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About The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 1896)
"I mean to say that the existence of confederate spy. between 'ibiscemp and the division headquarters is sum- ciently weli known to ui to justify the etrowrest action. "And pray, how can that affect ui?" aid Lagrange, haughtily. "I need not inform so old a eoldierma Col. Lagrange that the aiding, abetting, and even receiving information from a spy or traitor within one's lines is at equally dangerous service." v " ' "Perhaps yon would like to satisfy -yourself, general,'' said Col. Lagrange, with an ironical laugh. "Fray do not hesitate on account of our uniform I Search us if you like." ' 1 "Not on entering my lines,olonel," replied Brant, with quiet significance. Lagrange's cheek flushed. But he re covered himself quickly, and with a formal bow, said: "You will then per haps let me know your pleasure?" "My duty, colonel, is to keep yon both close prisoners here until I have an opportunity to forward you to the division commander With ft Tenors of the circumstances of your arrest. That I propose to do. How soon I may have that opportunity or if I am ever to have it" continued Brant, filing his clear eyes significantly on Lagrange, "depends upon the chances of War, which yon probably understand as well aldo." "We should never think of making any calculation on the action of an officer of such infinite resources as Gen. Brant," said Lagrange, politely. "You -will no doubt have an op portunity of stating your own case to the division commander," continued Brant, with an unmoved face. "And"; he continued, turning for the first time to Cant Faulkner, "when you tall the commander , what I believe to be the fact from your name and resemblance -that yon are a relation of the young lady who for the last three weeks has been an inmate of this house under a pass from Washington you . will, I have no doubt, favorably explain your own propinquity to my lines." ... "My sister, Time," ssid the jonngo ; fleer, impulsively. "But she is no longer here. She passed through the lines back to Washington yesterday. No," he added.with a light laugh, "I'm afraid that excuse won't count for to-day." A sudden frown upon the face of the elder officer, added to the perfect in genuousness of Faulkner's speech, sat isfied Brant that he had not unly elicited the. truth, but that Miss Faulk-1, ner had been successful! Nor did he' doubt that his suggestion that her re lationship to the young officer would incline the division commander to look leniently upon his fault and he felt a lingular satisfaction in thus being able to serve her. Of the real object of the two men before him he was convinced; they were "the friends" of his wife who' were waiting for her outside the lines! Chance alone had saved her from being rrested with them, with the con sequent exposure of her treachery be"-' fore his own men who as yet hid no proof of ber guilt, nor any suspicion of -her actual identity. Nor was his own chance of conveying her with saftty beyond his lines affected by this; the prisoners dare not reveal what they knew of her, and it was with a grim triumph that he thought of compassing her escape without their aid. Nothing of this, however-Was. visible'Jn, bis face, which the younger man watched with a kind of boyish, curiosity, iwhUe Col. Lagrange regarded the.celUng With a politely-repressed yawn. ' "I regret," ' concluded Brant, as he summoned the officer of the guard, "that I shall have to deprive you of each other's company during the time that you are hare-Ant I shall see that you, separately, want for nothing in your confine meat," '(, "If this is with a view to separate in terroeatory, genera, I can retire now." said Lagrange, rising with ironical po- J liteness. -I believe I have all-the information I require," returned Brant, with undis turbed composure. .Giving th neoesj sary orders to his subaltern, he ac. knowledged with equal calm the formal salutes of the two prisoners as they were led away and retyirned qulikly to bis bedroom above. He paused instinct ively for a moment befoK the. closed door and listened. There war no sound from within. Us unlocked the door and pened it Bo quiet was the interior that for an instant, without glancing at the bed, he caat-a-quiek -took -at the window, which, till then, he bad forgotten, and which he remembered gave egress upon theverandaroof. But it was still closed, and as. he approached thebednesawiii wife still lying there in the attitude in which he had left her. But her eyes were ringed and slightly filmed, as if with recent tears. ..' i J It wua, perhaps, this circumstance that softened bis voice, still harsh with command, as unsaid: v"' "I supposeyou know those two men?" "Yes." . "And' (hat I hsvve put It eirt of their, power to help you 7" , "I do." There was something so strangely submissive in her voice that he again looked suspiciously at her, But he was shocked tn - that she was qUiUi pale now, ni ' ' the fire bed goue-ont of her (' " . a. Jvou my own and ir "She is here." - ."Herer : - "Yi "Bow do you know ltr he asked, in quick suspicion. "She was not to leave this place until she knew I was safe within our line I have some friends who are faithful k me." After a pause she added i "She has been already." ' " . He looked at her, startled. "Impos-eible-I-" : v "You locked the door. Yes, but she has a second key. And even if she had not there is another entrance from that closet You do not know this house; you have been here two weeks; I spent two years of my life, as a girl, In this room." - An indescribable sensation came over him; he remembered how he had felt when he first occupied it; this was fol lowed by a keen sense of shame on re flecting that he had been, ever since, but: helpless puppet in the power of his enemies, and that she could have escaped if she would, ever now. ft I. . "Perhaps," he said, grimly, "you have already arranged your plans." She looked at him with a singular re- proachf illness even in her submission. "I have only told her to be ready to change clothes with me and help me color my face and hands at the time appointed. I have left the rest to you; "Then this iemy plan. I have changed only, a detail. You and she must both leave this house at the same time, ny different exits, and one of them must be nrivate and unknown to my men. Do you know of such a one?" yes," she earn, '-nenae the .negro quarter.'', v . ; . y I 1 "Good"." no replied." "That will be your way out She will leave here pub licly, through the quarters, armed with a pass from me. She will-be--over1 hauled and challenged by the first sen try, near the guard house, below the wall. She will be subjected to some de lay and scrutiny, which she wiU,how:J ever, be able to pass better than you would This will create the momentary diversion that werequire. In the mean time, you will have left the house by the wing, and you will then keep in the ahadow of the hedge until you can drop down along the run, where it empties into the swamp. That," he continued, fixing his keen eyes upon her, "is the weak point in the position of this place,. that is neither over!ooked-nor defended. But, perhaps," he added again, grimly. ?you already knawltr' -"It is the marsh where the flowerr grow, near the path where you met alias Faulkner. I had -crossed . AhcA msrsh to give her a letter, she said, slowly. A bitter smile came over Brant s face. but passed as quickly. - Enough," he said, quietly, "1 will meet you beside the run and cross the marsh with you until you. are within hailing distance of your lines. I will be hi plain clothes, Alice," he went ou, slowly, "for it will not be the com mander of this force who accompanies you, but your husband, and, without disgracing his uniform, he will-at least be your equal, for the instant he passes his own lines, in disguise, be will be come like you, a spy, and amenable to its penalties." Her eyes seemed suddenly to leap up to his with that strange look of awaken ing and enthusiasm which he had noted before. And in' its complete preposses sion iff all her instincts she rose from the bed unheeding her bared arms and shoulders and loosened hair, and stood upright before him. For an instant, husband and wife stood beside each other as unreservedly aa in the nuptial chamber of iiobles. , "When shall Igor He rlaneed through the window, al ready growing lighter with the coming dawn. The relief would pass in a few momenta; the time seemed propitious. "At once," he said. "I will send Hose to you." i ? ' ft'1 But she had already passed into the closet, and was tapping upon some in ner door. He heard the sound of hinges turning and the rustling of garments. She reappeared, holding the curtains of the. closet together, with her hand and said: "Co! When she tomes to yow office for the pass, Jro will know that 1 have gone." He turned away. "Stop!" she said faintly. He turned back. Her expression had again changed, Her face was deadly pole;' a strange remqf seemed to have taken possession of her. She dropped the curtain. Her beautiful arms moved slightly forward; It seemed to him that she would in tie next moment haveex tended both her hands, uuteventnen she said hurriedly: "Go! Go!" and slipped ogaili behind the curtain. ' He quickly descended the stairs as the sound of trampling feet on the road and . the hurried word of command an nounced the return eff the scouting par ty. The offcer hod little report to make, .beyond, the fact that a morning inisW creeping a)ongthe ivailey, .pre vented any further observation, and bads fair to Interrupt their own com munications -with the camp. Every thing was quiet in the west, although the enemy's lines, along the ridge jwemed ,bnv,reeeiled. Brant' had ltotcpefl impatiently, for a new idi.il had seined bim, Hooker was of the party, ami wath one man in once made his way to the commissary Wngons, one of which he knew Hooker used us a tent Hastily telling bim that be wished to visit the pickets without recognition, he induced him to lend '4. him his slouched hat and frock coat, leaving with him his own distinguish ing tiuiic, hat and sword. Tie resisted the beltaiidpistolswliiclillookcrwould have forced upon Mm. An hu loft, the wagon he was half amusedly conscious that his old companion was character istically exuniining the garments he had left behind with mingled admira tion and envy. But be did not know, oa he slipped out of the camp, that Mr. Hooker was quietly trying them on, be fore, a broken mirror in the wagon bead. .. The gray light of that summer morn ing was already so strong that to avoid i detection he quickly dropped into the SIISOOW Ol uie kuiiy iiwv biu(icu i' wardstherun. Thchotniistv ;Mi -iw scouts had seen was now lyiiifc'JiU ; tranquil sea between him and tin- i:i ets of the enemy's rear guard, ii,;.ii it seemed to submerge, and was cllujr:!;; in moist tenuous swathes like dni.-.n out cotton wool along the ridge, half obliterating its face. From the valley In the rear it was already stealing in a thin white line up the slope like the advance of a ghostly column, with a stealthlness that, in spite of himself, touched him with suiierstitious sipnin cance. A warm perfume, languid and treacherous, as from the swamp mag nolia seemed to rise from the. half hid den marsh, An ominouB silence that ap peared to i be a part of this veiling of all things under the clear, opal tinted sky-above was so little like thehush of rest and peace that he half yearned for the outburst of musketry and tumult of attack that might dispel It All that he had ever heard br dreamed of the in sidious south, with its languid aubleties, of climate, and of race, seemed to en:, compass bim here, But the next moment he saw the fl.Tures he was waiting for stealing towards him from the ahadow of the gully beneath the negro quarters, , Even in that uncertain light there was no mistaking the tall figure, the' gaudily striped, clinging gown andtur-' bancil heud. And then n strange revul sion of feeling, quite characteristic of the emotional; side of bis singularitem perameut, overcame bim. He was tak ing leave of his wife- the dream of his youth perhaps forever! It should be no parting in . anger as at lioules; it iliould be with n tenderness that would blot Out their post in their separate memories Godknowsl ltmight heaven a parting that at that moment was a joining of them in eternity; In his mo mentary exaltation it even struck him that It was n duty, no less sacred, no less unselfish than the one to which he had devoted his life. The light was growing stronger; he could hearToices iu the nearest picket line, and the "00. tO.'slMMlt. sound of a cough in the invading mist. He made a hurried sign to the oncom ing figure to follow him, ran ahead and baited at last in the cover of a hack-ma-tack bush. Still gosing forward over the marsh, he steadily held out his hand behind him, as the rustling skirt carae nearer. At last his band was touched buteven at that touch he started, and turned quickly. It was not bis wife, but Kosel her mulatto doublet Her face was rigid with fright, her beady eyes staring in their china sockets; her white teeth chattering. Yetshewouldhavespoken. "Hush! " he said, clutching her hand, in a fierce whisper. "Not a word I" She was holding something white in her fingers; he snatched Itquickly. It was a note from his wife not in the dis guised band of her first warning, but, in one that he remembered aa if it were a voice from their past. "Forgive my disobeying yon to save you from capture, disgrace or death which would have some to you where you were going! I have token Rose's pass. You need not fear that your honor will suffer by it, for if I am stopped I shall eonfess that ! took It from her. Think no more of me, Clar ence, but only for yourself. You are in danger." ,. , ., . ..... f.. ... . , He crushed the letter in his hand. "Tell me," he said. In a fierce whisper, seising her arm, "and speak low. When 'did you leave her?" ' ; - "Sho'ly just now!" gasped the frightened woman He flung her aside. T(iere might be still time to overtake' and save her be fore she -reached the picket line. He ran up the gully and out on to theslope towards the first guard post. Butftfa- miliar challenge reached his ear, and his heart stopped beatingv Yvnogdes iuerer' . Then was a pause, a rattle oi arms. voices, another pause and Brant-stood rooted tothe spot 'Then the voice rose again, Slowly and -clearly ; "Pass, the mulatto -woman 1" Thank God! she wassaved!: But the thought bad scarcelv' Crossed hi mind before it seemed to him that a blinding crackle of sparks bunt out alon the whole slope below the wall, a charac teristic yell, which be knew too well, rang in his ears, -and an undulating line of dusty soldiers came leaping like gray wolves out of themutt upon his pivqra, n ooara tae Shouts of his lutm Alitor talk M JU flreai rvlng to their posts, and knew that be v. as hopelessly surprised and sur rounded. " He ran forward among ,hls disorgan ized men. To his consternation no one Kecuied to heed bim I Then the remcm- urance or nis disguise flashed upon hjm. But be had only time to throw :vay his hat and snatch n, sword from ii fulling lieutenant before a scorching flash seemed to pass before his eves I mid burn through his hair, and he uruppeo nne a log oeaiae nis subaltern. An aching under tlie bandsge around his head, where the spent bullet had grased his scalp, and the sound of im possible voices tin his ears were all he knew as he struggled slowly back to consciousness again. Even then It still teniPd a delusion, for he wn; lying In tin" hospital of the 'headquarters, with oii o'i'H of thedlvisionsbtrT around him, mid the division conimundcr himself Standing by his cot, and rcgunlisgjilm with uu air of grave, but not unkindly concern. Hut the wounded man felt in stinctively that it was not the effect of his physical condition, and a sense of shame came suddenly over him. which was not dissipated by bis supe rior s worus. ror, motioning the others aside; the major general leaned over his cot, and said: ' ' '" ' "Until a few month ago the report wis that yon had been captured in the .'lint rush of the rear guard, which we vre rolling up for your attack, and when'yoii were picked up, Just now, In plain clothes on the slope, you were not recognized. The one thing seemed to be as improbable aa the other," he added, significantly. The miserable truth' flashed across Brant's mind. Hooker must have been captured In his clothes perhaps in some extravagant aally-Muid had not been recognized in the confusion by his pwn officers. Nevertheless he raised his eyes to his superior. "You got my note?" " '" "' The general's brow darkened. "Yes," he said, slowly, "but finding you thus unprepared I had been thinking just now that you had been deceived by that woman or by others and thnt.it was a clumsy forgery. He stopped, and seeing the hostess bewilderment in the face of the wounded man, added, more kindly: "Hut we will not tulk of that In your present condition. . The doctor says a few hours will put you straight again. Get i strong fori' J want yon to lose no time for your own sake to report yourself at Wash ington." " "Report myself at Washington!'' rqiented Brant, slowly. .. "That was last night's order," aatd the commander; with military curt iiuss, Then he burst out: "I dou't un derstand it, Urantl , I believe you have lieen misunderstood, misrepresented, iwrhaps maligned and I shall moke It my business to see the thing through but these are the department orders. And for the present I am sorry to say you are relieved of your command," He turned away, and Brant closed hiseyes. With it it seemed to him that lie closed his career. No one would ever understand his explanation even bad he been tempted to give it, and lie knew he never would. Everything was over now, Even this wretched bullet had not struck him fairly, and culmi nated his fata aa it might For an in stant he recalled his wife's last offer to fir with him bevond the seas be yond this Scruel injustice but even he recalled it he knew that flight meant the worst of all a half confes sion. But she had escaped. Thank Mod for thatl Again and again, In his hopeless perplexity, this comfort re turned to him. He had saved bar; He had done his duty. And harping upon this in bis strauge fatalism, it at last seemed to him that this was for what he bad lived,, for what he had suffered, for what he had fitly ended his career. Perhaps it was left for him now to pass bis remaining yean in forgotten exile, even as his father had, his father his breath came quickly at the thought God knows, perhaps as wrongfully accused. It may have been a provi dence that she had borne no child, to whom this dreadful heritage could be transmitted. (To bo continued.) , The Exi'RKss would like tome bay on subscription. SEASIDE EXCURSION TICKETS Bummer excursion tioketa, good to return until October 10th, to Yaqulna Bay, are now on sale by the Oregon Central k Eastern R. R. at Albany and Corvallis at the usual reduced rates, vli: r . Albany to Yaqulna and return 13 50 Corvallis ... " ". " 8 25 In this connection arrangements have been mailt) whereby the tug "Resolute" lias been placed in regular service between Yaquiuaand Newport for the secomniodatlou of excursionist. Tba "Besolute" is one of the Iftrgegt and most , commodious tugs on the Pacific coast and will take fishing par ties to si'Aand ruturu, whenever desired the weather permitting. , SUNDAY BXCUHBIONB. . i Beginning with Sunday, June Slut, and on euoli succeeding Hiimlu.v, a special ' excursion train 'will leave Albany at 7 A.M.,: Corvallis 7:80 A.M.) arriving at Yaquinu at 11:16 A. M. Itetumlng, boat leaveB Newport at 6-0 p. M. Train leaves Yaqulna at 7 p. M., arriving at Corvallis at 10 p. M. and Albany at 10:30 p, M. Fare, ood on this train only, from Corvallis, Albany and Philomath to Newport and return, 11.80. CoRVAiiMS, June 17, 1896. H. L. Waidejt, H. B. LowMANj Agent, Albany. '. Agent, Corvallis. TisT.a'lavViS&sW leiSssiciarilcs!" - .jijiP"- ,"nfi GSYCXA.Vujf' r'.ihWi5irtf , this year In raluaMv i :7 ,,,!!!'? 1 1 articles tosniOken of V ' i i ! , "' Blackweir ; '' :.. jte - - j J j I '! I J ; : - Tobacco- --- 1 1 BMHMS)fTfcsF Jr,. '. 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