Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-29

wealth. The cause for hesitancy lay
in the possibility of detention and dis
coyery; for although the papers which
be so highly valued were, as he sup
posed, unintelligible to any mind other
than his own, he was a confederate Of
fcer and desertion meant death. He
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
med. 1t may be assumed that he
thought of Louise, who with bogus dis
patches in her saddle pockets and false
~ informed had gone TO her death upon
that distant road. Holbin had actually
ridden nearly 10 the point with her;
had ridden until warned. He had
waited when she left him until the
fatal volley was fred and then. terri
fed, fed home and took refuge in his
room. His mother, cool and unfinch-
ing, had sought him there, mute
question upon her pale face, and he
had roughly, fercely 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 as 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 meant so much
/ for him. Arrayed in the worn uniform
! of federal prisoner, his papers and
pass safe within his heastpocket. 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 communication
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 10 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 a once to her sons room. She
net william, who was bringing an an
suer to the soldiers letter.
-Ies'm, he's in es room he said.
The light in her sons room shone
through the transom. There was nc
time to explain to Raymond, Know
e., + ;,1n =
and remembering his Disguise, which
he might forget il there was an alarm
below, she noiselessly turned the Ike,
I'm 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 thu
apartment into the garden opened anC
husband and wife entered. With or,
OF amazement he rushed into the room
drawing his sword as he entered.
"Who are you, sir2-why are you il
this room?" he asked, angrily. Somer
drew his sword instantly and con
fronted him. Holbin had paused an'
was staring wildly.
Richard Somers!"
"Yes!" Somers gently put aside th
slender form which instantly inter
posed between him and the man he ha,
sought. His eyes scanned the familis
uniform Of his old enemy in doubt.
Speak out sir.'
spare your voice, Raymond Holbir
] came with a message for You, Louis
is dying in my camp; | was unable t
resist her prayer she impiores you I
go TO her to right her wrongs, for he
child's sake, Go, IL you are man, an
can; let this marriage take place; d
something for the miserable woms
whom you have so deceived"
"She was not killed, then!"
"Shc is dying!" said Somers, shocke
and sickened Ut tho mstter-ot-tso