Roxy Hastings — page 99: what you’re looking at

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90 ROXY HASTINGS. excuse me. You can eat and drink, and smoke as long as you please,” They arose to go, of course, Hess saying he’d have the table cleared early in the morning. , ‘“Here’s something for you to drink my health with,” handing a piece of gold to each, “and perhaps day after to-morrow morning I may as well divide what’s left—that is, if the news comes, you know.” “About Gray—oh, yes.” “Because then my time will be short. But probably I sha’n’t want much supper to-morrow night—lI’ll have something else to think of, But we’ll see, and let you know.” ‘All right.” CHAPTER XVII, THE MINISTER. The plot which Lee and his friend Hartley had in view was one of too unpromising a character to be attempted, except in the last extremity. That extremity had not arrived. Gray might not be put to death. His punishment might be remitted or commuted, and then Alfred would be restored to his former position — as an ordinary prisoner of war. But they were not left long in uncertainty on this vital | point, for the following day news was received by the Con- federate authorities that the sentence against their young | lieutenant had been promptly carried into effect, and the provost-marshal was directed to communicate the intelli- gence to the prisoner Lee, and to bid him prepare for death on the ensuing day at three o’clock in the afternoon. Although these tidings had been hourly expected they were startling, ay, almost stunning to both the young men, and all Alfred’s dim hope of escape seemed suddenly to vanish from his mind. They would not abide the light of calm, sober reflection. Yet Louis insisted that they should not abandon hope, but that they should proceed with the plot, the preliminary scene in which had already: been enacted, although they had little faith in its successful issue. Perhaps they might gather courage as they went on, and some unforeseen event might occur to brighten the prospect which now seemed so shadowy and remote. Eomicbooks.co