The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13
CHAPTER Ii.
IN WHICH THE GOOD CAUSE GAINS
A CONVERT


GU nave teen terribly near to deatn.
Monsieur John: so near that Docto. "a.
rev has twice given you over
No, said /: there was no fear Of
that am Ike that man in the old Ger
man folk tale who made a compact VITA
the Evil One, selling thereby his chance
to die. Death would not take me as
gift, Mistress Margery; have tried him
"Hush!' she said "'tis an ill thing to
Jest about. Why should you want to
Rather ask why 1 should choose to
live. But this is beside the mark. You
should have let me die dear lady; but
since you did not, we must cen make the
best of it."
She faced me with. a smile that strug-
gled with some deeper feeling of the
heart; knew not what.
lis a monstrous d0leful alternative,
est-ce pas? And l must not let you
talk at all-'tis Doctor Carews order"
So saying, she smoothed the counter
pane and Strengthened my pillows; and
after giving me great spoonful of soma
cordial that first set a pleasant glow
alight in me and afterward made, me
drowsy, she took post again in the hol-
low of the big chair and was so sitting
when l fell asleep.
This days awakening was the first of
many so nearly of piece that lost the
count of them, and sleep, deep and
dreamless for the better part stole away
the hours till the memory of that inch
by-inch return to health and strength is
itself like the memory of of the vaguest
of dreams.
bluff Doctor Carew bending over me to
dress my wound; at other times IL was
Margery come to tempt me with bowl
of broth or some other kickshaW from
the kitchen. Now and again l awoke to
find Scipfo or old Anthony standing
watch at my bedside; and once-but that
was after | was up and in my clothes
and able to sit and browse in the great
Ch61r-l Onaned n a NV
company was the master of the house.
He was sitting as l had seen him sit
once before behind lighted candle at
the little table with a parchment spread
out under his bony hands. He was mum
bling over the written words of it when
| looked but at my stirring he gave over
thin legs and match his long fingers by
the ends, and wink and blink at me as
though he had but now discovered that
he was not alone.
II give We good even, Captain Ireton,"
he said, finally, rasping the greeting out
to mo as it had been a curse. II hope
yeve slept we'll.
1 said l had. and thanked him. once for
the wish, and again for his coming to
see me. | know not how 1t was, but IL
there had been rancor in my former
thoughts OF him twas something abated
now.
we've had nearhand escape this
time. sir, he said. after a longish pause.
"One more or less of a good many
since we were last met together in this
room, Mr.. Stair" l would say.
He muttered something to himself
of his own, and l laughed
THAT is as it may be, but my being
here this second time a, pensioner on
your bounty is by no, good will of mine,
l do assure you, sir"
He sat nodding at me as if | had said
a thing to be most heartily agreed TO-
But his spoken word belied the mods
THE ways of Providence are inscrut-
able-someth thing inscrutable. Captain Ire
ton. | make no doubt ye are sufficiently
thaNhg by as er to all tgTsq tReTe %erees b.
ways of looking at 1t. As a soldier |
may justly repine at a fate which ties
me here when should be in the field. "
part of a good soldier to be aye wanting
to be in the thick O. the fighting. But
now that ye're man of substance, Cap
tain Ireton, ye will be owing other debts
to our country than the one We can pay
with handle O. steel"
:" Our country. did you say. Mr..
which no one knowing him could feel in
very truth.
''And what for no? 'Tis the birthland
ieal land of adoption for others-your
humble servant, to wit. I've taken the
solemn oath of allegiance to the Con-
gress, I'd have ye to know"
At this / must needs laugh outright
''Have you taken 1T one more time than
you have forsworn it, Mr.. Stair?"
LaIgh ya and sia ye will WILL he said quite
riotism out O. me. 'Tis little enough an
old man can do, but the precious cause
o. liberty will never have to ask that lit
tie twice. Captain Ireton."
Since he would ever be the winning
side this foreshadowed good tidings in
deed. So l would ask him straight what
news there was.
Have they not told We? 'Tis Draw
news" he chuckled. while ye were on
your back, General Greene led LORD
CORVALLIS fine dance all across the
prov-the State, l mean, crooking his
finger at him and saying, Come on, ye
led-captain of tyrant King, and when
I'm ready I'll turn and rend ye.' And
by the same token. that is juist what he
did the other day at Guilfold Court
house."
"A victory?" / would ask.
"Well. not precisely that. maybe;
they're calling 1t a drawn battle But
I'm thinking 'tis Lord Cornwallis that's
drawn. He's off to Wilmington, they
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