The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-08


self as she tottered into the room &C.
| cupied as the Office.
This is the letter the courier bore
northward9 1t was addressed on the
envelope to Captain Cameron Fitz
Hugh. near Dunlap:
] Anderson, Aug %. 1862
My Dear Cameron-A man purporting to
| be Thomas Green, with his wife. formerly
| a Miss Fain of Chattanooga. Is here. de-
| string a pass to the Union lines. There Is
something suspicious about the man. The
couple are separated from the wife's
mother. and the father lies very Ill at
| Nashville. I dislike to detain them. and
| do not regard it safe to pass them. Can
| you help me out OF the difficulty? Yours
| very truly,
WALLACE TALIAFERRO.
Major Taliaferro soon joined Mark
and Laura in his Office. and offering
his arm to Laura led the way to the
supper room. His treatment of both
| was most deferential. but it failed to
deceive either that they were prison
ers.
There was a strength of nerve In
Mark that would not break while there
was hope. He chatted with the host
| or jailer, whichever he might be call
ed, with ease. and at times with gay
| ETY.. Not so Laura. The situation was
too frightful for her to endure without
some manifestation of anxiety. She
ate nothing. She did not hear what
was said to her, and her eyes plainly
showed the troubled spirit within.
Mark made no reference to her condi-
ton till after supper. Then. when all
three went out on to the veranda. he
said to her:
''Come. let us take stroll. You
have been travelling all day, and this
delay troubles you. A walk in the air
will revive you"
Mark assumed with such apparent
carelessness that he was free to walk
about where he liked that Taliaferro
had not the will to stop him.
The road led straight from the house
short distance and then entered
wood. As soon as they were concealed
behind the trees Mark stopped sudden
ly and turned to Laura:
"My God, this is terrible!"
"You are lostr' said Laura family.
She could scarcely speak the words.
IT? Yes, L But you-what have
led you into? Why was it not over on
that morning when 1t was tntendedf
Then you would not be implicated:
now your good name is"-
mo one will trouble me-" she gasped
But you-they will drag you
"You have protected me-a spy. Not
| only that-that is nothing In compare
son with having passed as my wife.
There is a blight"
II can bear it"
There is but one way out Of this
disgrace. You must be married before
we return to that house. And to
whom T'-his voice changed from
rapid, excited tone to deepest gloom
ito one who must die-die on the scat
fold. At any rate you will be free.
You will be widow"
Laura stood, the very impersonation
Of despair.
"All I can do to atone for this"
Mark went on rapidly, 'and 1t is moth
ing-is to make you my wife. since
| have passed you as such. Laura, will
you marry met"
She looked at him earnestly. Her
eyes were big with deep emotion.
There was q look in them that he
could not understand.
MOP
'Then can do nothing for you"
81 will marry only the man who
flaves me. and whom I love-"
"Oh, Laura" he said, ''if your heart
| were only mine, then 1t would be diff
ferent I love you so well, 1 worship
you with such fervor that I would go
back to that dreadful Jail without
word could I place you where you
were before you met me. But you
Laura burst into a torrent of tears.
This man. who had so suddenly ap-
peared in her life; who had won her
sympathy; who had compelled her ad-
rliration; who had absorbed her whole
being into his daring. chivalrous, reck-
less nature-this man loved her. and
he was doomed.
With a cry she threw her arms
| around his neck.
| Laura, sweetheart" said Mark, ca
ressing her. I'VE have but little time
We know not whon we shall have to
| 4dCc. NY True CudTdClGT muSl SUN 10
known. Will you give yourself to one
who will doubtless tomorrow be claim
ed BY
| Pale as ashes she put her hand over
his mouth that he might not speak the
word death
Twill you? Speakp'
Eyes, now, quick; what can we do?"
| "Marrv ourselves"
"HowT
| He grasped her hand. There was a
ring upon tia plain gold band he
took 1t off, and putting it on her finger
again said:
81, Mark
'Is it really Mark"
Eyes, am Mark Maynard. I, Mark.
take you, Laura, to be my wife. DO
you take me to be your husband?"
| 'I do"
"Then we are man and wife in the
sight Of Cod
"And for man we care not"
"Man and wife under the law. We
are really married"
Scarcely was this hurried ceremony
over when cavalryman came riding
toward them to watch Mark.
There was nothing left for them to
do but return to the house. As they