Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-04-04

patches IN her sadie pockets and faiSe-
ly informed had gone to her death upon
that distant road. Holbin had actually
ridden nearly to the point with her;
had ridden until warned. He had
waited when she left him until the
fatal volley was fired, and then, terri
fed, fled home and took refuge in his
room. His mother. cool and unflinch-
question upon her pale face, and he
had roughly, fercely ordered her
away. For, let justice be done him, he
had this time in his weakness executed
the dictates of a stronger will than his
own. He had not intended to be fair
with Louise; he had intended to desert
her again. and leave her to find her way
out of Richmond as best she might, and
he did not then intend to return; but
the murder was not part of his plan.
He was unnerved and unfit for the
enterprise which now meant SO much
for him. Arrayed in the worn uniform
of federal prisoner his papers and
pass safe within his beast-pocket, his
horse concealed in the garden, Ray
mond had been on the point of ventur-
ing forth when sergeant reached the
house with an official communications
requiring an answer. The soldier
stood at the front door, and with
prompt decision the woman who left
the rear window hurried to that point,
"Quick!". she said; run around to
the side gate and come to the wing
room. A Yankee spy is there. Kill
him If he attempts to escape. A thou
sand dollars if you kill or capture him.
The soldier ran, cooking his gun as he
entered the side gate. The mother
went at once to her sons room. She
met William, who was bringing an an
swer to the soldiers letter.
"Yes'm. he's in es ROOM" he said.
The light in her sons room shons
through the transom. There was no
time to explain to Raymond. Know
ing his violent and excitable nature, !
and remembering his disguise, which
he might forget if there was an alarm
below. she noiselessly turned the key
in his door and gIided on to her room.
But Raymond had left his room imme-
diately after handing William the note,
and was already approaching Frances
room below. AS he passed the hall en-
trance, the door leading from the
apartment into the garden opened and
husband and wife entered. With a cry
of amazement he rushed into the room,
drawing his sword as he entered.
"Who are you, sir?-why are you in
this room?" he asked, angrily. Somers
r,
fronted him. Holbin had paused and
was staring wildly.
Richard somers!"
"Yes!" Somers gently put aside the
| slender form which instantly inter
| posed between him and the man he had
sought. His eyes scanned the familiar
| uniform of his old enemy in doubt.
Speak out, sir!"
Spare your voice. Raymond Holbin.
came with a message for you. Louise
is dying in my camp; | was unable to
resist her prayer. She implores you to
go to her to right her wrongs, for her
| child's sake. Go. If you are man. and.
can; let this marriage take place; do
something for the miserable woman
whom you have SO deceived"
''She was not killed, them"
''She is dying." said Somers, shocked
and sickened at the matter-of-fact
question. did you suppose that she
was dead?"
Eyes. She insisted upon trying to
run the gantiet." A light dawned
upon Somers. A cry of horror escaped
him, and all the old enmity for the man
came rushing over him again.
you encouraged her! You knew she
was going to her death! You sent her
under false promise-her statement!
Frances, Frances, out of this roomi
GOD has sent me to avenge Louise.
Madman, murderer, We settle many
debts to-day Blind, almost, with his
rage. Somers rushed upon mis- enemy.
Their swords clashed as, facing each
other, the two men circled about the
| room. Then Holbin's sword went
down. With incredible quickness he
avoided the thrust which was almost a
part of the disarming, blow, rushed to
the easement window, leaped into it,
and burst open the blinds. His hand
thrust in his bosom quickly reached
backward; a pistol flashed. At this in
slant the sergeant rushed into the
room. saw the blue uniform escaping
through the window, and the extended
pistol. He leveled his gun and fred.
The man in the window reeled back and
plunged headlong into the room.
1T couldn't be helped. captain" said
the soldier, lowering his weapon. "Once
outside he would have given us long
chase. Did he hit your Well might
he ask the question. Capt. Somers was
deathly pale as he looked upon the body
of his foe.
NO" he said, utterly at a loss TO un-
derstand the situation. Frances, in
the moment of Thea tragedy, reeled
against the wall, sicl ad faint, but the
instinct of a woman l%hose loved one is
in danger instantly rallied her to her
senses. She was the first to realize the
full significance of the soldiers action.
"You have saved our lives" she said,
weakly; "any reward you may claim is