The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-05
CHAPTER XXI.
IN WHICH A WOMAN DENIES AND A
MAN DIES.

IN WHICH A WOMAN DENIES n A
MAN DIES.
All the next day we must of necessity lie
close in the old rat hole, with one of us
always on guard at a window overlooking
the street. 1 tried TO forget myself in plan
ming for the coming nights work, and all
the time another resolution. was evolving in
my mind. We laid the whole plan before
Curtis. and he approved. Once or twice
he required to the episode of the evening
before. but 1 could not discuss it with him.
Twas not in me to believe that his course
was right, yet in the few weeks 1 had
known him 1 had come to believe in him
and his strong nature. and I could not but
respect his code, disastrous as it had been
to US.
IT cannot see the right of it, friend" said
to him. do not try to show it to me-"
'I am sorry, Merton" he answered with
a serious look. But a mans honor is
greater than his military duty"
Let us not talk of it, man." said I again.
"'Tis but a failure in my duty to General
Washington. and there's an end of it,"
Would you not have done the same?"
II cannot tell, Robert. 1 cannot judge
you, God knows! I can scarcely judge my
self in this hour"
And then We required TO the coming
events.
But all the while my resolve was growing
in me-. The entrance to Arnold's house was
set for 1 at night. Then he would be sure
to be at home and in bed. All the plans
were arranged, and hence 1 would go and
see her again before 1 left-as God lived L
would see her again. There was to be a
sort of soiree to the prince at the Walton
House, and he had bid me come, in his Off
hand, friendly way. l would go.
L dared not tell my friends, for they
would have held me by force if necessary,
deeming it a dangerous thing TO expose
myself. But this was more to me than my
own life just now-aye, more than the sue
cess Of our mission, though I knew they
could carry that out practically as we'll
without me if need came.
Thus at 10 of the evening I told them I
would go to Low to see that the arrange
ments were completed, and despite their
advice to lie close I went out through
Queen street and so to the Walton man.
sion, having first stopped at Mrs. Hodges's
and got my tawdry suit. There had been a
rumpus indeed. The maid, who was the
only person I saw. looked at me in terror
and ran away as soon as she had let me
in: and i'm our room there might have
passed a whirlwind for the look of IL.
Everything we had. which was little
enough, was thrown about. The furniture
was broken, and all the signs Of what l
rightly enough guessed must have been a
military search for ourselves and whatever
papers we might have had were evident.
My fancy suit was picked up here ard there
and donned. And so l entered the Walton
mansion at the front door.
1t must have been IL of the clock. and the
affair was at its height. The beautiful
rooms on either side the great hall were
crowded with guests, and I soon found the
prince standing TO receive them. He looked
at me and welcomed me with a polite bow,
but a surprised look as If to say. "Ha my
man, and so you will still be out in public!'
and then 1 passed on, searching always but
for one. My figure, my face must have
told some strange story, for people who
knew nothing of me turned and looked after
me and spoke together softly. But 1 only
saw it as in a dream. On 1 went through
the rooms, looking for but one and not fnd-
ing her.
Thus 1 came to the banquet hall and to
the nIIlS STUDY DeyOHu, where we mad
breakfasted the day before. And there l
found her.
She was standing Just inside the big hall
with her back to me talking with some
two or three people. her arm resting on that
of a young officer whom 1 had not seen
before. l stopped a moment, and then pass
ing behind some large screens, set there
to hide serving tables at the corner Of the
room. 1 stood a moment to catch my wind.
which seemed to strangely fail me on the
moment as If l had been running long and
hard.
A moment there and I stepped out within
a yard of her, still with her back to me.
Again something in my face must have
shown. for a lady who was talking with
her. and thus facing me. looked up, and
her face changed. so that Mistress Philipse
turned TO learn the cause.
She saw me. l looked at her a moment
and then stepped forward TO greet her
Heaven forgive her! On the instant she
looked straight at me. straight through me
and said in a cold. naughty voice to her
companion:
Captain. I feel a sudden cold draught.
Let us move on"
And she turned her back on me and
walked slowly away.
1 put my hand TO my eyes and stood so a
moment. Then the need of the open air
came 10 me and 1 stepped back behind the
screen and leaned far out of an open win
dow. trying vainly 10 loose the collar of my
shirt. So sitting, or rather leaning from the
window. l stood. how long no one-least of
all I-could tell, neither thinking nor con-
scious of pain. till l heard a strident voice
back OF me on the other side Of the screen
saying in an evident attempt at a low tone:
Yes. tbs just settled. Habberton is 10
take his brigade with Barnard's and board
ship on Sunday. A battery will go ahead
on Saturday night. and they should be in
Huntington harbor by Monday evening"
How many men. Sir Henry"
Five thousand all told"
And when will the attack begin?'
LAS soon as they can reach Newport har-
Dor. And you will take with you a force
sufficient To-