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

that YOU were not to be informed Of
this agreement until she chose to tell
YOU: she will not place herself in
position to be harassed or worried by
lover now; her whole thought is on
tie wounded soldiers" She saw the
sudden rush of blood to her sons face,
and then the pallor return. groan
burst from him, and he turned away;
and therein was apparent the vast diff
ference in the natures of mother and
son; helplessness, weakness and sur
render was possible with the man; but
with the woman, though storms of ad-
versity might overwhelm her and
clouds darken her path. nothing could
long daunt her fierce. relentless sirit.
For her there was no such thing as
complete despair. Her time had come
in this battle which she was fighting
against ODDS: she approached her
despairing ally and laid her hand upon
his shoulder.
Raymond" she said, what would
you sacrifice to clear the way for mar
riage with Frances?"
He saw the calm. confident look in
her face. and a breath of hope stirred
his fainting manhood.
Anything -everything!'' he said, at
length.
"If you will yield implicit obedience
to me-if you will be guided-I shall
clear the way for you. Will your"
YES"
Human life or lives must not be
regarded. We have no friends; we
are surrounded by enemies: we must
put aside conscience and sentiment to
win we must hesitate nowhere. Do
you understand? And do you con-
sent?''
II shall leave it al to you, moth
er. What is first to be rdone?"
Meet Louise here at six o'clock
| and take your cue from me. She
must be disarmed of suspicion"
From the moment of his surrender
Raymond Holbin was ripe for any.
thing his mother might suggest. II
was her mind that conceived the plar
to convince Louise that she woulc
be permitted to ride through the con
federate picket line; that, under al
arrangement secured by Raymond
through friends in the war depart
ment. only pretense of firing upoI
her would be made. 1t was a piaI
that would have deceived no othe
than woman.
That six o'clock tea was the tri
umph of brilliant dipiomatist's ca
reer Louise was forgiven, caressed
received back as a member of tn
family, her claims and wrongs ac
lSnowledged, and full PREPARATION
agreed upon. No one could have eS
called Mr.. Rrookin il; the : tender
ness with which she treated the no,
: happy woman. Sheyblamed Raymon
Openly for having concealed the trut
: from her.
: 81 knew nothing of the unfair &C
vantage he took of you-nor of tn
child" she said to Louise. "My hus
bands niece! 1t was inoleed crime
And yet see now that l largely has
been to blame. threatened him; III
heart was set upon another plan. M
dear child. if loving care and SYN
:, pathy can compensate in part fc
what you have suffered, they sha
e be yours. But although the circun
stances seem to demand that ma
riage should at once be solemnize
!, the ceremony must not be performe
in Richmond. In all likelihood tn
city wiz be your home, and yc
9 should come here as Raymond's wifi
:. Fortunately, he has given no one hel
9 reason to suppose he is single, ar
: it will be very easy at the right tin
r to have you and the little girl arriv
i I assure you, my daughter, that 20,
reception will leave no room for doul
q as to your future position
l. Louise sat looking into the henev
q lent face of the older woman, wit
J. fearful eyes, herr heart overflow,
s. with gratitude.
a "My child, madam" she faltere
'4Where is she?'
]. "Near the city, but just now b
n yond the lines. You will be direct
le how to reach her when you g
through; or better, Raymond W
u. join you, and together you will fl
:; her"
N Louise went back to the hotel