The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-08-22
Well, Adele?" said the voice again,

wen, Adele?' said the voice again,
louder than before. &
II is not Adele, Mistress Philipse,
but 1, Merton Balfort. May I enter?n
mere came a sudden exclamation
n a step, and the door stood wide
open. There she stood in a long wrap
per, with her hair down her shoulders
taller by inches, I remember noticing
even then.
What do o here, sir?" said she,
gazing at me. s5g
TOOK the doorhandle from her, closed
the door with as little noise, as possible
and looked at her. "a ~, y
VINO are you, n what mean you
by coming thus into my house," she
asked haughtily, standing away from
me and drawing her gown together at
the neck. Aye, the gill was beautiful
under all conditions, for here she was
gazing at me like a queen whose hal
lowed privacy had been soiled with sac
rilege.
You know me we'll, Mistress Phil
1pse,' said I, "and need have no fears
Of me-" :
Il know nothing Of you, sir, nor do 1
fear you. But l bid you leave this room
n this house at once, unless you are
a hlghWayman ON to rob a defence
less woman"
You know we'll that is not the case.
VIII you be seated?" .
No! I will not!" .
Il have something to say to you" ~.
And l will no longer remain in your
presence and she made as if to Leave
the room. But stepped before her, my
w temper beginning to rise at this
denial OF an acquaintance which, one
would think, she at least might recall.
'M1StraCC phi1ircnrT o,,, cn,-r1 J. - l.1
under the necessity of asking you to
remain. I am Obliged to ask you"
you need not ask, sir. For I will
not answer a single question"
Sit down, Mistress" said I sternly.
1t is to this day a marvel to me how
this chit of a girl could rouse my anger
by her very .calmness. She did not
move, but said with fine scorn: 5
You are a highwayman, I see,"' and,
following her glance, I flushed to find
myself standing before her with a
drawn sword in one hand and a pistol
IN the other. One was sheathed and the
other put up in a moment, but I was
upset and said nothing for a pac
VINO is In this house besides your
= self and o maid?" b. :.
An Infamous scoundrel! Perchance
aye, no doubt-a h~ighwayman! aman
who has neither sense of decency, nor
honor, who" |
who beside him? Tell me!' I cried.
Il will not speak with you further.
You do not dare to remain in my pres-
ence longer!" said she. her voice rising
IN anger and wounded pride, and be-
ginning to culver with III
Madam. you will some day regret
your words" said I hastily. II am
here to protect you'-an involuntary
exclamation escaped her-tto protect
you from being arrested as a spy. This
house is full of British soldiers, who
ARE
"Ah!" cried she, at that; let them
! come to me now then" and she rushed
by me and grasped the door to open
1t. But I caught her as she cried out,
and put my hand over her mouth and
lifted her from the ground, setting her
down in a large chair by the table.
The result was enough to distract n
man. For she burst into tears. and,
looking up and stamping her foot In
helpless rage, she cried: i
Are you not ashamed to maltreat a
woman, who is helpless! Are you not
ashamed! Oh, had I a strong arm to
strike you down now, making war on
a weak woman!"
I was on my knees at her feet in a
moment, and took her hand In mine in
my excitement.
Dear child,'' cried I, God forgive
mel! Some day you will understand
and forgive me too. I cannot do aught
else. If you will but give me your
word! Believe me, believe me, 7 would
papa's daughter and bring her to her
home and to her Wits" %@
Il will do what I choose; and I
40 not choos to receive you, nor will
you take me hence"
Indeed, and I will, Debby! And do
you make ready now in some garment
Mt for a horses back, and prepare to
come with me on the minute. I like
not this territory. IT'S too near our
rebels for comfort. And, besides, there
is other work for me to do tonight"
Leave me, sir. I have done with
ti1is, once for all!"S lt
"You will come with me now" cried
ne, angrily, and stepped up to her and
TOOK her by the arm and shook her.
Instant" .@Tt
AND is there so much haste, then?"
The man wheeled on me with a sud-
denness that startled us all. I know
not why / came forth, but I could not
see her ~tyrannized over; and though
my mind was in a whirl as to the pur-
pose OF this stranger, as well as to what
might be going en- below, T was out and
at him with my hanger before the
words were well out of his mouth.
! He muttered to himself, What the
ASAAo 10 AAi DIS lie suTGW, ana guarded
my thrust. Then he cried out to his
man: @
"Shoot, fool! shoot him!'
Out sprang the report across the
rom, n a pane Of glass fell behind
me; but, as good luck would have 1t.
the miss was clean and fair. 1 55
At the same time, too quick, and too
tangled up with our hurrying about the
room to at first distinguished from 1t,
came an uproar from below stairs. Shot
followed shot, and we could soon hear,
even above the noise we made as we
/ thrust and parried, the sounds OF fight
ing from beneath.
a the first he hesitated a moment.
muttering, What may that be?' But.
I as I pressed him sorely, he turned to
me again, crying :@:
tDorkin, thou fool. arel Waste no
time! Fire, curse thy soul!
Then I saw the man come toward
il ms, and 4 knew he could n not miss
4 again. There was naught to do but
u run, and 4 ran for the great bed, fol
[ lowed by the leader, who had thrown
3 his great cape back over his shoulders.
a s Z ran 7 caught a. chair and swung
It around towards the soldier, hitting
him square1y in the shins, and he
n boWled over, cursingswith pain That