The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-17

there any one here whom you would see?'
she asked; and now her eyes did not meet
mine. and L would think the chill had
melted little.
mo. l was begging nights lodging of
a friend whose house is full. He sent me
here with note to-ah-to your father, as
| suppose, though in his haste he did not
mention the name"
She held out her hand. Give me the let
ter
Nay" said /; that would be but
thankless work. Knowing me. your father
must needs conceive it his duty TO denounce
me-"
Give il me-" she insisted; this with an
impatient little stamp of the foot and an
upglance of the compelling eyes that would
have constrained me 10 do a far foolisher
thing, had she asked ii.
So / gave her the letter and stood aside,
hat In hand, while she read il. There were
candles in their sconces over the mantel
and she moved nearer to have the better
light. The soft glow of the candles fell
upon her shining hair, and upon cheek and
brow; and could see her bosom rise and
fall with the Quick-coming breath and the
pulse throbbing in her fair white neck. And
with the seeing 1 became a fool of love
again in very earnest. and was within a
hairs breadth of sinking honor and all
else in an outpouring of such words a
man may say once to one woman in all the
world-and having said them may never
unsay them.
Twas a most practical little thing she
did that saved me from falling into this
last ditch of dishonor Twisting the letter
nt spin f tSs se csnS on sa1 Pe to gs
foolish thing to put on paper, and might
we'll hang the writer in such times as these:
He says you are a Kings man and well
known TO him, and you are neither. But
when the letter was a crisp Of blackened
paper ash she turned upon me, and once
again the changeful eyes were cold and her
words were stranger-formal.
What is it you would have me do. Capt.
Ireton?"
Nothing" made haste to say; moth
ing save to believe that / came here un-
wittingly-and to let me CO.
Where will you go? The town is alive
with those who would-who would"
who would show me scant mercy, you
would say. True; and yet came hitherto
the town. mean-of my own free will.
Her mood changed in the pivoting frac-
ton of an instant, and now the beautiful
eyes were alight and warm and pleadingly
eloquent.
"oh, why did you come? Are you-are you
what they said you were?"
"A spy? If / am, you would scarce ex-
pect me to confess it, even to you."
"'Tis dishonorable-most dishonorable"
| she cried Il could respect brave soldier
| enemy; but spy
There Gathering of hoofs in the
street and a jingle Of sword scabbards on
| the doorstone. l wheeled to face the new
| corners, determined now to front 1T boldly
as desperate man at bay. But before the
| fumbling hands without could find the door,
| knob Margery beside me, all a-fiutter
| in a trembling fit of excitement.
up the stair, quickly, pour ramour de
| Dieu!" she whispered; and we were at the
| clock landing when the great door opened
and some half dozen Kings officers came
| trade till they should pass beyond the sight
| of us, and in the group l marked a man
| stout and heavy built, walking full solidly
for his two-and-forty years. He wore his
| own hair dressed high in front in the fash
| ion first set for the women by the grand
| monarque's loose Wife; and as he passed
| under the candles / saw that it was gray
| ing slightly. His face, high-browed, long
| nosed, double chinned, with the eyes wom-
| anish for bigness and marked with brows
| that might have been penciled by the hair
| dresser / had seen before but lacking this
| present sight of it, the orders on his breast
| would have named him the ranking gener-
| al of the army in the feld-Lord Charles
| CORVALLIS. With all the houses in the town
| TO choose among. / had Numbered into this
| my lords own headquarters.
| / had but passing glimpse Of the fncom-
ing group. for when 1t was well beneath
the turn of the stair, my lady had me up
| and running again, driving me on before
her to the chamber floor above, along a
| dmly-lighted corridor with many turnings
| less passage with high dormer window in
the end and no other apparent means OF
| egress.
Margery had snatched a candle from one
| of the corridor holders in the flight, and
| now she babe me sit on the floor and draw
| my boots. / did 1t, shamefacedly enough
being but foul and ragged vagabond unfit
TO have her come anigh me. But might
have spared my blushings for she had
turned her back and was opening a secret
door in the high wafnscot.
Beyond the door lay a raftered garrei
half filled with cast-off house lumber anC
lighted and aired by two high roof windows
| Into this she led me, with a finger on heI
| lip for silence. hum OF voices, the clink
ing OF glass, and now and again a hearty
| soldier laugh told me that my garnet wa.
above some living room of the house.
| While I stood, boots in hand she found 9
makeshift candlestick and in a trice hat
spread me pallet on an ancient oaker
settle big enough to serve for choir stall
| in a cathedral.
you'll be safe here for the night if SC
be you will make no more noise than RAJ
might make she whispered "Mais NOR
Dieu! It's terrible risk. How you will ge
off in the morning do not know"
Leave that to me-. l rejoined. Then
| remembered the portmanteau and the
promise that it should be sent hither Her,
was a further complication, and 1 mus
needs beg boon of her. "A black boy will
bring my portmanteau in the morning
have decent desire to be hanged in clear
| clothing; may l beg you to-
| She made a quick little gesture of i'm
| patience; at the further complication oil
at my boldness in asking. I knew no
| which But her whispered reply was of as
sent. and then she turned to leave me-
At that sudden fierce desire to know
! why she had thus befriended me came t.
I throttle prudence.
lone more word before you go. Mistres,
Margery. Will you tell why you hav,
done this for the man who can serve yo,
only by thrusting his neck into the hang
| mans noose?"
She silent for a little space, and
knew not what emotion it was that moved
her to turn away and cover her face will
| her hands. But when she spoke her voice
was low and tremulous with pent-up anger
! as / thought.
Truly, Captain Ireton. you have done
thing to make me hate you--and myself al
we'll But / may not forget my duty, SIR
And with this cruel word she was gone
| n