The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-30

Captain stanforth. / have been hunt
ing for you for months.
"MeT
you"
what for?"
A hush came over all. as II about TO
listen TO a sentence OF death.
ITO kill YOU"
There was a brief murmur among those
looking on. then they stood breathless,
waiting for the next scene In what prom
ised to be a tragedy. Only Helen knew
what my words meant. l saw h spas
modic CULVER pass over her as / had seen
death touch a comrade who had peen
shot I'm battle. Then, gathering her
forces, she stood still. her face denoting
the smothered fires OF a volcano.
May / ask. sir" said the officer. pale
but calm. why you desire my deathg
THE wrong. the brutal wrong you
did"
know not why some demon OF bar
barism should have come 10 me at THIS
critical moment when OF all others
should have shown gentleness and mag
nanimity. Here was an opportunity TO
make a graceful acknowledgment OF
Helen Stanforth's service and sacrince,
perhaps TO heal the breach between US.
threw II away. My abandoned purpose
was rekindled-I was crazed by Helen
treatment. / drew my revolver and
brought IL to bear on my unarmed enemy
1 turned 70 her scornfully. WHO bade
me pursue this man TO the bitter endF
"I"
who promised to aid me?"
"I"
WHO now begs for her brothers life
at the hands of a southern renegade
"I? Never" She sprang between me
and her brother. Fire."
She stood glaring at me. beautiful In
her uncompromising fury. L was pe-
wildered. entangled In the meshes OF her
beauty, her relentless will power Then
suddenly cold chill swept over me. as
a blighted frost across land hot win
TIE rays OF tropical sun. l stood
aghast at what I had done. i had re-
turned her inestimable service by mis-
erable attempt TO force her to beg Tor
her brothers life. / had lost what hope
/ had cherished OF reconciliation-ot
winning her. l threw my weapon into
corner and was striding from the room.
when Captain stapforth. freeing himseh
from Jack, cried:
"In the name Of God. what does all
this mean?"
cit means. Captain stanforth." said,
turning. that on 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
"It Is false. / led my company 10 tne
scene you mention not to attack but 10
protect"
It was now my turn TO stand stupened'
Had | been all these months following
an error?
1T came on the ground" Captain STAN
forth continued. "1ust in time TO witpess
the most diaboical sight l ever saw IN
the south One incident OF that terrible
night I shall always remember-a muir
der that I punished with my own hand
| saw a woman flying for protection TO
n man who stood near her cowardiy
cur beside me fired. and she fell through
her protectors arms. l drew my re-
yolver and shot the Murderer dead.
You shot the murderer
I had no tongue for other words. rms
man. dear to Helen. dear 20 Jack. dear
10 all this household. was not only inno-
cent of the crime had imputed to him.
but was my avenger. j took one step
forward and seized his hand.
THANK God!'
"You have been mistaken
80 far mistaken that had IL not been
for these two women ! would have shot
Won down where you stand.
I strobe 10 the door rushed down the
patch TO the gate. mounted my horse and
without once looking back at the gaping
crowd behind me galloped down the road
after the advancing army.
(To Be Continued Tomorrow