The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-23
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III.
IN WHICH IT APPEARS THAT THERE
is MORE THAN ONE REASON
EOp AfATRINONY

| L unable to DO augnt. In truth, l. cOulO
not move, and so / sat there like sick
! fool, never stirring. except once to look up
at my companion. and find her looking at
me steadfastly: but l could not say word.
And yet / could see the men who had re-
turned growing more and more confident,
/ as those who had carried the wounded Off
| Ger away talked in low tones to the others
| But the minutes gave me my wind and
brought back some of my nerve, and then
/ they came on with set faces.
/ stood up and grasped my pistols but
/ in that moment the girl stepped forward
with her head up and as proud air as
ever chicken had against mail coach.
What do you wish?" she asked quietly.
1--WE want that man. He has killed one of
US, and
lone of you, you clowns?" cried. taking
| her by the shoulder and setting her aside.
He is no more of you than l ami
/ who are We. then?" cried the spokes-
man. And what do We here? We do not
! like the look of We, and We shall go no
further till We settle with US and tell US
who We may be-
II was no drunken crew that spoke now.
| and 1 knew it. They had made up their
! minds, and / was too weak to cope with
! four men. They seemed to be natives here
! abouts. and l must take my chances Of
| their being Colonials by sentiment as we'll
| as birth There was naught else to do.
II am an American soldier" l said, 'trav-
| cling north alone and you have no more to
| do with me than with the river outside the
door,
Il knew it, cried the man, and the 9TH
ers began TO surround us Eye rebel bas-
tard. we've struck the wrong gang! Travel
! ing alone, Ell? And what is this baggage
here with YEP
She? said 1, stumped again. why.
| She
IT am his sweetheart" said the girl,
stepping before me again. Then she went
on in an earnest way that finally became
| plaintive: I'VE have run away to be mar
red VIII you not help us to make merry?
We've just escaped from New York. In
deed we have! You can see our coach brok-
en- down in the road not a hundred yards
| from here-you can, indeed, sirs!'
Her breath was coming fast. but she went
on with excited earnestness that caught the
men, Our coach boys will be here shortly
with the horses. You can see the coach If
you will but go down the road He does
not tell the truth. He is no rebel! 'Tis not
So good srs! Will you not drink a bumper
to the King and to our honeymoon"
could not say word. could do naught
but stare open-mouthed at her, for, with
| the skill of intuition, she had hit the one
! point--would they not drink a bumper 10
us--would they? The one thing to win them
over, Then 1 caught her arm. What was
she doing? Twas a foolish and a futile
plan.
See, sirs. you see he tries 10 make me
/ deny it! But 1 will not. You would not in
! jure a good soldier of his Majesty, would
you? And you will drink to our health and
happiness. Mr.. Landlord. will you not fill
us up mugs of ale to drink the toast?'
And she stepped back and took my arm
with hand that shook like a leaf, though
her eyes never wavered from the men she
addressed.
by God 'Tis a brave wench," cried one
! of the men. And health ii shall be!'
Stay" said another. huge clout. who
was no more a Britisher than 1. Il do not
believe it! He called our friend in there a
British spy Dost know that?'
But 1 say she shall have the health"
| cried the other. Jack Purdy. We have no
soul in We! Can We not see the girl tells the
TRUTH"
AYE, look az him." said third; hes a
sham-faced bridegroom"
We'll do il in shape said the first
Here you. Gowan'-to the landlord-"tel
Jim Marvin TO come in here. Now, mis-
tress. to you and your happiness,"
ITO you!' chorused the crowd. And we
two stood there, the shaking arm in mine
/
! looking the men in the face, as she raised
the filthy pewter TO her lips and touched
the ale The devil himself could not make
me drink till bethought me of another
toast, and, turning to her, drained the cup
without a word.
The sombre individual who II appeared
was Marvin, now entered; and I watched
them confer with him. A laugh broke from
his tipsy lips, and he muttered: Twould
| be a good close, Here am 1 saving one
mans life, and now paving the way for the
making of others" And still we two stood
there, waiting, neither looking nor speaking
to the other.
80 il shall be- cried the big one in a
moment and instinctively 1 clutched pis-
| toll as they all moved over towards the fire
place near US.
"You say we've just run away to be mar
ried. do you?" asked the man.
| She nodded
VERY well. then, we'll have the cere-
mony here and now. Here's Marvin, as
/ good at marrying as at curing dead men,
and Wen have the ceremony and celebrate
| the wedding this night, damned If we don't,
Ell, boys?" Another chorus of assent
greeted this But I found my tongue at
| last.
THAT you shall not" said I firmly.
Then string him up for a rebel. and
well take good care of the grill" cried one.
! broke away from my companion and lev
! eled two muzzles at the neares; fellow.
The first to move Is dead, said 1. hope
! less though l knew IL was.
Tut man. we'll punch you full OF holes.
| il you talk like that" said Marvin. smiling
with the assurance of five to one. And,
then, why should you not join US? What
harm 10 be married now if you have run
| away TO be? And will you have all the fun
to yourself? Nay. nay" he went on in his
/ nasal tone. you've broken up our evening
now, and yell break your own neck or
/ help us to finish il in our own way Gowan!
/ Hey, Gowan Where is the man? Here" he
! added. as the tavern keeper stuck his nose
through the door. bring A Bible"
The door swung wide open.
"A Bible," cried the astounded man