Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-28

attention, and he recognized in Dela1
ware address beneath the home of
Richard Somers. lie remembered then
the dead soldiers description of the
battle in which he was wounded, and
guessed that the packet contained the
papers given to him to deliver. Holbin
would hardly have troubled himself to
wade through score offarewell pages
from soldier to his mother, and would
have promptly destroyed the whols
collection, but that the remaining ems
velope. addressed to Richard Somers,
lay before him, and upon it his eye
caught The Brookin crest.
"This is very different" he said to
himself with interest. Let Us see
what Frances has to say to the fellow.
He broke the seal and read:
81 send you back, well and free, the
man who saved your life; l found him
grievously wounded--a prisoner 1t is all
that l have been able TO do in return for
your kindness to me, stranger and for
the wound You received in my house. Think
me not indicate when l say that the
sweetest memory my heart carries Is III
the memory of your face beneath the
match that night and of the words
Frances, my wife, which you have en-
grayed in your locket, and over which I.
have placed message to you. Forgive me:
it can never matter much, for sea of blood
rolls between Good night. God ba
with you till we meet-in Heaven.
FRANCES"
Holbin sat gazing blankly upon the
lines. His head was in whirl.
"Her husband! her husbands
Pshaw!" he exclaimed with an uneasy
laugh, springing to his feet and begin-
ming to walk the floor this comes OF
the damnable work out youder to-day;
my nerves are simply unstrung." HeI
took bottle from his dresser, poureG
out a stiff drink, and tossed it off with
| one gulp. Then he went back to his
table and picking up the letter, read
aloud: wound received in my house,
your face beneath the lighted
match As he stood thus the letter
slipped from his hand. Louise" he
whispered, 1.-The man whom Louise
shot!' Not in all the vicssitudes of,
his wild career had Holbin receivedi
such shock of surprise. His minds
dazed and bewildered. could not ara
range deduction beyond the discov-
cry that Richard Somers was the mans
around whom so much of mystery hadN
gathered, and that Frances referred to
him in the tender word husband" He
laid his hand upon the bell-cord and
hesitated; then his wicked smile came
back again as he pulled it.
Tell your mistress | shall be glad if
she will favor me with her presence
here" he said to William. When, a
few minutes later. Mrs. Broolln came
| ina Lo I, F.,
e What is it, Raymond" she asked.
t He reused himself and spoke rapidly.
!. Frances got her wounded soldier a
pass through our lines. and t. please
her | carried him to the front. After
he left me l found these papers in the
: buggy where he had dropped them.
The fellows captain is Richard
q Somers."
b Richard Somers!"
: And now, madam, read the note
t from Frances to him and let me con-
d graduate you upon"
' She read it rapidly, and when her
amazed face was lifted he added:
Your son-in-law."
81 do not understand! What does
it mean?"
. Answer that question for me. moth
a er; my head has ceased to be of any
4 assistance. Undoubtedly, however, the
- woman who you lead me to believe gave
:, you her promise to marry me some day
=. Is already in point of law Richard
: Somer's wife and has forfeited her
"a right to any part of her fathers es-
:, tate. Madam, fortune favors the bold !;
:. ! congratulate you'll" His manner be.
- trayed an intense excitement and bit.
- terness.
:, Wait, wait!" said the woman, qui.
If city, her eyes riveted upon the letter.
i st seems that he was her husband
n that night. Was not that night prior
n to the signing of the will?"
m Yes, the night before The son
"a looking upon his mothers face, could
ID find no evidence of satisfaction there
,e 1t was ghastly. why, what is il
% now?"
in "A stronger will and clearer head
n than we imagined has been at war with
at us. l do not know the law, but they
os were trying to defeat the will in ad
th vance. 1t does defeat it in some ways
IL or our enemies would not have taken
ly the risk. If Frances were really mar
" ried before the will was signed, she
he cannot comply with its requirements
i'd and the law will not demand an impos
as sibility."
d. Welt" He bent forward, his voice
i'd reduced to whisper.
i'd 1--WE have lost, you and I. Excep
n for my pittance, we shall be beggar
IT, upon the day that Frances comes O
IS age; and that day is near at hand
nd A long silence followed, and then tn
d. eyes of mother and son met.
wv ''Do you not share alike if the viii
he fails?"
in mo. The intention of my husband
in will be operative; only the conditio,
lis fails There is no hope that way" Hi
sr- mother looked from him aad spok
sw slowly.
Ia rs there no remedy?" he asked.