Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-03-13

foremost bulked largest before him
the plan for which he had made all
this sacrifice, which had promised to
end the weary months Of siege which
Richmond and Petersburg had sus.
tanned. His brother had lost his life,
he more than suspected. in the en-
deavor to carry It out, and now he had
failed. That was natural humilia,
ton and reproach TO his pride, al.
though as his mind went back over
the scene he could detect no false
move on his part. OF course his al.
lowing his love for Edith varney to
get the mastery of him had been
wrong under the circumstances, but
that had not affected the failure or
success Of his endeavors.
And bis thoughts also we're for the
woman. He knew that she loved
him. she had admitted It, but once his
eyes had been opened. he could have
told It without any admission at ALL
All that he had suffered, she had sui.
fered, and more. II she would be com.
PEELED to apologize for him, she would
fensive for him. She loved him and
she was placed in the fearful position
OF having to deal the blow. The words
which would presently fall from her
lips would complete his undoing.
They would blast his reputation for
ever and send him to his death. He
knew they would not be easy words
for her to speak He knew that what
ever his merit or demerit. she would
never forget that It was she who had
completed his ruin; the fact that she
would also ruin the plan against her
country would not weigh very heavily
In her breaking heart against that
present personal consideration-after
a while maybe but not at first And
therefore he pitied her.
He drew himself erect to meet his
fate like a man and waited. The wait
was a long one. Edith Varney was
having her own troubles. She knew
as well as anyone the Importance of
her testimony. She had come from
the commissary generals vacant of
flee and had been back at the window
long enough to have heard the CONVEX.
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 a
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 II
possible for her to answer in another
way. Thus, she understood that the
life of her lover hung upon her de-
cision.
Her eyes flashed quickly from the
vindictive yet triumphant fact Of Ar
relsford, whom she loathed, 10 the
pale, composed, set face of Thorne
whom she loved. and her glance fell
upon his wounded left wrist, tied up
the blood oozing through the handker
chief. A wave Of sympathy and ten
derness filled her breast He was
hurt suffering-that decided her.
With one brief, voiceless prayer to
God for guidance, she turned to Gen
eral Randolph, and 1t was we'll tina,
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 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 enjoined up
on him the propriety. the imperative
necessity, of playing the game to the
very end. The battle was not yet over
I 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
emotion.
Mr.. Arrelsford is mistaken. Gen
eral Randolph" she said quietly. Cap
tain Thorne has the highest authority
in this Office"
Arrelsford started violently anc
opened his mouth to speak, but Gen
eral Randolph silenced him with G
look The blood OF the old general was
up. and 1t had become impossible fol
anyone to presume in the least degree
Thorne started. too. The blood rushed
to his heart He thought he would
choke to death. What did the CIR
meanr'
The highest authority, SIR" con
flnuAd EdiIh VaHnaN cla,I,lnr d.