The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-26


ly cannot expect an untutored provincial
maid who carries no such orderly appli
ance about with her to charge her mind
unaided."
San untutored provincial maidP' ex-
claimed Sir Harry, all his wrath extin-
guished by her pretty recognition OF his
flowers and his admiration of her ready
wit. can untutored provincial maid By
my faith, Miss Sibyl, you'd put to shame
many court dame. But bark, what's
thatP As live, the musicians are tuning
I'D for the minuet, !" and smilingly he held
out his hands to her.
Sir Harry, boy as he was, spite OF MS
one and twenty years, was giving vent to
a little boastful talk about the army and
"those undisciplined rebels who would
never stand the test against full regi-
ment of regulars.
ssWhy," Sir Harry declared at length,
led on by Sibyl's air of great interest, 1--WE
have positive information that their troops
at Cambridge have neither arms nor am
munition to carry on defense, and they
are in sorry condition every way-it is i'm
possible for them to resist us successfully.
We shall literally sweep them off the face
of the earth if they attempt it. x
tAnd you-the kings troopsT' 1nqu1r-
cd Sibyl.
"We-well, we have been little strait
ened ourselves for the munitions OF war"
Replied the young aid-de-camp, "but by to-
morrow night vessel will arrive for us
that will relieve all such necessities"
"Ah," with gay smile, "what would
not these rebels give to get possession OF
this information and put their cruisers on
the alert to capture such prize. But
there is no possibility of thiss"
All this in the pauses of the dance.
When they started up again, the music had
accelerated it's time, and down the great
hall they led the way at a fine pace. But
in swinging about to return Sir Harry
felt his companion falter.
ssWhat is it?' he asked anxiously.
sMy slipper" she replied, with vexed
laugh, and STOPPING as she spoke she
whisked off little satin shoe, the high
hollow metal heel of which had suddenly
given way.
Something could be done. She was to
60 to Nine. Bontineau's rout the next
evening. She needed these very slippers
for that occasion.
Would Sir Harry, on his way % hh
quarters that night, would he think It b.
meath his dignity to leave the slipper ct
Anthony Styles, the shoemaker's? It was
just there by the tavern, at the sign OF
the gilded boot.
He had only to drop the shoe, with a
message she would write to go with it,
into the tunnel box by the door, and An
thony would find it by daylight and set to
work upon it at once that she might not
be disappointed, for it was a longish job,
she knew.
And would he then give her bit of pa
per and pencil and take her to the cloak
room for moment?
Alone in the cloakroom, Sibyl wrote
her message to Anthony Styles. Folding
the paper in the slipper and wrapping the
whole in her pocket handkerchief, she fas-
tened the parcel securely with the silken
cord that had held her fan.
stAnd may I have the last dance tomor-
row night?" asked Sir Harry smilingly as
he took leave of her few minutes later.
aPerhaps-if I may depend upon YOU
and Anthony Styles" she answered. Her
eyes sparkled like dark jewels as she spoke;
her cheeks burned like red twin roses.
And in the midst of pretty disorder of
satin and lace and flowers sits Sibyl, far
into the night, or rather morning, turning
over and over in her mind something that
effectually banishes sleep.
ssTo think that it should be given to me
to do-made my duty! Uncle jeffrey
taught me that, as he has taught me many
things these past months-to keep my
own counsel, for one thing.
ssYet felt like cheat tonight as led
Sir Harry on to tell me what he did-Sir
Harry, who thinks me, as all the rest do,
stanch little Tory, for I have kept my
counsel indeed, and no one suspects.
eyes, have done my duty, for-'the
reporting of important facts, however
gained, in times of war, Is part of war tao
tics
ooh, could laugh, could laugh if
didn't shiver 50 when / think Of It'll Sir
Harry-Sir Harry of all persons-dropping
that message into Anthony Styles hands
Anthony Styles, the stanch rebel, whom
they think a stanch Tory"
The clock was striking 4 the next after
noon when weather beaten man, VIII
had look as if he had once been a sea-
man, knocked at the side door OF Mr.. JEFF
frey Merridew's mansion and asked to see
young Mistress Merridew
cts Shoemaker Styles" the maid in
formed Sibyl, land he says you must come
down and try on the slipper he has brought
he's not sure about the neel. He's in
the hall room, men,"
He stood with the slipper in his hand as
she entered the room, and before she could
close the door behind her he called out in
a frank, loud voice, 81 thought you had
better try on the shoe, miss-I wasn't
sure Of the heel"
The moment the door was closed, how
ever, he came forward eagerly, and in
low tone said:
''It's all right, little mistress. heard
the click of the tunnel box last night, for
hadn't turned in, and afore many min
utes was up and off in my boat with the
message-in my head. burnt the paper"
'sAnd it's all right, and the end will be
all right?" faltered Sibyl anxiously.
s'All right! You'll know for yourself
by nightfall perhaps, and now God bless
YOU, little mistress. You've done great
service, and if ever Anthony Styles can
sarve you he'll do it with whole heart
God bless you, God bless your.
But Sir Harry did not dance at Nine.
IL for WI