The Iola register., 1901-06-14

she turned towards him. Il nave now
no chance on earth except a chance
TO play for even and quit the country.
Louise, II l succeed will you go back
with me into the old sweet life?
will be true to you; l will right all
Of your wrongs-and will be fa-
ther 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 1t.
"My child" she said almost in
audibly, her face lowered and her
bosom rising and falling rapidly.
"That will be all rlght-all right.
swear TO you she is we'll and has
not forgotten you. She never fails
to ask for you, and at night to say
her little prayer" A cry burst from
the wretched woman.
"My babyl My babyl" She sank
her face in her hands, then sprang
to her feet. you deceived me-" she
said frantically, beginning TO walk
the floor, 81 cannot-I cannot believe
you."
"I have no cause to deceive you,
Louise--none." He spoke very ten
| derly; "and | would not If / could
now. This uniform, these shoulder
straps, mean nothing in my case but
| disgrace. l am stay-at-home. The
| dullards of my class at West Point
are brigadier generals in the field;
l am a uniformed clerk"
"The woman-?" Louise could not
| conclude her question.
"She will not assent" he said, saw
agely; and then quickly, lest a nat
ural inference should array her
against him again, II have purposely
made myself so obnoxious to her that
she would rather be n pauper than
share a fortune with me. She has
yet time to decide, for she is not
21; but l know her decision in ad-
vance"
And then?"
"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 l could only trust you" she
said sadly, "all might yet be well, for
have a way"
"What do you mean?" She hesi-
tated and, leaning over, whispered a
sentence in his ear. He lifted his face
quickly.
"How much?"
"Our own price"
"Our own price,"
"And revenge, Raymond, revenge fol-
you"
"Revenge?-yes-well said. No price
could be complete without that. Anc
what n revsngel The assassin xtabs
his foe and is infamous; tho man who
Stays his country's foo is q hero
Louise, you have made me happy, ant
you little know how chance has IA
vored you. I am connected with the
war department - have friend.
around me; and, better, have my
facts in hand"
You were planning then, too"
L ulu uOI KNOW NHdL HllRnL arise
and l was determined to be ready;
was tired OF doing the work while 9th
ers reaped the benefit. But now come,
the greatest dflioulty--and that re
minds me. How did you get here
through the lines?"
"You remember the little farm IN
which I had only a life interest, tn,
warned that it would soon be within
the southern lines and was sent there
to wait. Jackson's army passed ovei
il, and l came on to Richmond and de
livered my messages" Holbin was as
founded.
"Who do you know here?"
She shook her head. Not n human
being beside yourself. placed N!
papers in a certain receptacle to whicl
had been directed. If there is an an
swer l shall find it in the same plac,
at an appointed time" Holbin walked
the floor in great excitement.
"Iknow both the place and the time,
he said; 81 took your messages; bu
there never would have been any an
swer except for this meeting. | alonO
can supply the information which i
desired, and / shall not let it g,
through the usual channel. II is tn,
chance of my life. have facts that Il,
other human being could have accumu
lated, facts of vital Importance. NJ.
God, Louise! A million dollars is
small price"
Give them TO me-" she said; 81 vii
deliver them upon one condition"
zone condition? Name it,"
'The price shall be paid to me-" Hol
bin stood in deep thought.
mo" he said, as if dismissing SOM
mental argument, sit is too dangerou
a mission for any woman. Captur
would mean for you certain death"
my child" she said, simply; ant
then; 81 shall find way to ge
through"
Then make the trip safely, and
swear to you will surrender the chill
aRd come TO you, too"
"oh, Raymond, promises, promises
1t would be inhuman to deceive M