The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-29
CHAPTER TX.

night"
CHAPTER TX.
How n Golden Key Unlocked q Door.
Having my dismissal and reprieve / was
remanded 10 the custody Of that young
Lieutenant Tybee whom You have met ard
known as Falconnet's second in the duel.
Interpreting his orders, literally, he SUI
fered me to keep my own room for tne
night I had expected manacles ana
roommate guard at the least put my gen
tIemanly jailer spared me both. When he
had me safe above-stairs. he barred the
door upon me- SET q sentry pacing back anu
forth In che corridor without. and another
to keep an eye upon the window from De-
low, and so left me.
There was no great need for either SEN
try, or for bolts and bars. what with INC
nights adventures and my scarce heaied
wound. was far sped on that road when
ends against the blind wall OF exnaustion'
as YOU may well suppose. For while a man
NAV borrow strength of wine or rage or
nassion. these lenders are bat pitiiess usur-
ers and will demand their pound OF nesh'
ave and have 1t. too, when all the princi-
pal is spent ,.,.
90. when Tybee barred the door and LEFT
me with q single candle to my lighting, l
was fain to fall upon the bed in utter Wear
,ness. thinking that the respite bought by
my sweet lady's humbling was more dear.
lv bought than ever. and that the truest
mercy would have been the rope and tree
without this interval Of waiting:
To me In this grim Douhting Castle OF
despair. the priest came. He was Eood
man and a true, this low-voiced missioner
TO the savages. and he would be curster
man than / who failed to give him his
due need of praise and love. For In this
dismal interval of waiting, with death so
sure and near, that all the air was grow
ing chill and lifeless at Its presence. he
was a ready help In time Of need. II
were hereto, to him, l. swear knew
It not for aught he said or did; and though
/ trusted that when my time was come
should stand forth With some small simple
went away L. felt was the stronger for
his coming. And this. mark you, though
was still unshriven, and he had never
named the churchly rite to me-
When he was gone fell to wearing out
the time afoot: and, lest yel think me
harder than I was. 1t may he said that
while / did not make confession to the
kindly priest. l hope I tried to make my
peace with God in some such simpler fash
ion as our forbears did. Twas none 50
great a matter, forlone who lives a SOL
dief's life must needs be ripe for plucking
hastily.
But in the final casting Of accounts there
was an item written down in red. and one
in black. and these would not be scored
across for all the travail Of a soul de-
x
row for the fate from which I might not
live. TO save my loved one; the one in red
was this: that should die and carry hence
the knowledge that might else nip the
Indian onfall in the bud.
No sooner was the priest away than I
began to u2braid myself because I had
not told him Of the Britsh-Indian murder
plan. And yet on second thought twas
clear that 1t had been but a poor shifting
of the burden to weaker shoulders: and
thankless. too, for TarIeton would be sure
to put him on the question-rack to make
him tell of all that passed between us.
AS l had let him 60. he would have
naught to tell. and SO was safe. where 9TH
erwise he might be hanged or buried In the
hulks for knowing what knew. No, It were
best he knew 1t not; but how was I to
rio me OF this burden-of this and of
that other laid, upon me for my lover
The question asked itself a many q time,
and was as often answerless. before there
came stir without and voices In the cor
ridor. 1t was the changing of the guard. I
guessed. end so It proved, since presently
i heard the clanking Of the officers sword
and double footballs minishing into silence
The sentry newly come paced back
ana forth to q low-hummed quick
step Of his own. bestirring himself as
one who. reused but now from sleep.
would wake himself and be alert. He made
more noise than did the other, and that Is
why marked it when the footballs ceased
abruptly. A moment afterward the bar was
lifted cautiously from Its socket the latch
cncked gently. and tho door SWUNG open.
looked. and must needs look again IN
make assurance sure For on the threshold
stood my lady Margery. and just behind her
some broad figure OF q woman whom !
knew for her stout Norman firing maid
she gave me little time for any word Of
welcome or Of depreciation. While eth !
stood amazed she dragged the woman in
with her and closed the door. At that /
FOUND my tongue.
Margeryl Why have you come? 1 spoke
IN French. and she was quick to lay finger
on her Lip.
Speak to me In English. II you please, %
she whispered. Jeanne knows nothing,
and she need not know. But you ask why
! come: could I do less than come dear
friendY'
had always marveled that sb. corld
be 20 knocking hard at timer. and at other
umes-Aas now-so soft and gentle And
though thought 1t cruel that should have
to fight my battle for the losing Of her over
again. 1 had not the heart to chide her.
You could have done much less dear
lady" I said, taking her hands in mine;
much less. and still be blameless You
have done too much for me already. ]
would you had not done SO much, I would
to God had been hanged before you went
upon your knees to that
She freed ole hand and laid a finger on
my lip-nay. It was her palm, and II took
dying mans fair leave and kissed It soft
ly think she knew II not.
"Hushr' she commanded rs this a fine
to harbor bitter thoughts? I thought you
might have other things to say to me. Mon
aeur John"
There is no other thing that may say
Not anything at all?'
''Naught but parting hope for you. l
hope you win be true and loyal to yourself.
Margery mia"
ITO myself? do not understand"
Il think you dol think you must"
But do not" .s
Z turned it over more than once in my
mind II should tell her all had feared
should tell her how came 10 kill a man
and was fair set to kill another had found
a wedding afoot In the great forenoon. ]
could not bring myself to do It. and yet /
thought It would go hard with me II ]
should leave her still unwarned !.
III should try to make you understand.
you win be angry. ~ you were before"
The wicker chair was Close beside the
table and she sat down. And when she
spoke she had her hands ught-claspcd