Page:Randall Parrish - The Red Mist.djvu/230

 214 "By no means. Her purpose was to acquaint you with the conditions, to relieve your suspense, and permit you to realize her friendliness. I was to tell you this frankly, but not to urge any decision upon you."

"And I thank you, Captain Fox, and beg you to express to her my appreciation of her kind loyalty. Her interest has brought me happiness even here. But I cannot accept the terms offered by Colonel Pickney. I will give him no information relative to General Jackson's command. My former decision was final. My life is of small account in this struggle, and its preservation would be no excuse for treachery."

Fox grasped my hand firmly in both his own.

"I am glad of your decision, Wyatt," he said earnestly. "I had no doubt of what it would be; nor do I think she had. Is there anything I can do? Any comfort I can add?"

"Only one; I would ask of Miss Harwood a single favor. It is that she write my mother the conditions of my death—a woman can do that best."

He took an envelope from his pocket, and a pencil.

"How should such a letter be addressed?"

"Mrs. Margaret Wyatt, Goldsboro, North Carolina."

"I can promise you it shall be done. I sincerely wish, Wyatt, we had met under pleasanter