Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-04-01

hcA SifcucSS dnu ioI MIN ana Tor the
time when she could tell him ALL And
now he had come all unannounced and
had startled and stunned her. and
heard-heard her weak. unmaidenly
words. and. an. there was the rub,
would think. would surely think that
she knew he was there. and so was
only acting a part TO lure him back
Oh. the shame. the bitter shame of it,
But none the less was he going. and
this time IL might be for good and all.
IL was more than she Sould bear. IL
was the last and cruelest stroSe of the
evil fate that had so long bounded and
pursued her. IL broke the last prop
of her stubborn womanly pride. her
long-tried. failing strength. and for
the first time in her daring. fearless.
resolute life. Queen Resale threw out
nerveless. cropping hands for aid. and.
sudden as the stroke Of heaven. went
crashing down.
o blessed sun that sank behind the
ridge and would not see. o blessed
sOngsters that. trilling their last good
night. would suffer nc other sound. o
wise old Pyramus TO wander on be-
meath the poisoning trees and give
place to him who sprang, too late to
seize; who knelt and. defiant of
hygienic laws. lifted The bonnie.
swooning head; clasped again the now
plant. yielding form. pressed kiss aft
er kiss upon the soft. unresponsive but
unresisting lips. and plead and prayed
and called on heaven and on her until.
with faint sigh. the iuttering breath
returned. and then the dark eyes slow
ly opened. and one moment seemed
ready again 20 blaze with the battle
fire of the south. but that presently
took refuge beneath the white flag of
their own. long-lashed lids. and with
another sigh. with a SGT glow steal
ing slowly up over rounded throat and
cheek and even to the snowy brow.
the beautiful. humbled face turned fair
~ toward him and buried itself in the
blue OF the broad shoulder. Like that
OF Appomattox. it was the surrender Of
utter exhaustion.
They were standing two hours later
ia the dusk of the old portico. There
had been a blessed. yet almost solemn.
meeting AT the bedside of the aging
father. and all the story of that la
mentable month two years earlier. with
many p tear had been told With the
squire and Elinor returned to the west
there was no one TO warn them
against MCkinnon. who from the very
first had seemed to gain the guileless
doctors confidence. II was ChiltOn's
childlike belief that every well-man-
nered man was gentleman until
proved otherwise. and IL was not long
before Mckinnon knew all about them
and all about Jack. IL had been Rosa
lies growing BELIEF that ner aunt must
have had help. and that Squire Benton
or his son was the helper but AT the
last her father amazed her with the AL.
mission that he had given his personal
note TO McKinnon for money TO be
sent TO Jack. and for other needs. Lit
tie by little her intuitive aversion TO
the man had given way before his APP
parently unObtrusiVe courtesies. He
had never limited at such thing as a
quarrel with the Bentons. father or
son. He never referred TO them ex-
cept guardedly until Ladue's recapture
and Jacks narrow escape. Then he
had told her aunt. 10 whom he had
been kindness and helpfulness Itself.
that the plan was known 10 the secret
service. that Benton and Ladue had
been still in covert correspondence;
that Ladue wished TO make il appear
that he was striving 20 rejoin his regi-
ment. while in point of fact he planned
TO be again captured and confined
where he could escape the dangers OF
the battlefield. and the expedition to
capture him and Jack was guided by
Information furnished by Benton him
self-Benton. who had been under a
cloud and hoped by the capture OF con-
federate officers TO win his way back
to favor. Resale had Indignantly re-
fused TO believe at first: had even had
a fierce verbal ARRAY with the major,
who brought the Nirrinian. jennings,
to prove a truth that. as McKinnon
put IL. he ne Ter thought could reach
her ears or il should never have es-
capped these hrs." An eloquent man
was McKinnon. and music was in his
voice and mischief in his soul Benton
had planned. he said. 10 capture Jack,
and Jennings there stood ready to
swear To il. Then before she had time
10 recover herself. she had been ush-
cred into that coy parlor. and had
come face 20 face with the man who
filled her thoughts. II all looked like
design on mis- part. and in her wrath
and doubt and bitter trouble she had
hurled her accusation and fed. But,
long before Ladue's visit 10 Charloites-
Vile. she had begun 10 suspect both
McKinnon and Jennings After his
coming she had known no moment OF
peace. yet how could she write or tell
him whom she had so outraged? OF
what use was il? He would forget it
and her-in course of time
Does this look like it?" asked Ben
ton.
They were standing by the open
doorway She had brought down TO
him the beautiful sash he had left with
her when he rode away. for this very
night he must return TO GOrdonsviIle
and join his chief for the mornings
march Meantime be had been wind
ing il about her. the silken folds cling