The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-06-22

from his pocket a gold mounted card,
aud letter case, out of which no took
tablet upon which was written:
MET Miss Sibyl Merridew this morn
ing on the mall She promised to
dance the last minuet with me to-mor-
row night. Mem.-Send roses If they
are to be had in the town."
Sibyl blushed as she read this Then
lifting the flowers Sir Harry's roses
to her face for a moment she dropped
u demure courtesy and said. with
CLEAN of fun in her eyes:
''If Sir Harry finds that II Is neccs-
sary for him to recall his friends and
engagements by menlorandum notes,
he certainly cannot ext ct an untutor-
ed provincial maid Who carries no
such orderly appliance about with her
to change her mind unaided"
"An untutored provincial maid"' ex-
tlnguished by her pretty recognition
her ready wit. "An untutored pro-
yincial maid By my faith, Miss Sibyl,
you'd put To shame many court
dame But bark, what's that? As
/ live, the musicians are tuning up
for the minuet," and smilingly he held
out his hands to her.
Sir Harry, boy as he was, spite OF
his one and twenty years, was giving
vent to n little boastful talk about the
army and "those undisciplined rebels
who would never stand the test
against a full regiment of regulars"
why" Sir Harry declared at
length, led on by Sibyl's air of great
interest eve have positive informa-
tion that their troops at Cambridge
have neither arms nor ammunition TO
carry on a defense, and they are in Il
sorry condition every way-it Is inn
possible for them to resist us success
fully. We shall literally sweep them
off the face of the earth II they at
tempt It,"
And you-the kings troops" in
Quired Sibyl
"We-well, we have been little
Straiteued ourselves for the munitions
of war" replied the young aid-de
camp ''but by tomorrow night yes
sci will arrive for us that will relieve
all such necessities"
"Ah," with a gay smile. what
would not these rebels give to get pos
session of this information and put
their cruisers on the alert to capture
such prize. But there is no possbil-
ity of this?"
All this in the pauses Of the dance.
When they started up again. the music
had accelerated its time. and down the
great hall they led the way at fine
pace. But in swinging about to re.
turn Sir Harry felt his companion fall
ter.
what Is lt?' he asked anxiously.
my slipper" she replied, with q
vexed laugh, and STOPPING as she
spoke she whisked on a little satin
shoe. the high hollow metal heel Of
which had suddenly given way.
Something could I've done. She was
to go to Nine. Bontineau's rout the
next evening. She NEEDED these very
slippers for that occasion.
Would Sir Harry, on his way to his
quarters that night, would he think
1t beneath his dignity to leave the
slipper at Anthony Styles. the shoe
makers? 1t was Just there by the
tavern, at the sign of the gilded boot
He had only to drop the shoe. with
message she would write to go with
il, into the tunnel box by the door,
and Anthony would find 1t by daylight
and set to work upon II at once that
she might not be disappointed, for it
was a longish job, she knew.
And would he then give her bit
Of paper and pencil and take her to
the cloak room for moment?
Alone In the cloak room, Sibyl wrote
her message to Anthony Styles. Fold
ing the paper in the slipper and wrap
ping the whole in her handkerchief.
she fastened the parcel securely with
the Silkcn cord that had held her fan.
And may ! have the last dance to-
morrow nlght?" asked Sir Harry smil-
ingiy as he took leave of her few
minutes later.
"Perhaps-if 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 a pretty dis
order 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 ban
ishes sleep.
ITO think that II should be given to
lne TO do-made my duty. Uncle JEFF
frey taught me that, as he has taught
me many things past months-to keep
my own counsel, for one thing.
Yet | felt like cheat tonight as I
led Sir Harry on 10 tell me what he
did--Sir Harry. who thinks me, as all
the rest do, stanch little Tory, for
l have kept my cousel indeed, and no
one suspects.
"Yes, have done my duty, for--'the
reporting Of important facts, however
gained, in times Of war is part OF
war tactics
"Oh. l could laugh, could laugh, |
If l didn't shiver SO when | think OF
it! Sir Harry-Sir Harry of all per
sons-dropping that message into An.
thony Styles hands-Anthony STYLES, !
the stanch rebel, whom they think
stanch Tory"
rhe clock was striking four the next
afternoon when a weather beaten man,
who had look as If ne had once been
q seaman, knocked AT the side door of
Mr.. Jeffrey Merridew's mansion and
asked 10 see young Mistress Merridew. !
ITS Shoemaker Styles" the maid
q q