The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-22


I saw my Lady Margery.
She was standing a. one who looks and
listens; and my raEe-ht b!azed out upon
tho Deserving Of . shadowy figure Of man
behind her: Q man I guessed in Jealous
wrath to be the baronet-a reasonless sus-
picion. since the volunteer Captain would
certainly have made his presence known
when his Colonel had called for him. But
while my heart was yet afre my lazy
moved aside a. II to have better sight Of
US below: and then saw it was the priest
behind her.
While w.s watching her. and we were
waiting yet upon the aide-de-camD's re-
turn. there was q stir without and when
1t reached the door the sentry challenged.
Some confAb followed. and l overheard
enough to tell me that q scouting party
had come IN. bringing q prisoner. The Col
word to fetch the prisoner before him.
When the thing was done set my teeth
upon Q groan. For It was Richard Jenni-
fer.
Luckily. he aid not single me out among
the bystanders. being fresh come from the
night without to the glare OF candle-iight
within: and while the swart-faced Colonel
piled him with questions had a chance 20
look him up and down. Though his arm
was Stin in its sling, he was seemingly the
better Of his wounds. There was a glow
of health and strength returning in check
than ever what time he stood forth boldly
and fronted down the bullying Colonel.
Knowing the Jennifer stock and IT'S fine
scorn Of subtsrfuge. I feared It would go
hard with Richard: and so. indeed. 1t had
gone, lacking word in season from an
eremy. When Tar1eton would have made
him choose between the taking of the
Kings oath and captivity In the hulks at
Charleston. . burfy Hessian Captain at the
table spoke the word in season.
''Verdammt! miBs Colonel, I Will know
dis Mr.. Yennifer. He is prave young schal-
avass. and he IL not gone out init der rebels. !
Give him to me for mine plumbers
The Colonel laughed and showed his
teeth. Having orc man to hang, he could
AFFORD to be lenient with another.
What will you do with him. Captain
Lauswoulter? BY the look Of him he'd
make but Indifferent sauSage-meat."
Vat shall do nit him? shall make
him mine best bows and send him home, by
Colt! We did had some iiddle troubles init
der cards, and ven mine foot was slipped
on dis verdammt grease-grass, he did not
run me trough 20 like he might"
d: an AFFAIR OF honor? Well. wen count
tnat IN his favor. Take him away, Trelaw-
IL. and quarter yourself and twenty men
upon MIN at Jennifer House. You have your
parole. Mr.. Jennifer; but by the Lord. II
you break 1t by so much as a wink or a
nod. Trelawny will hang you to your own
ridgepole.''
Given a hearing, Jennifer would have
spoiled It all by swearing hotiy he had
given no parole. but at the word the Colonel
roared him down like bull Of Bashan. and
in the hubbub my brave lad was hustled
out
Though I was full to bursting with my
news, there was nothing could do; and
when It was fairly over and he was gone.
was right glad he had not seen me- For
I knew well his steel-true loyalty. and that
At sight of mo in trouble he would have lost
his slender chance Of guarded liberty, and
with 1t my last hope Of sending word across
the mountains: though, as for that, the
hope was wsii-nigh dead At any rate.
While Jennifer's guard and quota were
mounting at the door the atd-de-camp re-
turned. and that without the Baronet.
caught but here and there q word of his
report; enough to gather that the captain
knight was not yet In from posting out the
ssntrieA
made no doubt his absence was designed.
He would have Margery believe that he had
spared me honorAbly a. an enemy wounded.
and 10 had left me to the tender mercies of
his Colonel. well assured that Tarleton
would not spare me. And this the Colonel /.
did not mean to do, a. was now to hear in
brief.
you put bold front on. Captain Ireton.
but 'tis to no purpose this time" he began.
"'Tis charged against you that you rode
here from the BAron's camp with your COM
mission IN your pocket. and came and went
within our lines like any other spy. You
are a soldier, sir. and you know that's hang
ing. Yet will hear you II you have any
thing to say"
made so sure that should hang in any
case that it seemed foolish to answer, and so
saved my breath. Withal he was the ter
eor Of our Southland. this tyrant Colonel
gave me time to consider; and while he walt
"a grim and silent, the candles on the table
guttsrsd and ran down. and the dim light
failed TIN could no longer see the face OF
her loved framed in the archway Of the
stair.
Of her sweet face thus through thickening
shadoWs, - Q dream might fade. Neverthe-
less, would be glad that had seen her
thus, since otherwise, I thought, I must
have gone without this last or any other
sight OF her.
It vas while was still straining my syes
for one more glimpse Of her. and while the
courtroom silence deepened dense upon
US IKE the shadows. that Colonel Tarleton
signed to those who guarded me. A hand
was laid upon my shoulder, but when
would havS turned to go with them wom-
ans tfy cut sharp Into the stiffness. Then.
= shousas, nv Ssuntl s little lady stood
beside me-. her eyes alght and all her giori-.
ous beauty heightened in q blaze Of genes- .
Gus srno&ioo.
'Fer shanA Colonel Tarleton," she cried.
do you come thus into my fathers house
ana take . wounded guest and hang him?
You sAy h 10 q SPY, but that he cannot
b. for ho has lAln abed In this same house
. month q moro You shall not hang
himr'
At this thefS WAS q mighty stir aoeut
the tabaa a. you may guess: and some
would emile. and some would snuff the
candles TOR q better sight of her sweet
face. And through 1t all, the while my
heart went rear b bursting at this fresh
proof Of her most fearless loyalty, ground
my teeth In wrath that all those men
should look their All and say by wink and
nod and covert smile that this were some.
what more than hostess loyalty.
But IL was the Colouers YnockinG smile
that dashed me shArp>st; his smile and !.
what he said: and yet not that so much
a. what he left to be Inferred. "a
HAT How ID this. Mattress Margery? Do
you keep open house for the Kings enc
mieof That spells treason. my dear young
lady, and hath an ugly look for you, be-
Gides."
1T should hAvs no look at all, save that
Of Hospitality, SIR" she eountered, brave
iy. surely I may plead for Justice to g
a wounded man who was. and Is. my faith
er's guest?' ~
And yet he IL . spy. and spies must
hang" -
He is no spy"
The Coloners bow made but mock of !
true politenesS RI
You should not make me contradict a 6
lady, Mistress Marrerv, sTfn evident Won