Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-03-27

! IL was no use to attempt 10 conceaI
anything, and he threw himself upon
the mercy Of his young Mistress and
with great adroitness, sought to enlist
her support for what he had done.
"Dey's gwine to shoot him, shoot
him down lax a dog, missy" he said
In low, pleading whisper an An
couldn't bah to see 'em do dat. An
wouldn't lax to see him Killed. An
wouldn't lax it noways. You won't
say muffin about dis TO de sake Cd ola
Jonas, what always was so FOND %
you ebah sense you was NIUE chiie'
You see, All jes' tex desc yean ne
extended his hand, full of leaden bui'
lets--an' den dey won't be no ham
cum to him whatsomobah, lesn dey
loads 'em up aGin. When dey shoots
an he jes draps down, deyll roll MN
obah into de guttah, an be or lax
mad. Den All kin be neah by an -
he stopped an, If his face had been
full OF apprehension before, 1t now
became transformed with anxiety
Flows he gwine to know he asked.
"If he don't drap down, deyll shoot
him agin, an deyu hab bullets in dem
next time. What All gwine to DO
how All gwine to tell him."
Edith had listened to him as one In
dream Her face softened a little.
After all, this negro had done this
thing for the man eheDGod forgive
her--still loved
"You tell him." whispered Jonas;
you tell him; it's do on'y way Tell
him to drap down. DO dis TO ole
Jonas, honey; do It TO me, an AMI be
slabe to you as long as All lib, no
matter what Mars Linkum does. LIS
ten," said the old man, as sudden
commotion was heard in the room
across the hall. "Dey's gwine to XIII
him. You do It,"
Nothing could be gained by remain
ing. He had said all he could, used
every argument possible to him, and
realizing his danger, he turned and
disappeared through the back door
into the dark rear hall. There was n
scraping of chairs and trampling of
feet, few words heard indistinctly,
and then the voice Of the old ser.
geant:
Fall in! Right face! Forward
march,"
Before they came into the hall,
Jonas made one last appeal. He thrust
his old black face through the por-
there's, his eyes rolling, his jaws work
ing.
go Gawds SEX, missy tell him to
!, dram down" he whispered as he dis.
appeared.
Wilfred. not waiting for the sol.
diers. came into the room, and Caro-
line followed him.
where's mother?" asked Wilfred
, "She's gone up to Howard; think
he is dying" said Caroline. she can't
leave him for anybody or anything"
II Edith heard, she gave no sign
, She stood motionless on the other side
of the room, and stared toward the
door: they would bring him back thai
way, and she could see him again.
i "Wilfred, dear" asked Caroline
what are they going to do?"
, "Shoot him"
When"
Now"
| "Where?"
"Out in the street"
, Caroline's low exclamation of pity
, struck responsive chord in Wilfred';
, heart He nodded gravely. and bi
J his lips. He did not feel particularly
> happy over the situation, evidently
but the conversation was interrupted
by the entrance OF the men. They
, came into the room in double line
Thorne walking easily between them
They entered the room by the door
t marched down it, came back, anC
J ranged themselves opposite the stack
J Of arms.
Halt" cried the sergeant. "Righ
= face. Take arms, Carry arms. Lief
t face. Forward-march."
Edith had not taken her eyes OF
= Thorne since he entered the room
9 She had watched him as if fascinated
He had shot at har one quick, search
ing glance. and then had kept hi
. eyes averted, not because he woul'
4 not like to look at her, but because h
+ could not bear himself like man II
:, these last swift terrible seconds. II h
d did.
!. AS the men moved to carry out thei
Q last order. the girl awoke to her SUI
b roundings
o Wait" she said who is IN con
y mand?"
81 am. MISS" answered the SCI
geant.
| I'D like to speak to the-the-prif
l oner." continued Edith.
| I'm sorry. miss answered tn
| sergeant respectfully, but abruptly
| but we haven't the time
] only a word. sergeant pleade
| the girl, stepping close to him, an
| laying her hand on his arm.
The sergeant looked at her a me-
ment What he saw in her eye
| touched his very soul.
Very we'll" he said. Right face
Fall out the prisoner"
Thorne stepped out In front of tn
ranks.
! Now, miss" said the sergeant b
quick about It."
II Mo-" said Wilfred sternly.
n "Oh. Wiltred," cried Caroline. layin
VI her hand on his arm. yet her spea
to him, let her say goodby'
j There was an instant's pause WI
fred looked from Caroline's flushed
| eager face, to Edith's pale one. Afte