Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-09-26
"Geoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
By JOHN FINNIN0RE. Copyright 1899, by 6. g. Mcclure Coz


she heard my voice, and turned to me,
a steady stream OF blood trickling from
her nostrils. AS l caressed her and
quieted her there was a clatter of feet
behind me, and two or three men came
In, attracted by the extraordinary noise
the mare had made. They picked up
their companion and carried him t
side, and In q L heard his
voice. The rattle of his head against
the stones OF the wall had stunned him
for a short time, but now he was telling
his story. L entertained no doubt that
the story took a turn to his own side,
and IL / had lone so, the faces which
ooked on the mare and myself from
door to window would soon have
changed my mind. l RAJ my hand
soothingly over Whitesock's shoulder
and reviewed the situation.
The enmity of my uncle and his re-
tainers was making Nant-y-Bryn no
pleasant place of refuge. IT Is true
that my heart plucked at me to hold a
footing on almost any terms in the
place where Enid Vaughan lived, but
at terms which did not hold with a gen.
tleman's credit and dignity 1 could
scarcely stand. 1t was certain that 1
should become a still keener object of
dislike after the tale went about the
groom's fellows of the manner in which
l had handled him, and the confusion
Of languages served his turn and him
dered me from putting myself right.
II u go to Sir Arthur" thought I,
"and explain this affair, and l slipped
Whitesock's halter so that she was
free In her stall. Nc one would venture
to assault her while she was loose and
| went to the house. My uncle had
been crossing the courtyard as / went
to the stables, but he had avoided
speaking to me, and l now sought him
in his library. l was about halfway
down the hall to the door when a voice,
which l had difficulty in recognizing
as Owain's, broke out into a shrieking
fury of defamation.
IL" the voice screamed, Tia
Welsh gentleman of pure descent.
/ could almost have smiled, for when
ever Owain was very furious he always
stood upon his lineage. But this was
no smiling matter. He seemed nearly
inarticulate with rage n vas crying
out in English. always used in particu-
lar conversation as a precaution
against servants picking up informa-
ton.
You dare to propose this to me. You
you Anger seemed to choke his
voice, and there was a soft murmur
as OF some one else rapidly speaking
in q low tone, Their the scream broke
forth again. "Other lives to offer as a
sop to the authorities-'tis blacker and
blacker-other traitors! You dare to
say the word 'traitor."' And Owain
gave a loud shrill laugh of contempt.
Upon hearing this outburst, I had
checked my steps and was about to
turn away, when the door OF my uncle's
room vas burst open, and Owain, his
face flaming with rag appeared on the
threshold. At sight of me he stopped
and threw up his hand with a dramatic
gesture, then went swiftly across the
hall in another direction. Behind him
came Sir Arthur, his fingers out
stretched, as If to grasp Owain and
draw him back; but when he saw me
he started out of sight. 1t was certain
~ very awkward to come upon them in
the midst of some quarrel, but as l had
shown myself 1t seemed to me best to
get over with what ! had come to say,
and I went into the room.
/ found that my uncle had returned
to his accustomed seat and was star
ing, with shaded eyes, into the fire. |
told him plainly what had happened,
expecting some petulant outburst, out
he heard me without a word. / finished
my speech and stood silent, but he
neither lifted his read nor spoke. l
waited a little while, then left him, and
crossed the hall in the direction which
Owain had taken. / glanced into the
room where meals were spread and
found IT empty. A huge turf fire was
piled on the wide, cavernous hearth,
and | walked up to It and stood staring
into It's glowing depths, bordering over
my future movements, when the door
opened n some one entered. 1t was
Enid Vaughan. She came toward me
with n slow, steady step, the freight
shining on her beautiful face, her soft,
dark glance meeting mine, earnestly
and sadly. 1 bowed and FASTENED TO
draw q chair forward for her, but she
stopped me with her hand.
Master Heathcote," said she, in her
low, clear voice, you must not stay in
Nant-y-Bryn. You are in danger here"
Are we not all in danger?' said /.
Il was not thinking Of those wretch
ed creatures who attacked us yester-
day." she said. Surely they received
too dreadful n punishment to be dan
gerous any more. You are In especial
danger"
Not only here, but everywhere
else" said l.
Her kind, sweet eyes filled with pity
and she lifted her hand a little, then
let it fall again.
Have you no friend who will shield
you, you have only followed a sacred
duty?" said she.
Il came here in hat hope" I replied,
but l hesitated a moment, and she
asked me In her quiet, direct fashion,
do you feel yourself safe here, Mas
ter Heathcote?"
Frankly" said l, II do not, Mistress
Vaughan. My uncle's bullet SKINNED
my brain pan too closely last night for
me to feel at ease"
How do you know it," cried Enid in
q low, eager voice. "Oh, how glad |
am to find you warned!" / scarce
knew how to tell you. But to hear that
you know! She stopped and drew a
long sigh of relief.
Il cannot answer clearly for the
manner in which 1T has been impressed
upon me-" l replied. Il know that
lay down last night too confused to
think of anything, and hat l woke up
firmly convinced that his hand and no
other fired the shot"
"Siani saw 1t ALL" said Enid
Vaughan. "Siani saw him running to
the door with a carbine in his hand.
Perhaps he meant at first to fire at the
enemy. 1t is certain that he laid the
piece deliberately for YOU"
Il have 1T now" l answered; ut was
his face as he peered into the ditch
which has been running through my
thoughts and guiding me to a sure
end" and l told her what 1 had seen.
why should he offer to do such n
dreadful thing?" she asked. You, his
nearest kinsman, and fighting bravely
for him."
Not for him." said L; Il thought
only of your safety"