The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-10-14
s cosyrsh. 1900. By CHARLES scR18wER.s sows


Then may death come to me-" said
Elizabeth, because, for all eternity, /
love him!'
"And this" broke in the cold, stern
voice of Major Coventry, who had en-
tered the room at that moment, us the
welcome l receive from ny bride of
tomorrow, and This Is the reward OF the
efforts / have made to secure the re-
lease of the MARQUIS de Rlchemont,
my friend! May God have pity on
me-my sweetheart and my frlend!"
"Sir," said O'Neill brokenly, II crave
your forgiveness. 1 knew that she was
yours-I do not understand how We got
over his forehead in bewilderment-
"but this L KNOW am TO die! There
is no choice. She will yet be yours"
"Ncycr-never!' cried Elizabeth,
turning to him. Edward, If you have
truly loved me-if l have rightly esti-
mated you, your nobility of soul, your
generosity of heort-you will plead for
us with your father. You will give me
up. You are too proud to take an I'M
willing bride md one who in spite of
herself-for L have fought against 1t
for your sak~c-confesses that she loves
another. You will intercede with your
father. ! Will bless you all the days
of my life. Edward, Edward, the com
panion of my c~hildhood's hours, my
friend, my brother, my only hope Is In
you! Speak," She fell at his feet and
clasped his hand, which she covered
with kisses. There was another ST.
lence. Coventry covered his face with
/ hic nfhnr hand Tho cxroot ne on,.>,,
believed his brow.
"Risc, Elizabeth. You shall not put
your trust in me In vain," he cried
hoarsely at last. "Father, can moth
ing be done? 1 will not stand In tho
way"
"My son, Lady Elizabeth. Lieutenant
O'Neill, there Is nothing that can be
done. My duty is perfectly clear. The
only possible salvation of the prisoner
would be in the action which he has
refused even to consider. and, sir, If 1t
were my duty to effect, IL possible, the
capture of your captain and his ship
through you 1 can only say That 1 am
glad that l have failed. l apologize
to you. o arc a man Of honor In
deed, sir. 1 know few who would have
resisted such a plea as this. Say no
more, Elizabeth. 1t Is not that l will
not. I cannot! Edward, here is my
seal. Make out the warrant for an or
der for n court martial tomorrow
morning. 1t is n necessary form, OF
course. The execution Of lieutenant
O'Neill will follow at once" Elizabeth
did not 'faint-no, not yet. There
would be time for that later. She
chung to O'Neill and listened.
"What shall be the manner Of my
death, sirf" queried the latter.
Hanging, sir. TITS the penalty pre-
scribed by the law"
at is q poor death for a man, my
lord, but twill serve. A last request,
sir. 1 am a sailor-may 1 be hanged
upon a ship?" he asked again, pressing
the trembling woman to his breast.
II grant ~that-would that I could
grant more! Major Coventry, you will
direct Captain Pearson Of the Scraps
to execute the sentence of the court,
which will meet on his ship, the pris.
oner to be confined there meanwhile.
You will find the papers in the library.
Here is my seal. Hasten and get the
painful matter over" Coventry left
the room at once in obedience to his
orders.
".And at what time, sir, will the SEN
| tencc be carried outI" asked O'Neill,
Elizabeth still clinging to him, covering
him with incohcrcnt caresScS and fight
ing against despair.
Tomorrow evening at half after 6
O'clock"
every well, my lord"
At this moment the old sergeant en-
tered the room and saluted the admiral
"a French officer, witch he says he's
from the American Continental squad
ron, has come ashore in q small cutter,
under a flag of truce, an desires to
n safe conduct"
"Tell him he shall return as freely rs
he came, on tho word Of II British Off
Ger, and admit him."
A slender, dapper little man in tho
brilliant uniform of a French marine
officer, his head covered with q pow
dcred wig, entered the room n moment
later and bowed profoundly. Elizabeth
started violently MS she beheld him.
"WhOm have 1 the honor of address
ing?" asked the admiral.
"The Vicomte dc Chamillard, q colo
mel of marines In the navy Of Franco,
serving as a volunteer in the American
squadron" was the reply.
"And you come on behalf off,
Captain John Paul Jones, to protest
against your unlawful detention Of an
other French officer, the Marquis de
Richemont, my lord"
Gle is a spy, caught in the very act;
he has admitted III, and, il that were
not enough, / find he Is an attainted
traitor. A court Is ordered for tomor.
row morning on the Scraps; his exc
cution, which will be inevitable, is set
for half after G o'clock in the even
ing; he shall hang from one of the
frigate's yardarms."
"De Chamillard," said O'Neill, "you
can do nothing"
1.-THE laws Of war; persisted the
Frenchman.
at is in accordance with those laws
that / do what I do" replied the adj
mlral shortly, "and you may say to
your captain that sc 1 catch him he
shall swing from the first yardarm
that comes I'm the harbor."
II am answered, then. Very good; /
shall remember your courteous words,
my lord. And now L enter my formal
L ..oA .--t.- M.