The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-05-03
CHAPTER XIV.

packet Of papers taken by him from
the murdered man with the official
order for which he had committed the
crime. The order read; pass the
bearer, Thomas Riley, paroled prison
or, through the lines" at will not
DO Louise much good, anyway" he
said. "eyen were disposed to give it
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. He remembered then
the dead soldiers description. of this
cattle 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 soldier to his mother. and would
Lave promptly destroyed the whole
collection. but that the remaining en-
velope, addressed TO Richard Somers,
Lag before him, and upon it his eye
caught the Brookn crest
This is very different" he said to
AilhSSll With lultIeSl. Leu us sec
what Frances has to say to the fellow"
He broke the seal and read:
81 send you back, well and free, the
man who saved your life | found him
grevously woundeG-d prisoner. 1t is all
that have been able to do in return for
your kindness to me, a stranger, and for
the wound you received in my house Think
me not indicate 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
Frances, my wife, which you have en-
graved in your locket, and over which l
have placed message to YOU Forgive me;
it can never matter much, for a sea of blood
rolls between us. Good night God be
with you till we meet-in Heaven.
FRANCES"
Holbin sat gazing blankly upon the
lines. His head was in whirl.
'Her husband! her husband!
Pshaw!" 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 stiff drink, and tossed it off with
one gulp. 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 vicissitudes Of
his wild career had Holbin received
such shock of surprise. His mind,
dazed and bewildered, could not ar
range deduction beyond the discov-
cry that Richard Somers was the man
around whom so much of mystery had
gathered, and that Frances referred to
him in the tender word husband" He
laid his hand upon the bell-cord and
hesitated; then his wicked smile came
back again as pulled it.
Tell your mistress | shall be glad if
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 it, 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-
graduate Won upon-"
She read it rapidly. and when hel
amazed face was lifted he added:
Your son-in-law."
~ DO not understand! What does
IT mean?"
Answer that question for me. moth.
er; my head has ceased to be of any
assistance. Undoubtedly, however, the
woman who you lead me to believe gave
you her promise to marry me some day
ia already in point of law Richard
Somer's wife and has forfeited heI
right to any part Of her fathers ,es
tate. Madam, fortune favors the bold
co graduate yCu.' His manner be
trayed an intense excitement and bit
terness.
wait, watt" said the woman. oui
city, her eyes riveted upon the letter
III seems that he was her HUSBAND
that night. Was not that night priol
10 the signing of the wi,l?"
Eyes, the night before" The son
looking upon his mothers face, coulc
ind no evidence Of satisfaction there
II was ghastly. why, what is i
now?"
A stronger will and clearer hea,
than we imagined has been at war witt
us. / do not know the law. but the,
we're trying to defeat the will in ad
vance. 1t does defeat il in some way
or our enemies would not have takel
"'e risk. II Frances were really mar
Fied before the will was signed, sn
cannot comply with its requirements
and the law will not demand an impos
Hbility."
Welt" He bent forward, his yoic
reduced to a whisper.
We have lost, you and l. Excep
Tor my pittance, we shall be beggar
upon the day that Frances comes o
age; and that day is near at hand"