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

pertinent question:
Shall do this for your
at is nothing to me-" said the WON
an quietly, and might God forgive her,
she prayed, for that falsehood.
Thorne looked at her, his soul In his
eyes. II her face had been carved
from marble, it could not have been
more expressionless and Indifferent
He could not know how wildly her
heart was beating beneath that stony
exterior Well, she had turned against
him. He was nothing to her. There
was no use living any longer. She
did not care.
Were you responsible in any way
for IT." he asked
The girl shook her head and turned
away without looking at him. She
had not the least idea Of what he
was about to do. Not one man in
thousand would have done 1t. Per
haps if he went to his death in some
quixotic way. he might redeem himself
in her eyes. had flashed into Thorne'e
mind, as he turned to the guard.
Sergeant" he said, saluting He
spoke in clear, cool, most Indifferent
way. "You had better take a look at
the rifles of your command. I under
stand that they have been tempered
with"
what the hell" cried the sergeant.
, Selling a piece from the nearest man.
He snapped open the breech-plug
and drew out the cartridge and exam
ined it. Someone had bitten off the
bullet! He saw everything clearly,
Squad ready" he cried. Draw car.
tridges!"
There was ~ rafting Of breech.
plugs and low murmur of astonish-
ment, as every man found that his
cartridge was without bullet
with ball cartridges, load" cried
the sergeant. Garry arms!"
When this little manuever, which
was completed with swiftness and
precision because the men were all
veterans. was finished, the sergeant
turned to the prisoner, who had stood
composedly watching the performance
which took away his last opportunity
for escape. and saluted him with dis
tinct admiration.
'I am much obliged to you, sir" he
said.
How Edith Varney kept her feet,
why she did not scream or faint away,
she could not tell. Thorne's words
had petrified her. Her pride kept her
from acknowledging what she felt.
She had never dreamed of any such
action on his part, and it seemed to
her that she had sent him to his death
again. How could she retrace her
steps. repair her blunder? There was
nothing to do. But her countenance
changed. A look of such desperate en-
treaty came into her face as fully be.
trayed her feelings. OF the people
in the room. only Arrelsford observed
her, and even his jealousy and resent
ment were slightly softened by her
visible anguish. Everybody was star
ing at Thorne, for they all knew the
result of his remarkable action, al
though no one could in the least de
gree fathom the reason.
1t was Wilfred who broke the 81
lence. He walked slowly up to Thorne
and thrust out his hand.
II would like to shake hands with
YOU" he said admiringly, and for the
first time in the long hours a Sigh
smile quivered about the mans lips
1t was a generous, spontaneous trib
ute Of youth that gave him that mo
ment of melancholy satisfaction.
oh" thought Edith, watching he
brother; 'if only I dared to do th'
like"
as this for younelf?" asked Thorne
"or your father"
For both of US, sir" answered WI
fred.
Thorne shook him by the hand TIL
two looked into each others faces, an
everybody saw the satisfaction an
qualification of the older man.
That's all, sergeant" said Thorne
turning away.
Fall in the prisoner! Escort LEI
face! Forward-march." cried tn
sergeant.
At that moment a man, breathles
from having run rapidly, entered tn
room by the window. His uniforr
was that of an officer, and he wore
lieutenants shoulder straps.
Halt" he cried, as he burst int
the room. Are you in command, Sc
geant?"
Yes, sir"
General Randolph's on the wa
here with orders. You would pleas
wait until"
But Arrelsford now interposed
What orders. lieutenant? Anythin
to do with the case?"
; The officer looked greatly surprise
at this Intervention by a civilian. bl
/, he answered civilly enough;
II don't know what his orders ar
He has been with the president"
But l sent word to the depar
ment,' said Arrelsford. that we ha
got the man, and were going to druI
head him on the spot"
Then this must be the case, ST
The general wishes to be present"
1T is impossible" returned ARIEL
ford eve have already held ii
court, and have sent the findings
the secretary. The messenger is
: get his approval and meet US at II
corner of the street yonder. hay
no doubt he is waiting there now.
: is a mere formality."
Il have no further orders to Civ
sir" said the lieutenant "Gener