The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1905-04-15
and moved off. and the KNOT Of strag-

and moved off. and the knot Of strag-
glers melted away.
Il am Colonel Dundas.' stated the off,
ncer In the doorway. "Haye Won ner-
mission to see the prisoner?"
NO." she replied pathetically.
ihis Is special order. None save
the commander in chief can give such
leave"
She sat down on the stone stem her
eyes half closed, shaken by dry sob
NOT even to see him! 1t was CHASTITY!
Colonel Dundas was struck with her
pallor. He was gentleman and hui
name. "The prisoner who dies tonight
Is not under a recent condemnation
mistress" he said not unkindly. sand
us SAD he now holds the rank of colo
mel IN the American army. Mayhap
the Continentals will yet make pro
test"
She looked up with wide, miserable
eyes. How could she explain it all to
him? There is no time-no time.o she
said with heavy lips.
he had turned away, but her voice
recalled him. where is CORVALLIS
headquarters? Tell me, quick"
In the Nelson mansion" he answer
ed. Hope not on that, though. Sur.
render is deliberated, and the earl is
under great strain"
but he will at least see me-"
He gnOQtx bic bood do,,A4e,.Ii
have still an hour"
Still an hour! How horrible to meas.
ure life by minutes! Colonel Dundas
watched her go with frown of pity.
War seemed more than stern to him AT
that moment.
Then he entered the door and sent
for chaplain to hold himself in readi-
ness.
A sickness had climbed into Anne's
throat before she reached the house.
For time she got no farther than the
outer door. At length an officer, doubt
less by reason of her evident distress.
gave her chair in what had been the
drawing room. Scores of times she had
sat in that selfsame room as gay as
any guest That she should be there
now on such an errand seemed some
hideous mockery of truth.
The British commander had before
him General Washington's ultimatum
as to terms Of surrender-could see no
one. So they told her, but she would
not be satisfied. Her errand was a
matter Of life and death-concerned an
execution within an hour. Twice the
officer who had given her the chair
went into the inner room. The second
time he returned with flush of morti-
fication on his face.
Il dare not ask again." he told her.
She came out into the street at last
when the sun was gathering crimson
to its fall. her whole mind numbed,
her body wrenching with nervous ag-
ony and with bruised shadows beneath
her burning eyes Instinctively she
started In the direction of the barrack,
and as she walked with uncertain foot
steps her fingers went twisting a slip
of paper they found in the pocket of
her gown. Some soldiers were boiling
pot over a street fire of split boards,
and as she passed them with the look
of sleepwalker she drew the paper
out and looked at it
Instantly great thrill went through
her to the tips of her fingers, and her
cheeks rushed into fame. 1t was the
hasty scrawl given her at GLADDEN.
Hall by Lord CORVALLIS the day she
had gone to him for John the Baptist.
This is what she read:
My Dear Dundas-I suppose we must let
the lady have her prisoner. Just give
them passes out. CORVALLIS.
She stood still a moment, afraid OF
the beating of her heart, cherishing a
thought that was like a white coal in
her brain. If she couldi The soldiers
were looking at her curiously, for wo-
men were rare in the town. If she
could
Then, clasping the paper to her
breast, she ran with winged feet to-
CONTINUED on page 6.)