Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-01

noWy God-AbltsS you. 'I1s 8 sanfu woman's prayer--but He will hear even me, q murderess!'
 s'Murderess! Louise!"
 ST tried to kill him--tried to enc it! I fred to kill in my despair-i was the wrong man! I saw dimIy- through the blinds another woman' room-under the light of q matcl only--and I killed him-an innocent man!''
 ''Louise-in Richmond-through th, blinds-a year ago?"
 'sAh, you heard of it?"
 "I was the man" /
 -'It cannot bel"
 s'It was a wing+room. She wa. ISneeling before me, and the bulle- struck here!" He drew aside his hail and rested his finger upon a whit. spot. s'Brodnar-''
 God is comforting me-" she whis pered. ''The rest will come" Tear. streamed down her cheeks from hel closed lids. Soners chose the mo mcnt to leave her.
 Keep her alive until morning." Ii. said, to the surgeon. T will come then--or not at all.' And then t the negro: Now. my boy, $1oo 1T Richmond and back. Will yon need { horse?" The negro shook his head.
 ..No horse can cross whar gointe, go." He led away briskly into ths Chickahominy swamp, and whe1 Richard Somers found the stars agai1 he was within the lines of his enc any with the Richmond lights il sight. Not until then did he remem Der that he had no knowledge of Ray 1nond Holbin's whereabouts. H. stopped, amazed that he had failed il this vital matter.
 Do you know MT. Holbin in Rich mond," he asked of the negro, "Mr Raymond Holbin?"
 Yes, sah, course I know him. W, all b'longs to es ma."
 What! Then that house back yon der! Whose is that?'
 Oats his house, sah, I reck'n. Don nobody come out but him, to see es lit tie gal.'
 \ His grill Her name--what is he, name?"
 ''Calls Ter Chicky moat generally Sometimes he called Ter Nanon." Som CTS stopped then and stood with hi face toward the stars in breathles reverie few moments.
 My boy" he said, you saw tn woman who was shot?"
 "Yes, sah."
 s.'She is dying; that is her child ant she does not know it. Here is all tn money have with me; it is yours i you will go back with all your nigh and tell her about the child. Do this my boy, and God will bless you.' \ How you gointer get hack, mars ter?"
 That doesn't go! Her, is your money be quick now!''
 Bring it along wid you, marster.' The negro vanished as shadow with in a shadow.
 And now, Louise,' said the soldier as he plunged on into the city, "God i comforting you!"
 So far as the chance of detection was concerned, Richard Somers was 2. safe on the streets of Richmond tha night as in his own camp; but he re aized that perhaps he had a difficult task before him to find Raymond Hol bin. And if he found him, what then
 The city was in turmoil. Excited men and women crowded the street, and wounded soldiers were on every side. There was to be little sleep thai night in Richmond or in the next five to come, for the fate of the city hung in tile balance during the seven days battle. Somers carried off his nove experience boldly, and, passing into the Spotswood hotel, he sought a direc tory. His search for Holbin's nami was at once successful, and, taking { note of the address, he went forth anc prepared himself for the final trial His safety lay in the character of tho service he was rendering to the woman to whom Holbin owed much. At least he argued so. How little he knew ths depths of villainy he was about te probe!
 A policeman directed him to the ad dress secured, and he. found himself before spacious and pretentious man sion of the older style. There were lights in front and he hesitated prompted by some intuition. If he could get to the rear, he imagined and question a servant, the risk would be less. There seemed to be a garder and a wing, and upon a side street he found an entrance through an iron gate, which stood ajar. Entering and passing a horse tied in the Shrubbery he approached the wing-room without connecting the place with any impress sion of memory; but suddenly, as he heared the closed door, the plashing o1 a fountain smote his ear, and the expe' rience of memorable night rose tc mind. The iron gate, the gravel walk the shrubbery and the wing-roomi Al were there; and above all the low mu sic of the, fountain. Then, swift as g flash of lightning, rose his promise. He was pledged not to enter. But as he stood, his mind confused and without power to measure the significance ot the new facts, the door opened and . young woman stepped out. The light from the iron lamp swinging overhead fell full upon her. He saw that her face was woTnanly, sad, and beautiful a face hallowed by the sufferings oi others like unto those he had seen SC often in the convent and hospital. A vague half memory of it arose in his mind. He lifted his hat instinctively as she paused in surprise. | . .fc4a a1,s