Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-06-26

bad secured three weeks leave 10 90
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 mag
ined. 1t may be assumed that he
thought of Louise. who with bogus dis
patches in her saddle pockets and false
ly informed had gone 10 her death uDon
that distant road. Holbiu 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 fired. and then. terri
ned, fled home and took refuge i'm his
room. His mother. cool and upfiinch-
ing, had sought him there, a mute
question upon her pale face and he
mad roughly, fiercely ordered her
away. For, let Justice be done him. he
had this time in his weakness executed
the dictates of a 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 10 return: but
the murder was not part OF his plan.
enterprise which now meant so much
for him. Arrayed in the worn uniform
Of federal prisoner. his papers and
pass safe within his beast pocket. his
horse concealed in the garden. Raw
mond had been on the point of ventur-
ing forth when a 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 % that point.
Quick" she said; run around to
the side gate and come TO the wing
room. n Yankee spy is there. Kill
him II he attempts to escape. \ thou
sand dollars if you kill or capture him"
The soldier ran. cooking his gun as he
entered the side gate. The mother
went at once to her sons room She
met William, who was bringing an an
swer 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 no
time to explain to Raymond Know
ing his violent and excitable nature.
and remembering his disguise. which
he might forget if there was an alarm
below. she noiselessly turned the KEY
in his door and glided on TO her room.
But Raymond had left his room imme-
dIately after Sanding William the note.
and was already approaching Frances
room below. As he passed the hall en-
trance, the door leading from the
apartment into the garden opened and
husband and wife entered. With a cry
of amazement he rushed into the room.
drawing his sword as he entered.
who are YOU. sir?-why are YOU in
this room?" he asked. angrily. Somers
drew his sword instantly and con
fronted him. Holbin had paused and
was staring wildly.
Richard Somers!"
Yes Somers gently put aside the
slender form which instantly inter
posed between him and the man he had
sought. His eyes scanned the familiar
uniform of his old enemy in doubt.
Speak out. sir.''
Spare your voice. RAYMOND Holbin.
came with a message for YOU. Louise
Is dying in my camp; | was unable to
resist her prayer. She implores YOU TO
go TO her to right her wrongs. for her
child'S sake. Go, if YOU are a man. and
can; let this marriage take place: do
something for the miserable woman
whom YOU have so deceived"
she was not killed. thcn!"
'Shc is dying!" said Somers. shocked
and sickened at the matter-of-fact