Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-08-01

had secured three weeks leave to go
south upon urgent business, but this
did not alter his liability. What passed
through the mind of this man as he sat
in his room that night may be imag
ined. 1t may be assumed that he
thought of Louise, who with bogus dis
patches in her saddle pockets and false
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-
ing, had sought him there, a mute
question upon her pale face, and he
had roughly, fiercely ordered her
away. For, let justice be done him, he
had this time in his weakness executed
the dictates of 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 s 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 m~~ut so much
for him. Arrayed in the worn uniform
OF a 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 communica ton
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 a n an
swer to the soldiers letter.
"Yes'm, he's in es room," he said.
The light in her sons room shone
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 glided 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 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
drew his sword instantly and con-
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 youI VOICE. nay lhoHu hololh'
came with a message for you. Louise
is dying in my camp; l 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, then!"
"She is dying!" said Somers, shocked
and sickened at the matter-of-fa