The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-14

Then I bethought me. and took out the pass given me by the commander-in- Chief.
 Here's the old one. Captain. If 1t be of any use to you"
 Quite right. Captain Quite right! Pardon my hesitation. But, to be frank with you, several men escaped prisoners. you understand-but a day or so ago on stolen passports, and I had a reprimand 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. aDebby. upon my soul you have fifty times the wit that l have.n
 Tt does not need for you to tell me that, sir!' said she. "Another instant and you would have said: Sir Officer. I am Merton Balfort. American, fighting against his Majesty the King Hang me II you like, but remember that am none of your British soldier. nor yet a spy of that great monarch"
 Your pardon, mistress his Majeaty the King?
 An, dear sir" said she. lowing low in her saddle. TT is my first lesson. oh 9 Pardon me. I should have said a4hat absolute monarch-er-man, George the Third
 'Debby." said I. you are an apgell VIII you draw your horse up and per mt me to kiss your ladyship?"
 No, sir, l will not I do not think I should allow it in any case just now but certainly not upon the highway. And 1 wish you to understand Merton RaI- fort that l 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 over her horse she put her hand In mine and said not a word as we rode along.
 T am too happy to stand it, Debby," said I. presently.
 Well. l should be happy too" said she If l knew how we were to live in the near future"
 If you think of that so seriously. why is 1t that all day you have been chuck ling to yourself?"
 "oh, never mindl I have certain thoughts, and and-certain knowledge of my own'
 '"rell me-"
 Not for the world"
 Tell me this instant! I am your bus band"
 "sakesl You begin so soon do you? Very well, then, listen to this: I will tell you not one single wordl Now what doth thy noble husbandness say to that ?''
 T say 'tis outrageous and unwifely! But let 1t lie; for here are we come to the house where we may stay for the night, and that ends it."
 It was the home of a man whom Ather- ton had bidden us to by note, saying that we would get good food and lodg- ing and no questions asked. And in- deed, we were in sore need of rest and comfort l had urged pushing on 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 horsewoman 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 were again off and, still noting that my fair companion had something on her nSad. I was mar yelling what 1t might be, when the lay of the land along the road began to look familiar and I recognized ahead of us the old tavern kept by Gowan as 1t lay hid- Ing itself under the hill. I turned quick ly to Debby and found her smiling mysteriously at me.
 You know the spot?' I asked.
 Quite we'll" said she, land I have a mind to stop, and visit Master Gowan." Not by any meansl' said I, decidedly. "The place may be the house of our we'd ding, but just now 'tis no place for you" I" And yet I would stop there while. and-willl'' What a world of vigour was there In that last small wordl
 l urged, commanded-nay, tried force but to no purpose. In we must go. So, dismounting I called for hand to take our horse, and in we went a second time to the dim old tavern.
 Never shall I forget the little ehuckle behind me as I stopped suddenly on the sill and saw-stting as If in camp, per fectly at their ease-John, Acton, with a huge pewter of ale before him, Robert Curtis-or Phllipse. as he should be called and, sitting at the same table between these two, that sombre old robber Mar win.
 Up rose the three as I turned to De- borah and saw in an instant that she knew all--nay that she had done the planning to bring it all about
 Anal Merton, my friend, here you be at lastl" cried Acton, shaking us by the hand.
 Curtis smiled quietly and gave me his friendly handclasp, and I had begun to express my surprise when Acton turned me about and cried:
 "Here, mani Here is the Reverend James Marvin to welcome yel''
 Marvin" said l. slowly, you are a thieving scoundrel and I have mind to run this blade through your bellyl"
 And yet" said the cool villain. twas I married ye to the girl ye would most havei'
 Married me, you scoundrel?' cried I. Aye. at the point of pistolr
 And would ye have me undo it now? % That Is none of your affair, man Do you get out of here before I send you to the place where you belongr'
 Tut, tut! Merton," laughed Acton, 'the Reverend Doctor is here by the special invitation of a lady"
 I wheeled about and looked at Debby. You see. Merton. dear'-and for the first time since I had known her I be- lieve she was a bit uneasy,-"you see I did not feel just sure I was really you see-I didn't"
 Feel quite sure whether she was Mis- tress Balfort, or Philipse, or kings sub ject or rebel, or
 Merton" interrupted Curtis, "this was all arranged by Debby, and we are here