OCR Text |
Show One August Night in 61. flUKUS P07XINS' LAST STOKV PLOT, VFIUTTEX 1ROM HIS OKililNAL SKETCH. Copyrighted. All rights reserved. CHAPTER II. LOVE AND WAR. front 01 Hie party, out tney were ieu uy a man in the uniform of a sergeant, who pointed and said: "This is mi officer in the Confederate army. He is a spy." "He is Mr. Willett. at whose home I have been a finest," said Mrs. Armytage, with wonderful calmness; but, while she spoke with a steady voice, she leaned against the seat for support. "Young man," said Col. Arraytage'i.t will be necessary for you, under the cir-cumstances, to" explain your presence here at the headquarters of the Union commander. I hope you can do so satis-factorily," Oliver said firmly, "I have no explana-tion to make." "Oen. Lyon has been warned," Col. Armytage continued, "that a spy would visit these premises to get in-formation as to our plans for I sincerely regret that my wife's friend has rendered himself liable to detention, and I trust that he has not endeavored to use knowledge that he may have gained in social intercourse. Guards, conduct this gentleman to the general." Oliver thought vaguely of trying to es-cape, but the grasp of the soldiers was upon him. Then he recollected Mrs. Armytage's letter, and his hand went involuntarily to his breast. She saw the gesture and knew what it meant. She clung to the seat, only by a hard resist-ance preventing herself from falling into it. Col. Armytage also saw the movement, and said, as Oliver was marched away, "Search him for docum-ait- s that he may be carrying." To be continued next Saturday. devote to his regained wife. Frivolous Mrs. Dimmock, interested by the hurly-burl- had no thought of the farm house that she had so recently quitted; but Mrs. Armytage wandered away into the garden. She sat on a bench, leaned against the tree that made a back for it, and turned her face toward thebrightmoon, which had risen just high enough to shine over the wall that lined the garden on that side. Externally ehe was the placid, cool, young beauty. In her mind, so well hidden by her char-acteristic self controlwas being formed, and not without a struggle, a firm reso-lution to think no more of Oliv er Willett. A noise at the wall startled her, and Oliver leaped over. He stood before her, took off his hat, and bowed low. His entranco to the garden had been rapid and resolute; but now he was hesitant, as though a little confounded by his situation. Mrs. Armytage rose, and looked at him with wonder in her lustrous eyes, as she said: "What brings you here?" "You," he answered. "You are reckless." "A lover knows no fear." "But he should not let his own fear-lessness be the destruction of the woman he loves." "What do you mean?" t "Did you got the message that I left for you?" "Yes; and came with it to its author." They had spoken so rapidly that their dialogue thus far had been as inconsider-ate as it was exciting to them; yet she maintained by far the most composure, and when he would have grasped her hands she stepped back with a show of displeasure. "My letter told, you," she said, "that you must never see meagain that there was a sufficient reason why we must not meet." "It told me, too," he said, uncoolcd by her repellent munner, "what your lips had refused to tell. I had begun to believe that you were heartless, and the sudden knowledge of the truth that you loved mo was like stimulant to an invalid potent to make the blood tin-gle, the heart bound and the brain whirl. What could I do but dome to you?" "Forget It if I wrote anything to en-courage your madness. I was thought-less I scrawled hurriedly to escape ob-servation. Remember only that I said we must not even think of each other." "I know the letter word for word." lie took from a pocket a crumpled sheet of paper that looked like a page torn from a diary; but he scarcely glanced "He it a spy." Half an hour later, Mrs. Armytage and Mrs. Djmmock were alone in the garden, . wheu a lumbering carriage rolled to the gate. Col. Armytage, of the Union army, was tho man who alighted. His hair was white enough for seventy years, hut his skin was sulliciently ruddy and smooth for fifty; and his age was a fair compromise betwixt the two that is, sixty. He kissed his wife and said, "Your color indicates some sort of emo-tion, and that is unusual in you." She replied; with perfect equanimity, that a wife ought to be pleasurably agitated on meeting her husband after a separation. "I have come to take you back to Springfield," said he. Mrs. Armytage was frightened, and she furtively scanned his face for information of the reason; but there was no anxioty betrayed in her tone when she asked if they were to go soon. There was more feeling in the exclamation, "I am glad," after he had said, "Immediately." r "I'm not," said Mrs. Dimmock. " The arrival of a carriage was not so common an event as to be uninteresting, and from the house emerged several ser- - vants. . As they came toward the colonel he hastily said to his wife and Mrs. Dim-mock: "Gen. Lyon has arrived at Spring-field. There is to be a forward movement. "We can't leave you longer in a Confed-erate household. HubIi they must not hoar." i i .May Willett came out, and Col. Army tage was presented to her. She wel-comed him gracefully; and being told that her visitors were about to go away, oaid that she was very sorry, which was si lie that politeness required of her. Mrs. Armytage hurried the prepara-tions for departure with all her might, because she hoped to avoid a meeting between her husband and Oliver or Tu-dor. She whispered her purpose to May, who gave aid to its accomplishment. Cot Armytage went into the house for a glass of water before starting. May accompanied him. The two wives were waiting impatiently in the yard, when Oliver Willett and Tudor Bowne saun-tered into it together. Mrs. Armytage fled like a coward into the house. Oliver attributed her withdrawal to displeasure at his recent half made avowal of love. From Mrs. Dimmock he learned of the intended sudden departure, and he con-nected it instantly with his previous guess that his love making had given of-fense. Mrs. Diuuuock made a bold stroke by saying: "Col. Armytage is in the house her father," repeating the latter words so as to fix them iu Oliver's mind, "and he will take us away within five minutes. How, listen to me," and she put her arms carelessly through those of the men. "He says ihe condition of this section Is dangerous, lie is a Union officer, and the folks around here are Confederates. Now, if his identity became known he might be treated roughly. So please avoid mentioning his iiatne or his relation to Miss Armytage." Oliver did not answer, but Tudor said: "When you command, I obey," and went into the house with the able young falsi-Jtie- r. Mrs. Armytage soon came out, wear-ing a hat and a light cloak, in readiness for the ride. On seeing Oliver alone she would have retired had he not detained her.. t "Here in Missouri," he said, very earn-estly, "our ways are blunter than yours of the eastern cities. I love you you know it." She endeavored to get past him, but he stopped her by a clasp of her at it as he recited what was penciled on it. "It says: 'The past two weeks were to me like a brief existence in another life than my own. I had never loved any man. My situation forbade me to enter-tain such a sentiment, except for one who was powerless to excite it. You made me love you.'" He held the writing before her, and added triumphantly, "they are your words." "Blot them out and read the rest." She stood with folded arms as passive as a statue. He read, aided by his recol-lection and the bright light of the moon: "I am free to confess it because I also tell you that I must abjure the passion that makes me irresolute, while I write out my own sentence. I.cannot bear to explain to you the reason why we must be strangers, but it is absolute, irresiti-ble- , final." , "Why do you come here after that?" she said, still calm. "I come to learn what the thing is that can part us." "I will not tell you?" "Is it that you are a Unionist and I an officer in the Confederate army?" "No; that is not the reason." He argued no more, but said, "You puzzle me," as he thrust the paper into a breast pocket. She looked toward the house, with a thought for the first time of being observed, so absorbed had she been, despite her self possession. "Somebody will come," she said. "Go at once. If you were recognized here you might bo put under arrest." lie instantly concluded that her re-pulse of him had been caused by her fear for his safety. That was pleasing to his vanity, and allaying to the doubts that had been taking shape in his mind as to whether sho did love after all. He clasped her passionately. She did not Struggle to escape, but resolved instead on tho course that she well knew would be more effectual, and which she was convinced she could not now avoid. She said: "Oh, must 1 abase myself before you? I desired you to forget me, or remember me respectfully. You compel me to tell you what it is that must keep us apart. I am a wife." She was freed instantly.. Not that he with intention recoiled from her; but his arms relaxed involuntarily, and he stood with the limpness of a man who had re-ceived a terrible physical as well as men-tal shock. He gasped out, after a pause: wrist. "A second, I beg. I recall the avowal. I do not wish to violate usage or propriety I will ask your father's consen to woo you. lie is here, and I will speak to him frankly." Mrs. Armytage perceived the error into which Oliver had been led as to Col. Armytage's relationship to her. She said entreatinglys "No, no don't spoak to liim!" "Why not? My love is honorable." "Mine is not." This was her hasty thought, tittered before she had considered how much of confession it conveyed. "Then you do lovo me?" said Oliver, catching only at one phase of her meani-ng-lie would have clasped her, but she drew back, saying: "Hush! Ho is com-ing. In heaven's name, Oliver, do not ay anything to him. I will tell you why home time. 1 have written a message to you. It is behind the mirror iu my room. Look for it after I am gone." He sei"d her hand, and was about to kiss it, when Col. Armytage and the rest came out of the bouse. Ho stepped back , into a Bhadow, from which, unseen, he heard them bid adieu to his sister aud saw them ride away. "Drive fast," said Col. Armytage to the negro who held the reins. He added to the women, "This neighborhood is not over safe for us." , "It is full of peril," said Mrs. Army tage. The journey of ten miles to Springfield was made in the early evening, and it conveyed Col. Armytage and the two ladies direct to the house where he had for a week been provisionally quartered. The town was a hubbub of military oc-cupation. Gen. Lyon meant to advance upon the Confederates net day, and the preparations were confused, for in those oarly days of the war the operations had little of the precision and orderliness siibsoquemly achieved. Col. Armytngc'n absence, though brief, had loft his duties n accumulate, aud fee had no time to i "A wife, did you say?" "Yes; wife of the man you thought was my father." The first definite sentiment that was formed out of the jumbling of ideas in his mind was resentment; and he began: "Your deceit" "You will forgive me," she pleaded, in tone as well as in words, "when you know that at the first I had no deliberate thought of seriously deceiving you, when you consider the self condemnation I have suffered, when I tell you that the determination to be an honorable wife is made at tho cost of a breaking heart." Her attitude of supplication, her eyes, that he bad never before seen to hold tears, her voice, that be had never before heard to express passion theso drove the resentment out of his thoughts, and left only tho overmastering knowledge of the reality of her love. Therefore, it is not surprising that he said: "Struggle no more, but go with me now. I will take you away from your unloved husband." He ugain put his arms around her. and sho partly through an effort to free her-self and partly through an unconsidered impulse slid down to her knees. She clung to his hands while she said: "Don't break my good resolution! Don't use your influence for evil, but sus-tain me in my honor!" He lifted her tenderly to her feet and said: "Your rebuke makes me ashamed of myself. Good-by.- " "Farewell; and remember that my good repute is in your keeping." He took her hand respectfully. "I sweur," ho said, with all the solemnity that could attend a more formal oath taking, "by the hand that I may never hold again, by my unalterable love, that I will sooner give up my life than this secret." ' He started toward the wall, but turned hack as though to say something more.' He saw her standing rigid and white in the moonlight ami people hurriedly ap- - j uroaebing. - Col. Armytage was at the Wlvn Y"" Can Buy 4 Lots in-- -- - ' Davis, Sharp & Stringer's .d.dLitiors."? CORNER OF SECOND WEST A1?;D TENTH SOUTH, On small Cash Payment, and within 30 days after Electric; Car Line, I already commenced, on Second West, is completed, sell 3 Lots for Profit I sufficient to build nn remaining Lot. I If you prefer to move into your own home today, J we have Six New Modern Style Houses just com- - J pletcd, six Large Rooms, Fine Closets, Three --- j Verandas, City Water, Elegrant Location, close in, splendid view, near electric car line, ONLY $3800 EACH, a"d Five Years to pay out at only 6 per cent interest. Don't Fail to see Watkins' Addition .JoJ" U.'bert ?arl a tlio Su.tl. DAVIS & STRINGER, ' tte CuUen Ho&L 23 West ScCOIld Soiltll Ladies, go to 44 Wasatch block for English ruling habits. .i. Bargains in every line of furniture at Barratt Bros. We arc solo agents for the Miller & Christy hats. Bast-Makshal- Mkr. Co. 142 Main street. New goods arrivihg every day at Barratt Bros, furniture store. English ladies are tineequestriencs be-cause) they have perfect fitting habits made by S. T. Taylor's system, at 41 Wasatch block. - I, Pabst Brewing Cof (Formerly PHILIP BEST) e 2:ii-Vs7'A."Cj-3- :t wis; te-- 'hi,. ml in, Export, Bohemian, Hoffbrau and Select Blue Ribb jm Keg and Bottled Beers shipped immediately upon order. "'ill THE FAMILY TRADE SOLICITE- D- 2 FREE DELIVERY! TELEPHONE 3f ' see B. K. BLOCHa"dCo, m t, ST. --JgesXS i;rea n ' II'SCO Pembroke, quick job printer. f WE HANDLE Bnsiness, Eesiflence ai Country Property, Improvecl and. Unimpioved. Parties wishing to buy or sell Realty had better see us. Our motto: "Small Profits aud Quick Turns." Correspondence Solicited. W. L BARRET & CO, 207 S. Main St.. Salt Lake City, Utah. --EXCLUSIVE DEALERS I-N- B 111 Sole Agents for JamBS Means' $3.00 Spencer & Kimball, 160 Main Street. Ladies, before you go to the beach, call at 44 Wasatch block ami get one of those lovely seaside hats for almost nothing. W. H. McClure & Co. real estate. Choico business anh residence property. Quick sales and sure returns. No. 00 West Second South street. Mllllnrry Millinery t Children's hats below cost at Mrs. Christy's, 81 W. First South. Summer patterns iu hats at Mrs. Christy's. l aco Huts. New stock just arrived at Mrs. Bonn Steele's, 108 E. Second Smith street, at reduced prices. Call and see them. Brighton is now virtually tho only suburb that Salt Lake City lias. Edwin w. Se.moii. Cheapest carpet, wall paper and fur-niture at. S. H. Marks & Co. oi nc pin WORTH STAB RefrigeratoI 1 I'latcr I lit a- wlr vix&sml i I, " S C ' Wt&vPi w r. S MIL m fcS 1'$ a eefiiff 9w0ia d ? f. t scia oU3r by tne Salt Lake Hardware Ci i Liners 32 WEST SECOND SOUTH STREET. Hhy tfl Headquarters for Rubber Hose,.Lawn Mowers, Hamm Guns, Fishing Tackle- - and. Sporting Goods. I Dmifnrria Shoo Store. Opposite the Salt Lake theater. Our stock of summer shoes and slippers is complete which we otVor at the lowest price. Remember the nam and num-ber. KAi'llJ TltANSIT Between Salt Lake City and Brighton. Our street car line is now being built and is to he finished in ninety days. We therefore offer to the public lots in this growing suburb, Brighton, for a limited time only, in installments of $1 per week or $5 per month without in-terest. Wo will givo to every buyer of lots in Brighton a written guarantee that this carliue shall be in full oper-ation on or before the first day of De-cember or to refund all money paid us with interest. Our main offices are lo cated at Brighton, where you will find courteous clerks to show you all over tho grounds. Tho train leaves the Utah & Nevada railway every day at 1 o'eloek p. ni. for Brighton, returning to Salt Lake City at 4 o'clock. Fare for round trin, 15 cents. Branch office, at 47 and 48 Culiuer block, where full particulars can be had on application. Edwin W., Sknior, manager.- - Notice. Leave orders for the Salt Lake City Brewing Co's. lager beer at the follow-ing places: Wilson & Busby's, bar, Nos. 55 and 57 h. Second South street. P. T. Nystroms, corner Commercial and First South streets, and Fountain Beer Hall, Main street. Jacob Mourns. For the Habit. AM of the latest styles of hoods and raps in silk, cashmere and lawn at half their regular prices. We also have a lot of slightly soiled hoods that we will sell from 5 to 25 cents apiece, worth from 40 to 75 cents. At the assignee sale at 55 Main st. Choice maple syrup, the finest in tho land, Hamond's choice hams and bacon new goods and choice fruits arriving every dav at O. B. Durst's. 73 and 74 E. 2nd South St. Free carriages will be in waiting to convey you to any part tit Brighton if you take tho 1 o'eloek train on tho Utah & Nevada railway. Enwix W. Skniok. Cattle anil horse Brands a specialty at the Novelty Manufacturing company, 01 Eabt Third South street. Satisfaction guaranteed at Empire Steam Laundry, 21 Commercial street. Telephone 04. Below Cost. Children's uiitrimmeil hats below cost at Mrs. Christy's, 81 YV. First South. Ae open today a splendid line of silver bangles, bracelets, charms and hair ornaments in newest and hand-somest goods of this class ever placed on the market. Don't fail to see t hem Davidson, Levson & McCrsE. lhe following properties are for sale j on very easy terms. Inquire of E. B. i Wicks. 252 South Main street: j A 11x10 corner on Brigham and O. facing south and west. j A seven-acr- e tract corners on Ninth East and South Boulevard, facing south and ea.it Beautiful twenty acres on the East Bench, little south of Terrace Heights, with full water right. Also the best iuvestment in the whole ,city, Poplar Grove lots, only $200; one-thir- d cash, one-thir- d ono rear, oue-tliir- d two years: 8 per cent interest. A beautiful corner on Tenth East, 81 xl.V feer. between First and Second .South, cheap and on easy terms. |