The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-04-19

There is much TO be agreed Upon be-
tween us before | tell YOU that" he
said, after a pause, during which he
narrowly watched her. He took a
seat close beside her and continued
in his old confidential, half-appealing
way: Louise, ! am ruined, a dis
graced man, and ripe for ANYTHING
that VIII take me out of this city"
lie paused but she did not answer or
seem to hear him. and he added;
MY downfall began when | was UNI
true to myself-to you. | have never
hau a moments good luck since:
everything has gone wrong with me-"
Still she did not answer him, but her
bosom heayed once or twice. and a
strange look came into the white face
she turned towards him. 81 have now
no chance on earth except a chance
to play for even and quit the country.
Louise, if | succeed will you go back
with me into the old sweet life? I
will be true to you; | will right all
OF your wrongs--and | will be a ia
Their indeed to your child. Let us go,
Louise, out of this wild, heartless
country back across the ocean to the
little English home, back to our flow
ers, back to the old life" He took
her hand, and this time she did not
withdraw it.
MY child" she said, almost in
audibly, her face lowered and her
bosom rising and falling rapidly.
That will be all r1ght-all right.
| swear to you she is well and has
not forgotten you. She never fails
to ask for you, and at night to say
her little prayer" a cry burst from
he wretched woman.
my baby! My baby!" She sank
her face in her hands. then sprang
to her feet. "You deceived me-" she
said, frantieally,. beginning to walk
the floor, 81 cannot-I cannot believe
you"
Il have no cause to deceive you,
Louise-none." He spoke very ten
derry; land l would not if | could
now. This uniform, these shoulder
straps, mean nothing in my case but
/ disgrace. | am stay-at-home. The
billiards of my class at West Point
are brigadier generals in the field;
| am uniformed clerk"
''The woman-?" Louise could not
conclude her question.
'She will not assent" he said say.
agely; and then quickly, lest a nat
ural inference should array her
against him again. Il have purposely
made myself so obnoxious to her that
she would rather be a pauper than
share a fortune with me. She has
yet time to decide, for she is not
21; but l know her decision in adj
vance,"
And them"
Then life with you. Louise, our
child's happiness provided. for. I do
not count upon that fortune; the
slaves will be free and all values up
set; land will not be worth much in
this state" Louise came close to him
and laid her hand upon his shoulder.
''If / could only trust YOU" she
said, sadly, AL might yet be well, for
have a way"
What do you mean?" She hest
tated and, leaning over, whispered a
sentence in his ear. He lifted his face
quickly.
"How much?"
Sour own price"
sour own price,"
"And revenge, Raymond, revenge for
you"
"Revenge?-yes-well said. No price
could be complete without that. And
what a revenge! The assassin stabs
his foe and is infamous; the man. who
Stays his countrys foe is hero.
Louise, you have made me happy, and
you little know how chance has ia
vored you. l am connected with the
war department - have friends
around me; and better, l have my
facts in hand
You were planning then, too"
81 did not know what might arise,
and | was determined to be ready; |
was tired of doing the work while 9TH
ers reaped the benefit. But now comes
the greatest difficuity-and that re-
minds me. How did you get here
through the lines?"
You remember the little farm in
which l had only a life interest, the
only thing we could not sell? | was
warned that IT would soon be within
the southern lines and was sent there
to wait. Jackson's army passed over
it, and came on to Richmond and de-
livered my messages" Holbin was as
founded.
who do you know here?"
She shook her head. "Not human
being beside yourself. l placed my
papers in a certain receptacle to which
had been directed. If there is an an
swer | shall find il in the same place
at an appointed time" Holbin walked
the floor in great excitement.
"Iknov beth the place and the time,
he said; II took your messages; but
there never would have been any an
swer except for this meeting. alone
can supply the information which il
desired, and l shall not let it &c
through the usual channel. Ii is the
chance of my life. have facts that nc
other human being could have accumu
lated. facts OF vita; importance. My
-,sfrs... z. il.