The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-28

fallen and the fitful glare of a couple of lanterns intensified rather than dis sipated the surrounding gloom.
 Cox paced up and down the forlorn room. with bowed head and hands clasped behind his back, for full if teen minutes in the awed silence. Then he muttered:
 ''This' is the last blow. Deacon, do you ever despair of what they call Provtdence?"
 Never did yft,'' protested the sturdy Hoosier. .I can't and won't believe they are going to sacrifice those boys in cold blood. Such things ain't in the bounds of civilization"
 "I don't know. How about war it. self? Here you have it, the deadliest kind-brother against brother. l tell you, Hart, we haven't seen the worst yet, though God knows there's enough to make the angels in heaven weep al- ready
 Well, one thing is certain-these hostages won't be sacrificed unless the Confederate prisoners are executed hrst-so our side will have the first move anyhow
 What sort of consolat ton is that to the fellows who get shot or hungT
  terrupted. Marie Mason entered-a lone. disheveled, bright eyed apparition.
 ''Oh, Tomr' she gasped breathlessly. ''What-you poor child, are you still here?' Cox exclaimed, this time gath ering her unreservedly into his arms. 'sYou must leave this accursed place or you will go mad-if you don't drive us so.''
 sI've come back to tell you there's more news"
 "Of what? Of whom?''
 From Washington-ofs the Confed- crate prisoners. General Winder has just received dispatch
 Great Jehosophatn' ejaculated Hart Didn't I tell you so?''
 What does the dispatch say?' ask ed Cox.
 ssI don't know, but it is favorable, I am sure-that is, there aren't going to be any executions. I heard the gen era1 say that much"
 Here comes the commissary.'' an- nounced Hart.
 ssFor Gods sake, Captain Warner" said Cox, as that official reappeared, ..don't keep us in this horrible suspense another minutei Whats the latest | newsT"
 
 do you want?' replied Warner. "She overheard a secret about minute ago ] and as a natural result it's all over the l place by this time.'
 ''I beg of, you, cap1 on my pended knees,' pleaded Hart, suiting the ac- ton to the word.
 'Well,'' said the commissary captain, | very deliberately taking a paper from 1 his pocket. ..I suppose you-uns may as ! we'll be put out of your misery. Here's a copy of the dispatch General Winder 1 has got from Abe Lincoln. I thought 1 the Washington government would back down.
 He handed the paper to Cox, who | read eagerly aloud: President learns from New York trial of Confederate cruiser prisoners resulted in 1 disagreement of jury. Leniency to be | shown. Proposed holding of Union hos tages in jeopardy at Richmond unneces- sary. Question of exchange referred to separate negotiations pending that sub- 5ect. SIMON CAMERON. 1 Secretary of War
 t'You see, I was right this time, '' said Marie triumphantly.
 ''Hooray! Here come the boys back! cried Deacon Hart. What did I say about faith in Providence? This is ] going to be a blessed Thanksgiving even if we -ain't exchanged yit.''
 "Oh, Tom. this is your last chanceY' whispered Marie as the tramp of ap preaching footsteps was heard outside
 t'Last chance for what?' asked Gap tain Cox, with exasperating stupidity.
 ''Why, to kiss me- l Such was life, as it wore along in the 1 Libby warehouse prisons Sometimes as in the instance just related, the emotions of years were crowded into a single hour. Ordinarily, the heavy days dra gged so that each one seemed a weary lifetime. The hope of ex change was ever hope deferred. Plots and plans of escape served to beguile the intolerable ennui of captivity and to bring passing flush of excitement to wan cheeks-and that was about all
 A warm brotherly affection had sprung up between Captain Ralpf Hunt, the weak but courageous con sumptive, and Lieutenant Frank Bed Joe. the youthful spirit of that sad com munity, who was more or less a mys tery to his closest comrades. yet who bore a sort of 'tdaredevil'' reputation even among those who knew him bu slightly or not at all. BedIoe fairly burned to be free and fighting again and he lost sleep straining at the ides of escape. He had been in every for loFn hope of the kind since his arrfva and was under special surveillance perhaps on this account, perhaps a i the instance of a certain Confederat secret service officer, Thornton b. {. name
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