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

HOlHtr lOOhGO lIOHl MIN anu spoke
slowly.
as there no remedy?" he asked.
YES. If Richard Somers is not liv-
ing when Frances comes Of age, or
should Frances"
Mother, mother, take care" The
words burst in sudden energy from the
wretched man. Lift a hand to harm
but one hair of her head, and, by the
Mother of God"
Hush! IIush!' she said, quietly.
"You love her; that is enough. She is
safe"
Swear it,"
"Read the other letter." she said,
dsregarding him. 1T is likely that a
man would mention his wife in his last
/ letter to his mother" Raymond
stripped off the envelope and shook
two letters to the table. One, unsealed,
was addressed to Mrs. Martha Somers.
Nothing bur gush," be said, running
his eye hurriedly over the lines. Mrs.
Brookin had picked up the other, which
was addressed to DR.. Brodnar.
eve are getting to the heart of the
/ mystery" she said. Read this one"
/ Raymond read in silence first, and
then, leaning forward excitedly read
aloud:
go to the girl I married a your request
and say death has dissolved the bond.
Break the news to her as gently as pos
Sible, for | have been vain enough to be-
/ hat
pared the way by your parr1anty, ano her
! loneliness ard excess of gratitude accom-
| plished the rest. Let me confess that |
| have been foolish enough to love her and
to dream that some day you would permit
me to return and openly seek her out But
this cursed war has killed my dream, Brod-
mar, and If this letter reaches you, 1t will
De after it has killed your friend also! Go
to her and say that since he met her Rich
ard Somers has loved her as a man loves
but once"
There were other lines dealing with
the friendship between the two men
while in Paris and containing tender
farewell.
1T is now plain to me" he said. The
meddlesome scoundrel Brodnar is the
author of the whole plot!" Mrs. Brook
in folded the letters into their places.
Her hands were without tremor.
Let them keep their secret. To in
form them is to arm them. We will
continue to 5e-their dupes. Richard
Somers may not be living when Fran
ces reaches twenty-0ne; who can tell?
The man who lost those letters has,
suppose, ere this made full report"
The man who lost the letters, moth
er, has reported elsewhere with a bal
let through his heart"
raymond"
"What does it matter? We are kill
ing them in front of our lines every
day. One behind counts for little. He
had a pass; | needed it. l need it now
more than ever" The woman's face
glowed with sudden light.
You are too rash, my boy; take nc
steps before consulting me. In the
meantime these papers have no value
for us. Burn them, burn them now!
But no! give me the letter to Brod-
mar; it may be valuable some day as
evidence that Richard Somers is
dead" One by one Holbin held the
others over lighted matches and saw
them vanish into cinders. His moth.
er placed her hand upon his shoulder
Raymond, you are again planning
to cross the lines"
81 know what l am doing! Do not
seek to influence me-"
What do you meah?"
G'Thara ic, Tina for avn1o Of inv,
nor is there any need, for you already
understand. 1t is sufficient to say
that l am going across the lines fol-
more than one purpose now"
There are all sorts of people il
an army" she said; 81 have seen i
stated that many officers killed il
battle are shot from behind"
THAT is one" he replied, land mel
who serve their country in time o
war are forgiven many things. l an
in possession of that which will -,
cure for me a review of my case ant
restore to me my commission. I hav,
] offered my sword to the confederac,
once; the next time | will offer i
point frst!"
"You have valuable information fo
sale. Is that what you mean? G,
slow upon that line; II you draw you
sword against Virginia openly yol
,. sacrifice all interests here. Better b.
a friend to both sides, and when yo1
come back with proofs that Rchar,
Somers is really dead all may We
!, be well. II she is free at 81 the vii
! is binding, even if it were held tina
=. she has not already sacrificed her in
I terest."
Come what may" he said. pas
i sionately, while live Brodnar sha'
b never see Frances Brookin the wifi
Y in truth Of Richard Somers."
: "Nor while | live" said his mother
:. "there is my hand upon it,"
n keep out of it, mother, keep on
: OF you will regret i'll" said tn
e wretched man.
). "Ungrateful boy! Where is you
: promise? DO you repudiate that
Have you forgotten your danger?"
e NO, but she shall not suffer g
your hands. Leave her to me. An,
4 mother, IL you ever find us dead Il
5 gether In that room downstairs. ha'
4 no thought Of me. The man who h'
neither love nor revenge has notl