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

fireplace, Darius brought me a package
swathed in many wrappings OF Indian
tanned deerskin. 1t contained my father's
sword. ard. more precious than this. mes
sage from the dead. My fathers farewell,
was written upon leaf torn from his Jour-
nal. and was but hasty scrawl. I here
transcribe It,
My son-I know not II this will ever come into
your hands, but It and my sword shall be left
in trust with the faithful Darius. We have made
our ill-timed cast for liberty and 1t has faileo
and tomorrow I and five others are to Ole AZ
the ropes end I beaueath you my sword-'tis
all the tyrant hath lef. me to dev!se-and my
blessing to go with It when you. or another Ire
ton. shall once more bare the true old blade In
the sacred cause Of liberty. Thy father.
ROGER IREToN.
You may be sure conned these few brave
words till / had them well by heart: and
later when my voice was surer and my
eyes less dim I summoned Darius and babe
him tell me all he knew. And 1t was thus
I learned what have here set down Of my
fathers end.
The next day, all indecsion gone, I rode
to Queensborough to ascertain, II so
might how best to throw the weight OF
the good old Andrea into the patriot scale.
meaning to push on thence to Charlotte
when had got the bearings Of the nearest
patriot force.
Twas none so easy to learn what needed
to know; though, now I sought for infor-
nation. O curious thing or two developed.
One was that this lighthouse outpost in our
hamlet was far in advance of the army Of
invasion-so far that 1t was dangersomely
isolated and beyond support. Another was
the air of secrecy maintained, and the hold
ing of the troop in instant readiness for
fight or flight.
Why this little handful of British regu-
lars should stick and hang so far from
Lord Cornwallis's main. which was then
well down upon the Wateree. I could not
guess. But for the secrecy and vigilance
there were good reasons and sufficient. The
patriot militia had been called out. and was
embodying under General Rutherford but a
few miles distant near Charlotte.
1 had this information in guarded whis-
pers from mine host Of the tavern, and
was but a moment free OF the tap
room, when first saw Margery
Stair and so drank Of the cup Of trembling
madness in its lees. She was riding, IN
masked. down the high road. not on a
piilion as most women rode in that day.
but upon her own mount with black
groom two lengths In the rear. can pic
ture her for you no better than could for
Richard Jennifer; but this / know, that
even this first sight Of her moved me
strangely, though the witching beauty OF
her face and the proudness OF 1t were more
challenge than a reckoning.
A blades length at my right where was
standing in front of the tavern. three red
coat officers lounged at ease; and to one OF
them my lady tossed a nod Of recognition.
half laughing half defiant turned quick
" to look at the favored one. He stood
with his back TO me; man OF about my
own bigness, heavy-built and weD-muscled.
He wore a bob wig. as did many OF tho
troop officers. but his uniform was tailor
fine and the hand with which he was re-
settling his hat was bejeweled-oveTmuch
bejeweled. to my taste.
Something half familiar In tho ngure OF
him made me look again. In the act he
turned, and then I saw his face-saw ana
recognized 1t. though nine years lay BE-
tween this and my last seeing OF 1t across
the body of Richard Coverdale.
SOL thought !. My time has come at
last" And while l was yet turning over
in my mind now best to bait him. tho lady
passed out of earshot and heard him say
10 the two. his comrades, that foul thing
which l would not repeat to Jennifer;
vile boast with which l may not soil my
page here for you.
"Oh, come, sir Frank, that's too bad!'
cried the younger of the twain; and then
took two strides to front him fairly.
"Sir Francis Falconnet, you are foul
Tipped blackguard!'' / said; and, lest that
should not be enough, l smote him in the
face, so that he fell like an OK in the
shambies.