The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-05
xII-Continued.

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broke their fast my soldier hRngmen
marched ne of without ado. The house and
all within il seemed yet asleep. but ont Of
doors the legion vanguard was astir, and
newly kindled camphres smoked and biazed
among the trees. In shortest space we ieft
these signs Of life behind. and ! began TO
think toward the end.
'Tis curious how sweet this troubled life
OF ours becomes when that day wakes
wherein il must be shufaed OF As a SOL
cier must, 1 thought I had held life light
ly enough: nay. this L know: 1 had
often worn it upon my sleeve IA battle But
now. when l was marching forth 20 this
Cold-blooded end without the batile-cbance
TO make it welcome, all nature crlej aloud
20 me.
The dawn was not unlike that ether
dawn a month past when I had ridden
down the river road with JennifsE; a morn
ing fair and fine. its cup abrim Rni run
ming over with the wine OF life. ! thought
the cool. moist afr had never sae1rel so
sweet and fragrant; that naIure'S barb had
= never seemed so blithe. There was no hint
nor sign Of death in all the wooded Iics-
pect The birds were singing ioyOpsly: the
squirrels. scarce alarmed enough 10 scam
per out Of sight. sat each upon his toUgh
TO chatter az US as we passed. Ard Cnoe.
when we were fling through a bosky del.
with scftest turf to rnufhe all cur treadings.
a fox ran out and stood with oce upl:fted
foot, and vas as stin as any s.ocK or sTo7e
until he had the scent OF US
a mile beyond the outields o. Appleby
Hundred we passed the legion picket line,
and / began TO wonder why we went 50
far: wondered and made bold TO ask the
ensign in command. turning Il into a grim
Jest and saying I mksiiked to come too
weary TO my end.
The ensign. a curst young popinjay. as
little officer cubs are Ike TO be, answered
hippantly that the Colonel hai
my sentence; that / was to be shot like a
soldier. and that far enough adeId 50 the
volieying would not wake the house.
So we Jared on. and a hundred yards be-
yond this point of question and reply came
out into an open grove of oaks; then /
knew where they had brought ms-snd
why. Twas the glade where I aad fought
my losing battle with the Baronet. On its
farther confines two horses ntb5lel Itin's
ength az the grass. with Falconets trooper
servinGnan to hold them; and. standing
on the very spot where he had thrust me
out. my enemy was waiting.
Twas all p~rearrsnged. for when the En-
sign had saluted he marched his men q
little way apart and drew them up in line
with muskets ported. But at a sign from
Falconet. two Of the men broke ranks and
came to strap me helpless with their helts.
! smiled at that, and would not miss the
chance TO ieer.
You are a sorry coward. Captain Fall
comet az DULLES ever are" I said
Would not your sword suffice against q
man with empty hands?'
he passed the tAunt in silence, and when
the men had left me, said: ~ have come
to speed your parting. Captain Ireton-
You are a thick-headed, wItless fool. as you
have always been: yet since you've blum
dcred into serving me, / would not grudge
the time 20 come and thank you"
81 serve your I cried. God knows I'd
serve you up In eollops at the table Of your
master. the devil, could 1 but stand before
yOu-xith R-esrv4ng- tool"
He laughed softly. Always venge-
fui and vindictiye, and always be-
cause you must ever mess and med
Ole with other mems concerns" he
retorted. And yet 1 say you've served
me"
TEL me how. in Code name. that 1 may
not die with that sin unrepe1ted Of"
oh. in many small ways. but chiefly IN
this affair With the little lady OF Appleby."
Never denied. so fer as decent
10 tell her what a conscienceless villain you
are"
He laughed again at that.
You know women but indinerently. my
Captain. If you think to breach a love az
fair by a cannonade of hard words. But ]
am in no humOr to dispute with you. You
have lost. and 1 have won; and. were I not
here to come between you'd look your last
upon the things of earth III shortest order.
I do assure you"
"You-you come betweAn?" I sconed. You
are ali kinds of a knave. Sir Francis. but
\ your worst enemy never accused you Of be-
J Ing a fooir'
There was a look in his eyes thai I could
never fathom.
You are bitter hard. John I~reton-bIttsr
and savage and u~nforgiving. You knew the
wild blade of 4 half score years ago. and
now you'd make the grown man pay scot
and lot for that same youngsters misdeeds.
Have you never a touch Of human kindli-
ness in your
To know how this affected me you must
turn back 70 that place where I have tried
TO picture out this man for you. I said he
had a gift to turn a woman's heart or touch
her heart. / should have said that he could
use this gift at will on any one For the
moment / forgot his cool disposal Of me
IN the talk with Captain Stuart; forgot how
he had lied to make me out a spy and 20
had brought me to this pass.
So I could only say: You killed my
friend Frank Frank Falconet, and
"'Tusht" said he. That quarrel died nine
years ago. Your reviying OF st now IS but
a mask"
FOR whatzr I asked.
For your Just resentment in sweet Mar
Eery's behalf. Believe ii or not. az you like.
but / could love you for that blow you gave
me, John Ireton. I had been losing cursedly
at cards that day. and mine hosts wine
had a dash OF usquebaugh in II. ! dare
swear. At any rate. 1 knew not what Il
was 1 said TIL Tybee said 1t over for me"
But the next morning you took a ours
advantage OF me on this very spot and ran
me through" I countered.
Name Il what you will and let II 90 at
that. There was murder in your eye. and
you are the better swordsman- You put
me upon IL for my life. and when you gave
ne leave. I did not kin you. as I might"
NO you reserved me for this"
He took a step nearer aad seemed
strangely sgitated.
You forced my hand John Ireton." he
said. speaking low that the others might
not hear. You lad her ear from day to
day and used your privilege against me.
AS an enemy who merely sought my life
for v~engeance's sake. ] could spare you:
but as a rival"
I laughed. end sanity began to come
again. Make an end CT t." I said I'D
rather hear the muskets speak than you"
For reply he took a folded paper from
his pocket and spread and held II 90 that
] might read. 1t was a letter from my Lord
CORVALLIS. directing Captain Faiconnet TO
send his prisoner. Captain John Ireton.
sometime Lieutenant in the Royal Scots
Blues. under guard to his lordship's head
quarters in South Carolina
'Can YOU read it, he asked.
! nodded.
We'll. this s1persedes the Coloneis SEN
tence. II I say the word to Ensign Far
ouharson you viii be remanded-"
ITO be shot or hanged a little later. I
~supDose2"
NO. Have you any notion why my Lord