The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-02-23
SOMERSET, Pa. WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY %. 1898

WEDNESDAY, FF
cousin Theobald," she answered
ego with ali speed, seek the skillfules
breeches-maker IN Dublin and bring
him hither.v
So l went down the stair very gent,
and out into the street. The night
was quiet, but from the windows o
many houses in Stephens Green came
the blaze of light and the sound o
music, for il was the season of revelry
and my Lady Betty's ball room wa:
not the only one in the city thronged
with guests.
/ secured tailor. / thought Fat he
was as ugly a man as l eve. saw. ]
told him what he was required to do,
whereat he smiled very cunningly and
said that had come TO the right man
for my purpose, as many could testify.
l answered that needed no testimony,
but that his silence concerning the af-
fair was as necessary as his skill, and
that if he ever breathed a word Of it, il
would be at the peril of his life, aud |
tapped the hilt of my sword to give
him warning.
He assured me that he carried many
sueh secrets, and that he would rather
die than diyulge any Of them. Then,
having put into bag certain instru-
ments of his calling, he declared that
he was ready, and followed me from
the house, carefully shutting the door,
So l returned TO my Cousins house, the
breeches-maker creeping noiseiessly be-
hind me, as if he we're shadow.
AT the top Of the stair my Lady Betty
awaited us. She motioned my COM
panion to enter the room while she
spoke with me. When the fellow had
gone in she begged me to return to the
ball room, and show myself to as many
as possible until she went back to it
again, which she would do in little
time. When had promised TO do this
she told me that at sunrise should
wait near to the house of his Grace of
Leinster, and that when a coach passed
by with a white kerchief hanging from
the window 1 was to enter it.
This also promised to do, and then
1 went back to the ball room. soon
perceived that my cousin absence had
not passed unnoticed, and that many
persons smiled and whispered together
as | passed. But was too much occu-
pied with my own thoughts to heed
them overmuch, or TO show anger be-
cause OF their evil tongues. Indeed,
what my Lady Betty had
told me, was careful that my greeting
should be frequent and not lacking in
While | spoke with one OF
them, who, with much assumed indig-
nation, complained OF the Vieeroy's
absence, sudden silence fell upon
those about me, which was instantly
by the low murmur of voices.
I looked round, seeking an explanation,
and saw my cousin passing through
her guests. She lsi word and a
smile for everyone, and as they bowed
before her she looked like a queen, and
they the loyalest subjects a queen ever
had.
Never had seen.her looking so beau
tiful and so proud. As she passed me
her eyes flashed for a moment into
mine. In them l read triumph and
the assurance Of the success of her
scheme. Then my Lady Betty took
leave of her guests.
As soon as she was gone too depart
ed, and going to the house where 1
lodged examined carefully the pistols,
'Spitfire" and "Flash," which my un-
Gle had given me. / could not have
wished my cousin better or more lucky
firearms, albeit they seemed a trifle
heavy for lady's hand. put them
into my belt and sailed forth
again to seek the trysting place. On
my way thither / saw the Viceroy's es-
corI waiting ia .ne .s.ees, isie horses
impatiently paving the ground, while
their riders sat with bent heads as if
they were asleep.
I could not forbear to smile to think
that his careless Grace had forgotten
them, leaving them there, as he had
done so often, before my Lady Betty's
door.
The night was dark and cloudy, and
rain fell at times, but not much. At
this / was glad, for it promised a
gloomy morning, and so the luck was
on my Cousins side.
When / reached the appointed place
withdrew into the shadow of wall
and waited. The dawn was beginning
to show family, and the sky was turn
ing from black TO gray.
Now that | had leisure to think, /
felt my heart almost fail me, and | re-
penled bitterly of my share in the mat
ter, albeit knew that had no power
to refuse my cousin anything, and
would do the same again, even were
my pledge given back TO me.
/ was reused from these gloomy
thoughts 10y the sound of wheels, and
in few moments coach came slowly
towards the place where l stood Even
without the patch of white hung from
the window / knew that it was the
coach for which I waited. AS step
ped into the street it halted. So open
ed the door and sprang quickly into it,
taking my seat beside the other occu-
pant.
| could scarce keep back the cry of
which sprang to my lips
when / gazed at my companion. Did
not know it was impossible, no mans
path would have convinced me that
this was anyone else but Phil Blake.
My cousin had said that her features
were not unlike those of Blake, but
even this had not prepared me for the
startling resemblance which saw now
that my Lady Betty was dressed as
man, and in Phil Blake's clothes. Only