The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-08-15
CHAPTER XIV.
Love and Duty at the Touch.

Thorne's case was now absolutely
hopeless. BY the testimony OF two
witnesses a thing is established. All
that Arrelsford had seen Edith haC
seen. All that he knew, she knew
She had only TO speak and the plan
had failed; the cleverly constructed
scheme would fall to pieces. His
brothers life would have been wasted
nay more. his own life also; for we'll
did he realize that the bold way he
had played the game would the more
certainly hasten his immediate execu.
tion. A spy in the Confederate capi.
tai!
He could reproach himself with
nothing. He had done his very best.
Thorne, in the one word that Edith
Varney was to speak, would lose life,
honor and that for which he had
risked both. And he would lose more
than that. He would lose the love of
the woman who had never Seemed so
beautiful to him as she stood there,
pale-faced, erect, the very incarna-
ton of self-sacrifice. as were all the
women of the Confederacy. And he
would lose more than her love. He
would lose her respect. His humfla-
tion would be her humiliation. Never
so long as she lived could her mind
dwell on him with tenderness.
He drew himself erect to meet his
fate like man and waited. The wait
was long one. Edith Varney was
having her own troubles. She knew
as we'll as anyone the Importance of
her testimony. She had come from
the commissary generals vacant of.
fee and had been back at the window
long enough to have heard the conver-
sation between General Randolph and
the two men. She was an unusually
keen-witted girl and she realized the
situation to the full.
Her confidence in her lover had been
shaken, undermined, restored, and
shaken again, until her mind was in
perfect whirl She did not know, she
could not tell whether he was what
he seemed to be or not. 1t seemed
like treachery to him, this uncertain
ty. 1t would be a simple matter to
corroborate Mr.. Arrelsford at once,
and 1t occurred to her that she had no
option. But coincident with the ques-
ton flashed into her mind something
she had forgotten which made it
possible for her to answer in another
way. Thus, she understood that the
life of her lover hung upon her de-
cision.
With one brief, voiceless prayer to
God for guidance, she turned to Gen
eral Randolph, and it was we'll that
she spoke when she did, for the pause
had become insupportable to Thorne
at least. He had made up his mind
to relieve the dilemma and confess his
guilt SO that the girl would not have
to reproach herself with a betrayal of
her lover or her cause, that she might
not feel that she had been found want
ing at the critical moment. Indeed,
Thorne would have done this before
but his duty as soldier en1oined up
on him the propriety, the imperative
of playing the game to the
very end. The battle was not yet over.
1t would never be over until he faced
the firing party.
And then Edith's voice broke the
silence that had become so tense with
"Mr. Arrelsford is mistaken, Gen
eral Randolph" she said quietly, Cap
tain Thorne has the highest authority
in this Office"
Arrelsford started violently and
opened his mouth to speak, but Gen
eral Randolph silenced him with a
ook. The blood of the old general was
I'D, and 1t had become impossible for
anyone to presume in the least degree.
rhorne started, too. The blood rushed
o his heart. He thought he would
,hoke to death. What did the girl
nean?"
"The highest authority, sir" con-
inued Edith Varney, slowly drawing
,ut the commission, which every one
,ut she had forgotten In the excite
nent, "the authority Of the president
Il the Confederates States OF Amer
ca"
Well, she had done 1t for veal or for
zoe. She had made her decision. Had
/ been a wise decision? Had she
cted for the best? What interest
lad governed her. love for Thorne.
I'VE for her country, or love for her
wn peace OF mind? It was In the
ands Of General Randolph now. The