Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-27


 hearts of most women carry them.
 And time had helped Frances, for looking back she re-esta blished many vital facts that 1essened the sadness of memory; the man must once have been noble-his deeds of mercy and gentle ness proved that; innately noble he must have been when she met him, for in the face of a great temptation he had kept his promise to his friend, even to the extent of shutting his eyes against the girl whose arms had been about him, whose lips breathed love for him. And somewhere, despite all the trickery, there was still nobility, for silently he had ridden away, faithful to his friend. He had lain under her hands wounded by the pistol shot, and no woman ever hated a helpless, suffer- ing man. As for his deceptions, his plots, some fearful necessity must have compelled him. The other woman? She had been too base for him-she had been at heart a murderess. She it was who had dragged him down. And was he not caring for the child? Frances would not have admitted it to herself had she realized it, but in the depths of that heart she had forgiven Richard Somers. Her heart was big enough to hold him and all his weakness. Was there a loss of something from her na- ture? Or was there gain?
 No message had ever come to her from Somers, no good or evil report. None? Yes, just scrap soon after the war began. From some one, Brodnar, probably, since his name was upon it, she had received a northern paper giv- ing in its war gossip information that Richard Somers had been reinstated in the army and promoted to be captain Df artillery.
 But one day early in the spring o1 1862, when the great federal movemen against Richmond was beginning and when every train was bring ging in bloody harvest, she leaned above a wounded enemy. The question so often asked, "To what command do you be- long?' drew forth an answer that filled her with excitement. She felt her heart begin to beat madly and her limbs yielding to q sudden excitement. "Your captain! What is his name?" "Richard Somers, miss!" How i strangely thrilling sounded the name that morning! It was the first time she had heard it spoken since it's bear CT had said among the flickering shad- ows of her room: If to carry in mem- ory the living record of one face will i help you, take mine. and with it. right or wrong. the love of Richard Somers." Ihe scene, never dimmed in all the months that had passed, stood forth again, illumined like some strong pie ture under the swift magic of the light ming. The wounded man saw in her face the glow of it's reflection. Fri umph shone in her eloquent eyes. q sudden agitation locked the soft white e hands.
 'Do you know him, miss? ?'
 "1? Yes, yes! Is he well-is he safe ?'' 1 The man read more than she suspect d , and turned his eyes away embarrass d. He was singularly helpless from his wounds, and she had his face at her mercy. Her woman's instinct dis ceEned his thought; her lips moved | without sound, but her soul was in i he appealing look riveted upon him.
 ''I think-not,' he said, reluctantly, at last. In fact, l know that he-is | wounded.'
 "Dead!-you mean!" she gasped in the struggle to conceal her anguish. ] No, miss-not exactly that; but bad 1 ly wounded-very badly, l am afraid .''
 "Nhere is he?' She made no effort ! then to conceal the truth. She was on her knees, her eyes close to his. Tn 1 Gods name, my friend, tell me-tell ne all! Can't you see? can't you see?" She covered her face, unable to con- tinue.
 q can only tell you what I know, 1 miss. He was not dead when 1 saw him i last. Our guns were in the line when the charge came. The line was broken at both Hanks, and the yelling confed- crates were swarming about us. Every horse We, had WAS down, when word came for us to look out for ourselves. and back we went to escape capture | what was left of us. Well. miss. some- | body said then that No. had been | left loaded-double-sh with can- | lster; the man at the lanyard had fall en dead just as he lifted his hand to l pull. And so the gun stood, ready to be turned upon us. Then Capt. Somers ! halted and looked about for some one | to send back; but I think. miss, he must have seen that the chance was i desperate. It was only n instant, and he wouldn't order any man to go; he rushed forward over the 50 yarGs. reached the gun and seized the cord. He was my captain, and coulon t leave | him there, you know, SO L had followed : him, too. Then up in front an army of gray seemed to rise as from the ground, i and they fired a volley as he pulled on the lanyard. l threw myself on my face and escaped. When l looked up the crowd ahead was disordered and torn, but still coming on; and the cap tain lay by his gun. I crawled over and laid my hand upon him.
 "'Tom,' he said. cool as I am right now, I'm gone, but if you get out take the papers in my pocket and my watch to my mother!' ] took them as he told
 me. He tainted, I think. and was afraid he was dead, but he breathed
 again. And then, miss-I hadn't tried
 1t since was a boy-he was lying upon
 his face, and rolling over, 1 lay upon | him hack fn hack loclyinr my rrp c