The Irish standard., 1903-11-14

Nay, he could not believe her guilty
of such disloyalty Surely. the dam
ger of imperilling her brother, if no
| other consideration. would have
stayed her. With his returning belief
in her came memory of her promise,
and he put aside his sword.
"Your horse, Edward" he said; for
Edwards mount, reared from Il colt
upon his fathers plantation and ever
the young mans pet, having succeed
| ed in throwing his master, was seized
with CONSERVATION and now stood
with penitent, dropped head. Besse-
=, mer vaulted into the empty saddle,
and was soon reorganizing his de-
moraized troops--encournyin revil-
ing, inspiring.
| AS his back was turned two figures
darted from behind trees, seized
Worthington and made their way
boldly towards Il thicllet from whence
the shots came heaviest. The kid
napng' of the prisoner had not been
unnoticed but those redcoats who
sought to interfere found themselves
the special targets of the finest
marksmen in the world.
| The fire Slackened, the assulants
were drawing off. Sensing this, the
British began to beat the bushes for
their retiring foe. Bessemer divided
his forces and sent part of them, un-
der his Lieutenant-Colonel Turner
with Edward as guide, to the east
ward, while he himself set out in the
opposite direction. The way he had
chosen was that which would lead
him past the Elijah Ellery abode, and
he was prompted to this course by
remark of Edwards that morning
that he supposed Jane had gone to
her Aunt Susannah's ON her ride, else
she would have been back in time for
breakfast. With the escape of the
prisoner from his clutches, the En-
glishman's suspicion of Jane had re-
turned, and bitterly he regretted
now that he had not killed the Amer
lean while he had him in his power.
AS he rode towards the plantation
determination fixed itself in his mind,
and he but needed Jane therest to put
it into execution.
War had played sad havoc with the
Elijah Ellery place. The mansion
house had been burned by British
and tories some months before, while
the once fertile fields lay neglected
and untitled. Mrs. Ellery now oc-
cupied the cottage of the overseer,
himself away in the army with his
employer. Breakfast was just over,
at the table. The temptation to pour
into her aunts sympathetic ear the
tale of last nights adventures and of
the eliminating bargain was not to
be resisted. AS they sat at the table
they discussed.
Marry Bessemer?" Mrs. Ellery
cried. "Bind yourself for life to
man who could exact such promise
from you? Never!"
Dear aunt, 1 must" Jane answer
ed. "rhcre is no loophole of escape.
My word is out. Remember, no Ellery
ever breaks his word or hers
Neither are the Ellerys wont to
make alliance with scoundrels,'' her
aunt retorted. Marry him say you
shall not!" She brought her fist
upon the table with an emphasis
which caused the aristocratic old
china, saved from the wreckage of
her home, to utter Il refined protest
against such rude vehemence.
Jane pushed back her chair and
rose. II must away home," she said.
II doubt HE not my stepmother is
in Mysteries by now with anxiety as
to my whereabouts.
Nonsense, child. You are not half
rested. Nay, stay you here and will
have Sam put up your horse and get
out Black Nan to go himself to your
fathers with message that you are
here
Needless of James protest, she
hustled onto the porch. A glance
down the road, visible from the van
tage-point, caused her to fling up her
hands in CONSERVATION and hasten
back to her niece.
Jane" she exclaimed in an agi-
tated tone, "who think you is gallop-
ing up the road, making straight for
here? That wretch Bessemer, look
ing like a bantam rooster astride q
big gray horse"
Coming here? Are you sure? 1
cannot, l will not see him."
''lle has his men with him, so may
hap he is not going to stop; but keep
you in the house, and l will dispatch
him speedily"
She returned to the porch. Scarce
had she taken up her position when
Besscmcr came in sight. james horse,
the sleek chestnut which was her
favorite, did not escape his eye. With
Il word of command to his officers, he
threw himself from his horse and
strobe through the gate to the front
porch, at the top of whose steps Mrs.
Ellery stood.
"Ah, colonel, good-morning," said
the lady condescendingly. '''Tis long
since have had the pleasure of well
coming you to my home"
1t could not be said that her well
come the only other time he had
visited her had been friendly. 1t was
upon the occasion of the burning Of
her house, an event which both re-
membered.
"Will you not be seated here upon
my good settee?" she proceeded. II
find the spot it occupies most shady
and rcstful one at this time in the
morning, and it would feel honored
to- hulu so brave a rrntlclnnn"