Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-22

sSMoAN ~.
II tried to keep my promise. You re-
member when they dashed the bond
woman? She woke with craZcd brain,
and the packet-your packct-was gone.
All those months searched and found
1t at last by chance. I did not get to
Philadelphia with it till--that morn
ing"
There was no further answer. and
she slipped on her knees, feeling a
yearning that was like poignant sick
ness.
"You must hear" she went on plead
ingly, clasping her fingers. land be-
lieve me or my heart will break. Fate
put me in the recess of the window at
the Red Lion tavern, Louis. saw jar
rat give you the forged message-saw
you fight and run him through.
knew you were true-true to your mas
ter's honor and your own"
You accused mew The words stung
her. accused me to the Continentals!'
Listen! Listen to me"' she prayed
desperately. 81 must tell you it all
now--now at the end Jarrat showed
me the paper-the contract that bound
you to give your life-your life! And
knew you would do it. Oh, what that
meant! would have given my own
life hundred times to prevent it. Can
You think what 1t cost me to stand in
that room and say that-that of you?
Your face was dreadful! thought
should die when you looked at me!'
$50 you killed my honor!"
"No. no! Not that-I did not mean
that. Louis! had such little time to
think-such small time to reason. l
had only time to feel-to feel as u wO-
man will, and to act. had to defeat
the contract to keep you from going
back to the prison-to death. thought
| could clear you ut the last, | who
knew you were true. because had the
packet-the true message. Only prom
iscd my soul that should not speak
within the month"
Her voice broke Il little here, then
went on In Il sudden pathos of pleading:
'What know we women of soldiers
duty or soldiers honor-we who are
cherished and toasted all our lives?
We know only TO love, to follow-and-
and-to save what we love in spite of
all the world!"
There was q movement now, n step.
"Then took the packet. Louis, into
the congress to Dir. Franklin that very
hour, and could not tell you what l
had done-and you escaped them.
thought You had gone to your death.
And you didn't know! You never knew.
Oh" she sobbed, "if you would only
forgive nc. only touch me, only lay
your hand ON my head"-
She heard stumble, smothered
cry. Tue iron bar changed against the
floor. An arm, cropping. trembling,
touched her wet check.
My God! And doubted you" Ar
mand's voice thrilled her in great
burst of glef-wound joy. you gave
the message? My darling. my darling!
She felt herself caught UP in his arms
in the dark, shuddering. crying. pant
ing incoherent phrases, kissing his face.
his rough coat, his epaulets, stranglng
with fierce terror and ecstasy of love
and feeling his passion strain and fold
her. 1t seemed to her that all of life
and death was concentrated in that one
cmbrace-tlat nothing existed in the
world but the delirium of that single
sweet bitter moment.
A medley of shouts and AK blows on
both of the Doors ut one time sent her
into quick spasms Of dread. y panel
splintcred. Il shaft of light and an arm
thrust in. Armand released her. struck
once with the iron bar. and the man
fell back, cursing. with Il broken arm.
"Shootw one shouted Are we to be
bayed by this rat!
Don't fire." came the response. The
order was imperative.
The blows began again. Another pam
ell crashed, and the holes let in more
light. 1t fell upon Anne's pallid lips
and showed her Armand's white sleeves
and pale face, set, but calm. A blow
struck the lock OF the other door 1t
| yielded, and the oak swung III against
| the stout sidcbonrd.
Anne felt her limbs grow cold.
"Lost, lost" she murmurcd and lean
ed dumbly against the wainscoting,
Suddenly fusillade of musketry
woke the echoes out Of doors, and a
crisp shout garnishcd it. File out Of
| that hall and lay down arms!"
There arose n saturnalia of revile-
ment from the hall. Then, as it died.
the voice asked. "What mean these ac-
| tive hostilitics in Il period of armis-
| ticeW
"'Tis n sortie for an escaped prison
err" came the jarring mirth OF Jarrat.
"Well, major l think you will have
need yourself for all the prisoners to
be found here"
Anne had gone from one terror to an
other and bitterer one. The Cont
nentalsw she moaned.
The crisp voice approached the splin-
tered door. Colonel Armand" it said,
II arrest you in the name of the Unit
| ed States of America. Do you surren-
dcr?"
"By whose ordersw
"The generals commanding the Sec
ond brigade"
81 am a colonel of independent cav
| airy" answered Armand clearly. i
acknowledge orders only from the divi-
sion commander"
Jarrat laughed.
Sharp directions followed The axes
cut wider assures in the panels, and
through these muskets obtruded and
took aim. "AIy orders are TO take you
alive to shoot If you resist. l give you
five minutes to open that door,"
Anne ran to Armand and threw her
self into his arms. "Ah, you must not!
For Gods sake, give yourself up! l
will toll it all to General Washington.
He will hear and believe me. will''-
"Think you it would be creditedT"
he asked gently. "And il not
She chung to him, weeping. ''But
you have fought so. There is that!
Oh, twill give me your life-your life!
That is nll want! l care not for
/