The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-16


cute his mission TO the best OF his ability
but he was very young, and feared h'
| would make some blunder.
! what fool l ami" / exclaimed as
| soon as he was gone II should have
failed TO communicate rather than In
! trust so important a matter TO a boy
| However, I'll leave hero tomorrow morn
] ing, and. II my message miscarries by
| the time its discovered I'll be somewhere
| else"
Helen came In soon after Bucks de-
| parture and began 10 set the room 10
! rights. She attended TO her work silently
| and did not even look at me. / watched
her as she moved about. arranging a cur
tain here, moving a chair there or piling
books on the table more neatly. She
was a true type of southern woman
tall willowy, a head set on her shoulders
in a way to make an artist involuntarily
reach for a brush. Her hair and eyes
were as black as night. while on her
checks was bright color. There was
something on her mind. could see that
plainly. / fancied II / gave her time 1t
would come out. At last she dropped her
work and stood looking out OF the
window.
What are you thinking about?"
asked, going at the subject with brusque
directness.
THE man you came to Alabama to
kill"
"You would shield him7"
She kept her eyes on the road, watch
ing a wagon that numbered by. II don't
know whether I would or not"
you want TO know all about him?"
II do"
In the first place you would like his
name?"
at might be well to begin with that"
Then 1 can't begin for / don't know
his name
Not know his name?"
mo"
What is he like?"
Tall. well built; square shoulders.
which he throws back like an officer In
the regular army of the United States"
1 paused She waited for me to con-
tinue.
You would also like to know whether
his death would bereave any one-a
father. mother. sister. some woman who
hangs upon every word he says when he
is with her and dreams of him constantly
when he is away?" 1 spoke the words
bitterly. / was thinking of my loss.
yes. / would like TO know that too"
IL can't satisfy you. l have seen him
only once and then at distance"
Does he wish to kill your"
mo; don't believe he 10 aware of my
existence"
Singular" she murmured thought
fully. Then she turned and looked me
in the face. ''Ie has occasioned you
some great sorrow-done you some
mighty wrong?"
You promised to ask me no more
questions"
''True. 1 beg your pardon"
Another woman would have pouted.
coaxed done everything but asked open
ly TO have her curiosity ratified. Helen
Stanforth was made OF sterner stuff.
She stood looking out of the window with
out another word. i waited till I was
satisfied that she was too proud to ask
for favor, then started in again with the
purpose of watching the development of
some other mood.
You are heart and soul q Confeder-
ate?"
II am"
"And you will not excuse those south
ern men and women who differ with
your"
Yes, II they do II openly"
This was a cut at me which I did not
care to notice Have you ever seen,"
/ asked. "men forced at the point OF the
bayonet to enter the Confederate army?
Have you ever seen families trying TO
leave the south TO join those with whom
they affiliated shot down In their
tracks?'
You are Union man. or you would
never talk that way" she interrupted.
II was born and bred in Tennessee"
"Yes, in east Tennessee"
May ] not have seen great wrong
done and yet given my heart and soul
20 the Southern cause7"
You may, but have not"
She was getting TOO near the truth.
must throw her Off the trail
II will impart ono more piece OF In
formation with regard to myself You
have promised to ask no rnors qneetions
"A ph IA lrff
serve a reward"
I took from my pocket q letter and
held It up TO her IL was addressed to-
Major John Branderstane,
-Ith Tennessee Cavalry,
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Her face lighted. She did not know
there were Tennessee regiments In the
Taon .ss SsySs hn answ You wsre csa sS
federate.' She put out her hand. but !
un SS sss g. W win rRS RS s1ssneo s1FS o
Is not conclusive. l have shown Il TO
you TO prove that may be what will. /
could offer as good proof that l am
Il don't care VINO you are. you are an
Il see no reason for you to assume
"You have said it would be easy for
you to prove TO me that you are what
wish you TO beT'
But YOU will not You have reason
to remain unknown: you have a great
purpose you have been robbed OF Rome
one you love. you have suffered from
some OF those outrages In east Tenns ssee
that papa has told us about. There has
been a cowardly murder. You will be re-
venged / know 81; feel o.
She was splendid In her Indignation. her
sympathy. I protected against this burst
OF confidence, but 20 no purpose. Were
the veriest demon In Moloch's train no
one could convince her OF IL. / was
not learned I'm the ways OF woman. but
had gained an insight into the girls
nature Though II smoidered, II was
emotional No light hndling could set Il
ahsme There must be some strong un-
deriving purpose. The purpose that /
had revealed TO her had taken hold OF
her imagination.
But Il troubled her that should with
hold my secret from her. She gave me an
appealing look.
"Why do you not trust me7'
II DO trust yos. Am not at your
mercy7 Should you inform the authorities
that you have an unaccounted for man
under your roof should be arrested az
once"
81 would never - that"
mo. but will you aid me in remaining
incognito7"
She was silent There was evidently n