The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-08

never thought to hear your fathers son say
| the like!''
/ shrugged.
And why not, pray? The Kings ninion.
| Tryon, hanged my father and gave ms
estate to his minions minion, Gilbert Stair.
So, In spite of your declaration and your
corfscations and your laws against allen
landhoders. / come back TO find myself
still the son OF the outlawed Roger lretoh.
and this same Gilbert Stair firmly lodged
in my fathers seat.
Jennifer shrugged in his turn
Gilbert Stair-forl sweet Madge's sake
I'm loath to say it-Gilbert Stair blows
hot or cold as the wind sets far
or stormy And I will say this for
him; no other Tryon legatee Of III n all mas
steered SO fine course through these last
five upsetting years. How he trims SO skill
fully no man knows. A short month since
he had General Rutherford and Colonel
Sumter as guests at Appleby Hundred; now
II Is Sir Francis Falconnet and the BRUSH
light-horse officers who are honored. But
let him rest; the cause OF Independence Is
bigger than any man, or any mans private
quarrel friend John: and l had hoped
I laid hand on his knee spare your
self. Dick. My business in Queensborough
was to learn how best l might reach MI.
Rutherfords rendezvous"
For a moment he sat, pipe In air, staring
at me as III 10 MAKE sure llat lltiu ISd3o
Alright. Then he clipt my hand and wrung
It. babbling out some boyish bravo that
made haste to put an end TO.
Softly my lad l said. "'tis no great
thing the Congress will gain by my ad-
hesion. But you. Richard: how comes II
that find you taking your ease at Jennifer
House and hobnobbing with his Matesty's
officers when the cause you love Is stu IN
such desperate straits?
He blushed like girl at that, and for
little space only pulled the harder at his
pipe.
Il did 20 out with the Minute Men in &c.
if you must know. and smelt powder at
Moore's Creek. When my time was done
1 would have listed again; but just at that
my father died and the Jennifer acres We're
like to 60 to the dogs. lacking oversight.
So came home and-and-"
He stopped in some embarrassment, and l
thought to help him on.
Nay, out with II. Dick If am not thy
father am near old enough to stand in
his stead. Twas more than husbandry that
rusted the sword in its scabbard. I'll be
bound"
you are right, Jack: twas both more
and less" he confessed. shamefacedly.
Twas this same Margery Stair. As
have said, her father blows hot or cold as
the wind sets, but not she. She IS the
hercest little Tory in the two Carolinas. bar
none. When / had got Jennifer in order
few into a pretty rage and stamped her
foot and all but swore that Dick Jennifer
in bun and blue should never look upon her
face again with her good will"
l had glimpse Of Jennifer the lover as
he spoke, and the sight went somewhat on
the way toward casting out the devil Of
sullen rage that had possessed me since
first l had set returning foot III this my
native homeland. Twas a life lacking
naught of hardness. but much Of human
ing; and my sweet friend in all that
barren life was dead. What wonder, then,
Il / set this frank-faeed Richard in the
other Richards stead. wishing him all the
happiness that poor Dick Coverdale had
missed? I needed little: woula need still
less, thought, before the war should ends
and through this love-match my lost estate
would come at length to Richard Jennifer.
1t was a meliorating thought, and while it
held 1 could be less revengeful.
"Dost love her, Dich?" l asked.
Aye, and have ever since she was in
pinaforeS and l a hopbledenoy IN Master
Wytheby's school"
so long? l thought Mr.. Stair was later
conner In Mecklenburg."
He came eight years ago, as one OF
Tryons underiings. Aladge was even then
motherless; the same little willful prat-a
pace she has ever been l would you knew
her, Jack. 'Twould make this stiffness Of
mine seem less the thing 1t is"
so you have stayed at home accounting
while others fought TO give you leisure"
said 1, thinking TO rally him But he took
1t harder than l meant.
Ills just that. Jack: and am fair
ashamed While the fighting kept TO the
North 1t did not grind SO keen; but now.
with the redcoats at cur doors, and the
Tories sacking and burning in every settls-
ment, it's enough to fay an honest man
alive. God-a-mercy, Jack! I'll 60; I've got
TO go. or die of shame,'
He sat silent after that. and as there
Seemed nothing that curt old campaisner
could say at such pass. 1 bore him COM
pany.
BY and by he harked back to the matter
of his errand. making some apology for his
coming to me as the Baronet's second:
Twas none Of my free Offering, you may
be sure" he added But it SO happened
that Captain Falconnet once did me a like
turn. had CHANGED to run afoul of that
Captain Of Hessian pigs. Lauswoulter at
cards. and Falconnet stood my friend
though now bethink me. he did seem over
anxious that one or the other Of US should
be killed
las how?" inquired.
When Lauswoulter slipped and might
have spitted him, and didn't, Falconnet was
for having US make the duel q outrance.
But that's beside the mark. Having served
me then, he makes the point that / shall
serve him now"
Its a common courtesy. and you could
not well refuse l love you none the less
for paying your debts: even to such vii
lain as this volunteer Captain"
True. it's debt, as you say; but like
little enough the manner of Its paying How
came you to quarrel with him. Jack?'
Now even 80 blunt soldier as have
ever been may have some prickings Of deli
cacy where tho truth might breed gossip
gossip about tale which / had said should
die with Richard Coverdale and be buried
In his grave SO 1 evaded tho question,
clumsily enough. as has ever been my hap
in fencing with words.
THE cause was not wanting. II any ask,
you may say he trod Upon my foot in pass
Ing"
Jennifer laughed.
mani you hold your Life carelessly. Do you
OF light horse is accounted the best blade In
the troop?"
who should know that better than"
true cause OF quarrel. but drew rein in time
81 care not If he were the best in the army.
have crossed steel beforehand with a good
swordsman now and then"
"Anan2" said Jennifer. as one who makes
no doubt And then: But this toe-pinch-
ing story Is but dry crust to offer a friend
You spoke Of a lady; who was she? Or
was that only another way Of telling me
to mind my own affairs?"
''Oh, as to that, the lady was real enough
and Falconnet did grossly asperse her But
know not who she is nor aught about her
save that she Is sweet and fair and good IN