The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-10-09

! bled but from shame. What has he
done? He came here to see meme
alone--to take me in his arms as he
holds me now, and you condemn him
! to death for that! Did you never love
when you were young? They whis
pered that it was my mother who had
your heart They told me that she
was unhappy because they forced you
apart. Twas to you she contided me.
/ Have pity, in her name, have mercyp'
! Enough said the admiral. ''It is
not that | will not. but l cannot. He
. has chosen; he must die"
I "Then may death come to me-" said
Elizabeth, because, for all eternity, l
/ love him.'
| "And this" broke in the cold, stern
voice of Major Coventry, who had en-
tered the room at that moment, sis the
welcome l receive from my bride of
tomorrow, and this is the reward of the
efforts l have made to secure the re-
lease of the Marquis de Richemont,
my friend! May God have pity on
me-my sweetheart and my friendw
"Sir," said O'Neill brokenly, 81 crave
your forgiveness. | knew that she was
yours do not understand how we got
into this position passing his hand
over his forehead in bewilderment-
"but this know-I am to die! There
is no choice. She will yet be yours"
"Never-neverr' 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 heart-you will plead for
us with your father. You will give me
up. You are too proud to take an I'M
willing bride and one who in spite of
herself-for | have fought against it
for your sake-confesses that she loves
another. You will intercede with your
father. l will bless you all the days
of my life. Edward, Edward, the COM
panion of my childhood'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
his other hand. The sweat of agony
believed his brow.
"Rise, Elizabeth. You shall not put
your trust in me in vain," he cried
hoarsely at last. Father, can moth
ing be done? / will not stand in the
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 it
were my duty to effect, if possible, the
capture of your captain and his ship
through you l can only say that l am
glad that l have failed. l apologize
to you. You are man of honor in
deed, sir l know few who would have
resisted such plea as this. Say no
more, Elizabeth. 1t is not that l will
not. 1 cannot Edward, here is my
seal. Make out the warrant for an or
der for court martial tomorrow
morning. 1t is a necessary form, Of
course. The execution of Lieutenant
O'Neill will follow at once" Elizabeth
did not faint--no, not yet. There
I
chung to O'Neill and listened.
"What shall be the manner of my
death, sirP' queried the latter.
Hanging, sir. IT'S the penalty pre-
scribed by the law"
ct is poor death for man, my
lord, but twill serve. A last request,
sir. I am a sailor-may l be hanged
oh; 10 ho
the trembling woman to his breast.
| 81 grant that-would that 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 onca in obedience to his
orders.
"And at what time, sir, will the SEN
tence be carried out?" asked O'Neiii,
Elizabeth still clinging to him, covering
him with incoherent caresses and fight
ing against despair
Tomorrow evening at half after 6
O'clock
every well, my lord"
At this moment the old sergeant ell
tered the room and saluted the admiral.
"a French officer, witch he says he's
from the American Continental squad
under a flag of truce, an desires to
speak with your lordship. He asks for
a safe conduct"
'Tell him he shall return as freely as
he came, on the word of British Off
Ger. and admit him."
A slender, dapper little man in tn.
brilliant uniform of French marine
officer, his head covered with a pow
dered wig, entered the room a moment
later and bowed profoundly. Elizabeth
started violently as she beheld him.
"Whom have l the honor of address
ingY' asked the admiral.
''The Vicomte de Chamillard, a COLO
mel of marines in the navy of France,
serving as volunteer in the American
. squadron" was the reply.
and you come on behalf Of
Captain John Paul Jones, to 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 it, and. if that were
not enough, | find he is an attained
, traitor A court is ordered for tomor-
row morning on the Scraps; 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