ous idea, seeing
that the prisoner was set with his back against the wall, a dozen paces
from his executioners.

She understood why her father had not mentioned it. For the last day or
two, he had sung the praises of Captain Ormsby, who was coming to dine
with them on Monday. He had thrown out a very distinct hint as to his own
admiration for that gentleman's sterling qualities.

There was no one to help Dora bear her sorrow. It prostrated her. But
for the forlorn hope that the escaped trooper might have made a mistake,
and that, after all, Dick might have been saved, she would have broken
down utterly.

It was unnecessary to tell the colonel that his well-meant postponement
of the sad news was wasted effort. He ventured awkwardly to comment upon
the death of their old friend.

"A good chap--a wild chap," he observed "but of no real use to anybody
but his country, which has reason to thank him. If I'd been in his place,
I should have done the same. But, if I'd done what he did before he left
home, I think I should have died in the firing line, quietly and
decently. Poor chap! Poor chap!"

"What do you mean by 'if you had done what he did before he left home?'"
asked the grief-stricken girl.

"I mean the forgery."

"What forgery?"

"Do you mean to say you haven't heard? Why, everybody knows about it.
Ormsby kept it dark as long as he could, but Herresford forced his hand.
Don't you know what they're saying?"

"I know what Mr. Ormsby said. But I warn you not to expect me to believe
any lie that ungenerous, cruel man has circulated about the man I loved."

"Well, they say he went out to the war to get shot."

"It's a lie!"

"He was in an awful hole, up to his eyes in debt, and threatened with
arrest. He almost ruined his father and mother, and forged his
grandfather's signature to two checks, robbing him of seven thousand
dollars--or, rather, defrauded the bank, for Herresford won't pay, and
the bank must. It is poor Ormsby who will be the sufferer. He suspected
the checks, and said nothing--just like him--the only thing he could do,
after the row at the club dinner."

"Is it on the authority of Mr. Ormsby that these foul slanders on my dead
lover have been made? Are they public property, or just a private
communication to you, father?"

"It is the talk of the town, girl. Why, his own mother has had to own up
that the checks were forgeries. He cashed two checks for her, and saw his
opportunity to alter t