Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-08-06

generosity VI n'HIL you VIII plead FOR
us with your father. You will give mo
up. You arc too proud to take an un.
willing bride and one who in spite Of
hcrself-for ! have fought agaiust IL
for your sake -confcssoS that she loves
another. You will intcrccdc with yonr
father. ! will bless You all the days
OF my life. Edward. Edward. the COM
panion Of my c~hildhood's hours. NV
friend, my brother, my only hope is in
you, Speak She fell at his feet and
claspcd his hand. which she covered
with kisses. There was another 81
lence. Coventry covered his face with
his other hand. The sweat of agony
believed his brow.
"Risc, Elizabeth. You shall not put
your trust in mo in vain.' he cried
hoarscly at last. "Fathcr, can moth
ing be done? | will not stand in the
way"
"My son, Lady Elizabeth, Lieutenant
O'Neill, there is nothing that can he
done. My duty is perfectly clear. Tho
only possible salvation Of the prisoner
would be in the action which he ba4
refused even to consider. and. sir. if If
were my dusy to effect. If possible. the
capture Of your captain and bis shin
through you | can only say that am
! glad that | have failed. Hpolopi2a
to you You are a man Of honor IN.
deed, sir. I know few who would have
resisted such a plea as this. Saw M
more, Elizabeth. 1t is not that I will
not. ! cannot. Edward, here is nv
seal. Make out the warrant for an or
der for a court martial tomorrow
morning. It is a necessary form. OF
curse. The execution Of L%icutenant
O'Neill will follow at once" Elizabeth
did not f%aint-no. not yet. There
would be time for that later. She
chung to O'Neill and listened.
what shall be the manner Of nv
death, sir?' queried the latter.
Hanging. sir. IT'S the penalty pre-.
scribcd by the law"
at is a poor death for a man. nv
lord, but twill serve. \ last request
sir. | am a sailOr-may | be hanged
upon a ship" he asked again. pressing
the trembling woman to his breast.
81 grant that-Would that | could
grant more. Major Coventry. you will
direct Captain Pearson of the Sornpis
to execute the sentence Of the court.
which will meet on his ship. the pris-
oner to he confined there meanwhile.
You will find the papers in the library.
Here is my seal. Hasten and get the
nainfvl matter over" Coventry left
the room at once in obedience to his
orders.
And at what time, SIR. will the san.
tence be carried OUT" asked ONeilL
Elizabeth still c~lincinG 70 him. covering
him with incoherent curesses and dght.
ing against despair.
Tomorrow evening AZ half after d
O'clock"
VERY well, my lord.'
AT this the old sergeant en-.
tered the room and salntcd the admiral.
"A French officer, wjch he says he's
from the American Continental squad.
ron. has come ashore In a small cutter,
under IA flag of truce. an desires TO
speak with your %lordship. He asks fot
a safe conduct"
TEL him he shall return as freely as
he came, on the word OF u british OIL
Ger, and admit him."
A slender. dappcr little man in the
brilliant uniform Of a French marine
officer. his head covered with q pow.
dered wig. entered the room a moment
later and bowed profoundly. Elizabeth
started violently as she beheld him.
Whom have I the honor Of address.
ing" asked the admiral.
THE Nicomte de Chamiillrd. 4 colo
mel of marines in the navy of France,
serving as a volunteer in the American
squadron was the reply.
And You come on behalf Of
captain John Pau Jones. 70 protest
against your unlawful detention of an
other French officer, the Marquis de
Richemont, my lord
He is a SPY, caught in the very act;
he has admitted il, and. if that we're
not enough. I ind lie is an attainted
traitor. A court IS ordered for tomor-
row morning on the Seranis: his exc
cution. which will be inevitable. is set
for half after & o'clock in the even
ing; he shall hang from one Of the
frigate'S yardarms."
re tIIdIHlIldIu, saul Ntl4i, you
can do nothing"
The laws of war persisted the
Frenchman.
1T is in accordance with those laws
that | do what l do" replied the adj
miral shortly, "and you may say to
your captain that if l catch him he
shall swing from the first yardarm
that comes in tho borbOr
Il am answered, then. Very good I
shall remember your courteous words.
my lord, And now | enter my formal
protest against this unwarranted ac-
ton ON your part concerning the Mar
quis de Richemont, The k.ng OF
France will have something 10 say
about it. | bid You FAREWELL
Farewell, sir" said the admiral. in
differently turning away.
"De Richemont, coodby; embrace
me-" As the two men came together
the Fronchman whispered, This wo-
man-is she your fricnd?'
yes" replied O'Noiil quickly.
"Mademoisellc." said De Chamillar I'd,
turning 70 Elizabeth with a keen look
In his eyes. Recognizing MIN at last.
she stretched ont her hand to him, He
murmured as he bent low over it. DE
lay the execution for at least six hours,
and | Will save him. Elizabeth sank
down in her chair. a CLEAN of hope in