The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13

Stedman On my inquiry he directed me
straight
MY ford is at supper at Mr.. Stairs.
Have you news, captain?'
1 drew breath of relief. Happily the
loss of the day had not made me the
bearer of stale tidings. So I made an
swer with proper reticence, saying that
/ had news, but il was for Lord Corn
wallis ear first of all. None the less, II
the commissary general were pleased TO
come with me
He took the hint at once; and he it was
who procured me instant admittance to
the responsibility of breaking in upon
the party in the supper room.
/ shall not soon forget the scene that
fronted US when we came into my lord 8
presence. The supper was in some sort
a gala feast held in honor of my lord S
accession to his earldom. The table,
lighted by great silver candelabra which
l recognized as lreton heirlooms was
we'll filled around by the members of the
commander in chiefs military family.
with the earl at the head and Mistress
Margery. bedight as bettted lady Of
quality, behind the tea urn at the foot.
At our incoming all eyes were turned
upon us, but il required my lords sharp
question to make me leave off dwelling
upon my sweet ladys radiant beauty.
How now Captain Ireton? Do you
bring us news from the majorT'
1 broke the fascinating eyehold and
turned slowly to face my fate.
II do, my lord"
Wei, what of him? You left him
Fastening to rejoin with his new loyalist
Ievies. I hope?"
1 drew my sword, reversed it and laid
it upon the table.
MAY ali the enemies of the common
wealth be even as he is, my lord / said,
quietly.
Now, truly, l had hanged my petard
well. and twas plain the shock of it had
gone far to shatter the wall of confidence
our enemies had builded on the field of
Camden and elsewhere. Had hand gre
made with the fuse alight been dropped
upon the table the CONSERVATION could
scarce have been greater. To a man the
tableful was up and thronging round me;
but above all the hubbub l heard a little
cry of misery from the table-foot where
How is this. sir?-explain yourselfr
thundered my lord, forgetting for once
his mild suavity.
"'Tis but a brief tale, and will make
it as crisp as may be in the telling" l
replied. Il came upon the major some
miles this side of the crossing of the
Broad. He was marching to rejoin you
in accordance with his orders. But when
he had your lordship's command to stand
my command?-but 1 gave him no
such order!"
Nay truly, you did not-neither in
the original nor in the duplicate. my
lord. But when we had waylaid Lieu
tenant Tybee and quenched the duplicate
and had 80 amended the original as to
make 1t tit our purpose, the brave major
thanked you for what you had not done
and made his stand to await the upcom-
ing of the over-mountain men,"
For a moment l thought they would
hew me limb from limb, but my lord
quelled the fierce outburst with word
Put up your swords, gentleman. We
shall know how to deal with this trait
or" he said. And then to me: GO on,
sir, if you please; there has been bat
There has indeed. The mountain
men came up with us in the afternoon of
the Saturday. In hour one-third of
the majors force was dead or dying. the
major himself was slain and every living
man left on the field was prisoner"
Again dozen swords hissed from
their scabbards and again heard the
little cry of misery from the table-foot
I bowed my head. looking momently to
pay the penalty; but once more my lord
put the swords aside
Let us have a clean breast of it this
time, Captain Ireton." he said You
know we'll what you have earned. and
nothing you can say will make 1t better
or worse for you. Was this your purpose
in making your submission to me?'
'It was"
''And you have been rebel from the
first2"
met the cold anger in the womanish