The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-12-12

NllCIG uGu Hdu 81 HARROW I'LL SSCdpe
out a few months before, a familiar
voice cried out: GLOW de do, Captain
Hazeltine'-and I turned with a start
to see the officer called Majoribanks,
who had been SO muddled on that mem
.orable day. He took the passes as a
matter Of course. and as he read said:
You look i'll, captain; somewhat
thinner than when 1 saw you-' Then
his eye caught what he vas reading,
Philipse," he read aloud, land Captain
Merton! What is this, sir?"
l was on the point of replying when
Debby plucked him by the sleeve and
made a sign with her head to signify
that he "a to end the picket out OF
the room. He seemed to understand;
and when we were alone she spoke
before I could get in a word.
Captain Hazeltine goes frequently
under assumed names, sir, by special
orders"
Oh" said the officer, somewhat
do~ubtfully, still lingering the papers.
Then | b~ethought me, and took out the
pass given me by the commander-in-
chief.
Here's the old one captain, if it be
Of any use to you"
quite right, captain! Quite right!
Pardon my hesitation. But, to be frank
'AAAA yoHy 'S' IL lllSlA SSSI lNS1l
ers, you understandable a day or two
ago on stolen passports, and 7 had a
reprimancl from General Patterson that
will last me for a good long life to
come."
And SO we hurried forth and north
ward.
"Debby," said I, shortly, "Debby,
upon my soul o have fifty times the
wit that 1 have"
ut does not need for you to tell me
i that, sir" said she. Another instant
- SO" "'""'1 hove said: Sir officer,
I an Merton Balfort, American, fight
ing against his majesty the king!
Hang me if you like, but remember
hat I am none of your British soldier,
nor yet a spy Of that great monarch"
Your pardon, mistress, his majesty
the king?'"
"Ah, dear sir" said she, bowling low
ii. - ~~4u.. " is my first lesson,
eh? Pardon me. I should have said
that dissolute ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
George the Third"
"Debby," said +, "you are an angel!
Will you draw your horse up and per-
NIT me to kiss your ladyship?"
mo, sir, I will not! I do not think I
should allow it in any case just now,
but certainly not upon the highway.
And I wish you to understand, Merton
Balfort, that 1 am not yet a rebel-er-
that is, that George the Third is still
the king"
Yes, Mistress Balfort."
Up came her face towards me at the
mention of her new name, and leaning
owe her horse she put her hand in
mine, and said not word as we rode
along.
II am too happy to stand it, Debby,"
said I, presently.
well, I should be happy too" said
she, IF I knew how we were to live in
the future"
IF you think of that so seriously,
why is it that all day you have been
chuckling to YOURSELF" ~ 80.
ooh, never mind! 1 have certain
thoughts, and-and-certain knowledge
of my own"
"Tell me-"
Not for the world" p
"Tell me his instant! I am your hus-
band"
."Sakes! You begin so soon, do you?
Very well, then, listen to this: I will
tell you not one single word! Now
what doth thy noble husbandness say
to that?"
st say t is outrageous and unwifely!
But let it lie; for here we are come to
the house where we may stay for the
night, and that ends it."
1t was the home of q man whom
Atherton had hidden us to by note,
saying that we would get good food
and lodging, and nc questions asked.
And, indeed, we were in sore need Of
rest and comfort! 1 had urged push
ing IN thus far that we might clear the
foul neutral country ahead of us the
next day while daylight held, and make
the camp at Verplancks by the next
night. But, good horsewornan as Debby
was, she was nigh done for, and was
more than willing to retire as soon as
she had eaten.
Early in the morning we We're again
off, and, still noting that my fair COM
panion had something on her mind, l
was marveling what it#might be, when
the lay Of the land along the road be-
gan to look familiar andEI recognized
ahead of us the old tavern kept by
Gowan as 1t lay hiding itself under the
hill. 7 turned quickly to Debby and
found her smiling mysteriously at me.
you knoW the spot?" Is asked.
"Quite WELL" said she, .'and I have a
mind to stop, and visit Master Gowan.'
mot by any means!" said j, idecided-
ly. 'sTh place8may be the house of our
wedding. but Just now It's no place for
you
.sAnd vet I would stop there a while,
and-will!" What a world Of vigor
was there in that last small word!
I urged, commanded-nay, tried force
butte no purpose. In we must go.
SO, dismounting, Ical!ed for a hand to
take our horses, and in We%Went a sec
ond time to the dim old ern.$
Never shall I forget the little chuckle
behind me as I stopped suddenlyHon the
sill and saW--sitting as if in camp,
perfectly lat their ease-John Acton,
With q huge pewter of ale before him,
Robert Curtis-or Philipse, as he should
be called--and, sitting 1T same
table between these two, that sombre
old robber*Marvin.
UP rose the three as I turned to@De-
~borah5and saw in%an instant that She
knew all--nay, that she had done the
planning to bring it all about.siss3
AHA. Merton my friend, here YOU