Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-01-04

, Heleu's eyes dashed. would you

| shoot an unarmed manT'
Jack. mute with terror. staggered to
the gray clad figure and chung to Il.
her expressive eyes bent on me. min
gled Dame OF reproach and wrath.
My hand rested on my holster.
moved not. spoke not. but stood star
ing at the group that stared at me.
This man. whom I bad been hunting to
Kill. whom Helen had stimulated me to
pursue. against whom she had even
voluntarily pledged berself to aid me
In my revenge, had now suddenly APP
peared as Der brother.
81 was Wounded" said the officer
"at Fort Donelson and was brought
here to my fathpr's house. am unable
to endure the fatigue OF flight. there
fore am compelled TO surrender"
Captain Stanfortb. I have been
! bunting for you for months"
"Mr?"
You"
what fsr?''
listen 20 sentence or death.
Ito kill you"
There was a brief murmur among
those looking en-. then they stood
breathless. waiting for the next scene
In what promised to be a tragedy.
Only Helen knew what my words
| meant | saw a spasmodie culver pass
over her as had seen death touch a
comrade who had been shot in battle
Then, gathering her ferces. she stood
still. her face denoting the smothered
fires Of volcano.
MAY ] ask. SIR" said the officer, pale
but calm. why you desire my deathr'
The wrong, the brutal wrong you
did"
know not why some demon of bar
barism should have come TO me at this
critical moment when OF all others
should have shown gentIeness and
magnanimity. Here was an opportuni-
ty to make a graceful acknowledge
, ment of Helen Stanforth's service and
sacrifice. perhaps to heal the breach
between US. | threw II away. NV
abandoned purpose was rekindled-I
was crazed by Helen's treatment. /
! drew my revolver and brought it to
| bear on my unarmed enemy.
"CowardP' cried Helen.
AuiuSu 10 uef ScOTuIully- VINO
bade me pursue this man to the bitter
endP'
81"
"Who promised to aid meY'
T."
who now begs for her brothers life
at the hands of a southern renegader'
1l Neverp She sprang between
me and her brother. Fire.
She stood glaring at me. beautiful In
her uncompromising fury. was be-
wildered. entangled in the meshes of
her beauty. her relentless will power.
Then suddenly cold chill swept over
me. as blighted frost across a land
hot with the rays OF a tropical sun. |
stood aghast at what ! had done.
had returned her inestimable service
by miserable attempt TO force her to
beg for her brothers life. | had lost
what hope ] had cherished of recon-
ciliauon-of winning her. I threw my
weapon into corner and was striding
, from the room. when Captain Stan
forth. freeing himself from Jack. cried !:
I'm the name of God, what does all
this meanT'
1T means, Captain Stanforth,"
said. turning, that on a certain night
In east Tennessee a party Of Unionists
on their way north were ambushed by
citizens with shotguns. A body Of
Confederate cavalry came down to
their assistance. You, captain
1T is false led my company to
the scene you mention not to attack,
but to protect"
II was now my turn to stand stupe-
fed. Had been all these months fol-
lowing an error?
81 came on the ground" Captain
Stanforth continued, ''just in time to
witness the most diabolical sight 1
ever saw in the south. One incident
OF that terrible night l shall always
remember-a murder that l punished
with my own hand. i saw a woman
flying for protection to a man who
stood near her. cowardly cur beside
me fired, and she fell through her pro-
tector's arms. 1 drew my revolver and
shot the murderer dead"
"You shot the murderer
l had no tongue for other words.
This man, dear to Helen, dear to Jack,
dear to all this household, was not only
innocent of the crime had imputed to
him, but was my svenger. l took one
step forward and seized his hand.
THANK Godp'
"You have been Mistaken
$50 far mistaken that had II not
been for these two women l would
have shot you down where you stand"
l strobe to the door, rushed down the
patch to the gate, mounted my horse
and without once looking back at the
gaping crowd behind nae galloped down
the road after the advancing army.
ire m Continued
P-S4.s- ---.f