The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13
!: The End Of Santa Claus

trembling fingers, fearing that It might
contain news Of her brothers capture. and
had read il with eyes so dim with
happy tears that she could hardly de-
cipher the words. 1t was full confess
sion Of guilt by the witness whose evil
dence had led To her brothers conviction.
He had escaped across the Canadian bor-
der, and now that he was assured Of his
own safety he attempted to make some
reparation for his Infamous conduct by
ccnfessing the truth. After advancing
proofs which established Mackenzie's In
nocence beyond the possibility of doubt. he
concluded by urging her to see the general
in command at once in order to get the
sentence OF the court-martial revoked, as
otherwise her brother might be summarily
executed ii captured by the Federals.
AYE, that / will she exclaimed. gaily.
I'll saddle Prince and 20 at once"
Then for moment she hesitated. She
had found some excuse to send away
everyone about the house except the chill
dren. who were asleep upstairs. Would
I: be safe to leave them? Well she must
risk it-she must risk everything for
Johns sake. At that very moment Seth
might be connecting some vile scheme to
entrap him Shuddering at the thought,
she hurried to the stable and saddied
Prince, fine black horse, swift and
strong and sure-footed, and devoted TO his
little mistress.
Prince" she said, fondly stroking his vel
vet muZzle she led him out we must
get to the camp and back before John
comes and bring him word that he's quite
safe and needn't sail for England or hide
away any more. We shall have a merry
Christmas after all, Prince, and ! thought
today we should never be merry again
She left him for a moment and ran up
stairs to brush with her soft lips the
checks of the little sleepers A lump rose
in her throat as she glanced at their
stockings hanging at the foot Of the bed
1T was like John to remember that
hax
night" she thought 10 herself. Dear old
! fellow. how kind he is to them. I'm sure
! they'll be quite safe. They're fast asleep,
and they won't wake mp till the morning.
/ and then what surprise will be in store
{ for them"
/ She slipped noiselessly downstairs and
( closed the house door behind her, but she
did not lock II lest John might come dur
ing her absence and be unable to get in.
4 In another moment she was in the saddle
riding at full speed IN the direction of the
camp. The black horse needed neither
whip nor spur. At a WORD ana careSs
/ from his rider he dashed CALAMITY away.
I The hard ground rang with the swift clat-
! tering OF his hoofs, as he swept at a tire
. less gallop along the dark and silent road
1 Elsie's heart beat high with JOY and hope
as she thought Of the happy meeting with
her brother. and the delighted shouts Of
/ the children when they welcomed their
/ father in the morning.
Haiti suddenly cried a voice when she
] had left the house a mile or two behind
I her She refined in, to find herself CON
I fronted by a party OF Federal soldiers
I the first outpost, as she supposed, Of the
! camp.
Just see who II IS, lieutenant" said
] the officer in command.
The lieutenant took lantern from one
I of the men, and, holding 1t above his head,
! gazed with establishment at Elsie's slim,
Z girlish figure. the sweet. pale half-chlld-
! ish face, and the grey eyes that looked
! appealingly into his. 1t was in very
gentle voice that he inquired where she
/ was going. She told him briefly that she
! wised to see the general, and begged To
! be allowed to pass.
! IT'S young lady who is going to see
! the general, sir" he said, turning to the
! older officer.
Very well, let her pass said the cap
! tain, inpatiently. The lieutenant stepped
! back with a smiling salute, and Elsie gal
/ loped thankfully on.
) The captain examined his watch by the
/ light of the lontern- Come. come" he
! said irritably. we must move more quick
| ly. or the fellow will slip through our
| fingers after all.
/ YES. sir" answered the lieutenant me-
! chanically He was still thinking OF the
pretty pale face, and the appealing eyes
/ that had looked into his for moment.
and then vanished into the darkness, Won
! dering who the brave little girl could be
| who was riding along the dark road by
| herself and what she could possibly want
| with the general at that late hour OF the
| night In the meanwhile he was keeping
step with the soldiers who were marching