The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-03

She gave me a smile, though there were tears in her eyes, and held out her hand to me.
 I've can do so little. and dare not at- tempt an opinion" she said l stopped over her white fingers and kissed them, just as some one entered the room. Looking up I caught glance from a pair of dark eyes that sent thrill of joy through my body, and made me laugh in spite of myself; for there stood Mistress Philipse with as surprised bout on her pretty lips as ever was seen. Did she think I was paying court to another? God be thanked if she didl
 But there was no time for more than a greeting and a friendly kiss from the hostess, when in came the governor or tho town Tryon, with his wife and daughter Major sproat a Lieutenant Purdy, General Patterson, and man they called Captain Atherton, who seem ed to me at the moment to look strange ly familiar. Then, as we sat about the room I made note that every one rose, and turning to the door saw young man, hardly more that a boy, enter, talking easily with his companion and holding here and there as he walked over to the baroness, and I guessed right ly that it was the young Prince Henry whose coming had reached even our Con- necticut ears. Finally, with much fuss of chariot and horses outside, up drove the decrepit old peacock, Madam De
 L&ncy.
 "And why should I not be out?' cried she in venomous voice to the host, who had but congratulated himself on her l being the1e Do you think I am too old [ to get out of my bed?'
 "Gott verbar a'am," cried the baron.
 You grow younger every day"
 "iiris a wonder l live at all Can you i not give us a stick of wood to cook by,
 major?" cried she, turning to Sproat
 who stood near. Here have I to-day
 paid GSfor a pitiful cord" l Ma am," said the major, with apology in his tone, i've are every hour sending
 parties to Long Island to get as best 1 they can"
 stuff and nonsense" cried the old dame, her face twitehing like a play-act- ] ors. Why do ye not cut down the trees
 out here in the street? I wish the reb- l els were all gone to the devill" and she
 hobbled off on the arm of an officer to a ] beautiful mahogany chair that never was made in our land.
 We were now a goodly company of l twenty at least, and. supper being an l nounced by a factotum all powdered like i the rest, stood at one side like the rest
 till the baroness passing me said, Go | and take in Deborah" Then, looking at
 me with a friendly smile, but a sad face
 "Be good and kind to her tonight for i she Is in great trouble" 1 Trouble? What could be the trouble, l | thought, as l passed over to her and gave her my arm.
 There was some difficulty in getting the proper place In line, for each officer must | go in as his rank dictated, and so led by
 the young prince and the baroness, we
 marched into the banquet room with
 swish of silken gowns and tinlde of | spurred boots.
 l After the saying of a grace, all were i talking at the long table at once, and the murmur of voices kept me from hearing many words, except those on either side | and immediately next to me- And, in-
 deed, the dishes that loaded the board
 and were each moment set before us by
 five or six men servants were by a good
 half unknown to me. Beef l could tell,
 and dish of chicken, but there were
 others built up high with pastry and mix ed in with colored sauces, the like of
 which I had not seen before. 1 Blessed with good appetite, I tasted l all the men passed to me and found
 them palatable. Talk ran on current 1 things, of the recent fight on Staten Isl
 and of Andres coming execution and
 anything that came up: until, in the
 midst of foolish remark of her own in- l
 heard Mistress Philipse saying in low
 voice. as if it came from some one else:
 "I have much to say to you-two things | Have Q care of your countenance and let
 no one read in your face what you hear" For moment I was at loss. her face
 so belied her words. Then taking up a | glass of wine, did as l had seen others l do already-held it towards her, bowed. | smiled and said: Proceed, mistress, | cta nd anIr ri of | wine.
 "Good!" said she. .'weil, then, learn ed from my father tonight that a fla
 mous-famous-agent of Sir Henry's was | found gagged and bound in the top of d
 half burned house at the foot of Broad
 way last night-your face, man, your face!" she laughed, suddenly. "Tell us of the joke. Mistress Philipsep'
 called Captain Atherton across the ta- | ble.
 "Ah, 'tis a secret, Captain" said she,
 brightly, between MT. Merton and my self. We are plotting the ruin of some | one." Then turning to me, still with a
 smile on her lips, but a strange pleading
 in her eyes, q do not know what is be- ing done. But he is secret agent whom | no one knows, so hat it must be kept | quiet. But-but-they are searching with
 all the forces and power at their com
 mand to find the man who did It. All | that noise outside last night was the at- | tack being made to capture him. They | may-they may find him! "And if they do?"
 "They will kill him without trial, or the | knowledge of anybody but themselves!' | I knew it well, and had all day. Yet, 1 tis not in me to deny that cold shiver | ran up my spine. as l stood up with the | others and drank at the baron's call the | health of "their Gracious Majesties the
 King and Queen" and I took what there 1 was in my glass.
 "I am sorry for the man, whoever he
 be-"
 God guard himl' whispered the girl l under her breath with a white face. Pinch your cheeks, mistress" said I, 1 smiling. flor think the captain fears l tho joke is but a poor one"
 Her face lit with quick, natural smile.
 "'Twas not you. then. was it? Tell
 mel"
 "Ratrer tell Major Sproat on your right | the pith of the joke,' said I. and took
 to myself the rest of the glass Of bur- | gundy, for the wine was good for the nerves and before we were done there were five kinds set before us. | In a moment or two she turned agasn | to me.
 ''That was a capital story" I said l "Tell me the other yet mentioned. Ah | twill be less amusing I can see from | your sorrowful face' But the girl that | had seen stard up before five ruffians | in the foul tavern was as game here as there. She changed the expression of
 her face, but she could not alter the