William. When. a
few minutes later, Mrs. Brookin came
into the room he failed to hear her.
what is IL, Raymond?" she asked.
He reused himself and spoke rapidly
Frances got her wounded soldier a
pass through our lines, and to please
her ! carried him to the front. After
he left me found these papers in the
buggy where he had dropped them.
The fellows captain is Richard
| Somers."
Richard Somers!"
| "And now. madam. read the note
from Frances to him and let me con
| gratulate you upon"
She read II rapidly. and when hei
amazed face was lifted he added:
| Your son-in-law."
~ do not understand What doe,
IL mean?"
ANSWER that question for me, moth
er; my, head has ceased to he Of any
assistance. Undoubtedly, however, ths
woman who you lend me to believe CAV,
you her promise to marry me some da /,
Is already In point OF law Richard
Somer's wife and has forfeited hei
right to any part Of her fathers es
tate. Madam, fortune fnvors the bold
! congratulate you!" His manner he
trayed an intense excitement and bit
terness.
"Wait. wait!" said the woman, qni
city, her eyes riveted upon the letter
1T seems that he was her husba NJ
that night. Was not that night priol
TO the signing Of the will?"
"Y.s, the night before" The son
looking upon his mothers face, coul,
find no evidence OF satisfaction there
IL was ghastly. "Why. what 10 &
now?"
"a stronger will and IA clearer hea,
than we imagined has been at war " i'll
us. do not know the law, but the,
were trying 10 defeat the will In nd
vance. II does defeat II in some way
or our enemies would not have takel
the risk. II Frances were really mar
ried before the will was signed, sh
cannot comply with its requirements
and the law will not demand an impos
sibility."
"well!" lie bent forward, his ,oic
reduced to a whisper.
I'VE have lost, you and !. Excep
for my plttance, we shall be beggar
upon the day that Frances comes o
age; and that day Is near at hand"
4 long silence followed, and then tn
eyes OF mother and son met.
"Do you not share alike IL the will
fails?"
"No. The intention OF my husban
will be operative; only the condition
falls. There Is no hope that way" I'll
mother looked from him and spok
slowly.
''Is there no remedy?" he asked.
"Yes. II Richard Somers Is not liz
ing when Frances comes OF age, @