The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-21
CHAPTER Y.
HOW A FoRLoRN HOPE CAME T,
GRIEF.

CHAPTER ".
HOW A FORLORN HOPE CAME TO
GRIEF.
Although I could not hope to know the
outcome of this desperate cast to speed the
warning to the overmountain settlements
could never live to know it, as thought
screened the candle and stood beside the
open window. not to see or hear, but rather
from the lack of sight or sound to gather
some encouragement. For sure, reasoned,
If Margery's messenger should fail to pass
the sentries there would be clamor enough
to tell me of it.
So while the minutes of this safety 81
lence multiplied and there was space for
sober after thought fell to casting UP the
chances of success. Now that Margery
was gone and with her all the fine en-
thusiasm that such devoted souls as hers
do always radiate, it was plain enough
that nothing less than a miracle could
bring success. Tarletons legion was made
up of veterans schooled well in border war
fare. and though the bivouac seemed but a
camp Of motionless figures fast manacled
in sleep-I could see them strewn like dead
men round the smoldering fires-I made no
doubt the sentries were alert and wakeful
How then was any messenger of Mar
gery's to pass the lines, or passing them,
to come at Jennifer, who by this time
would be at Jennifer House a prisoner in
all but name?
Chewing such wormwood thoughts as
these 1 watched and listened while the
measured minutes, circling slow on leaden
wings. pecked at my heart in passing, and
n int fnD hah led
me to the bone. For now it came to me
that while would be saving life. mayhap
1 had been periling it again. There was
small doubt that if the messenger were
taken with my letter his life would pay the
forfeit. And if the fear of death should
make him tell who sent him and to whom
he was sent-I had been careful so to word
the letter as to shield my correspondent
both Margery and Dick would be involved.
IT'S worthy of remark how, building on
the simplest superstition. we seldom
prophesy Alright. For all my fine-spun
theories the manner of the thing that hap
pened was all unlike the forecast. Sud-
denly and in silence out of the ghostly
shadows of the trees and into the wan
moonlight of the open space beneath my
window, with neither shout crash of
sentry gun to give me warning. came three
figures riding abreast-a man in trooper
trappings on either hand and on the led
horse sandwiched in between a woman.
You may believe my heart went cold at
the sight. 1 knew at once what she had
done-this fearless maid who would be loyal
to her friend at any cost. Having no mes
senger she could trust-she knew II we'll
Cha bod he hod foE
the errand upon herself. Drawing a hazard
that would have daunted many man.
/ thought the worst had surely now be-
fallen and wished a hundred times that
had died before it came to this. But there
was worse in store. Her captors passed
the word while yet 1 looked and choked
with rage and grief; and then the bivouac
buzzed alive and men came running, some
with arms and some with torches, these
last to flash the light upon her and to jeer
and laugh. At length-it seemed an age to
mean officer appeared to fog the rabble
into order; then she was taken from her
horse and led into the house.
Anon the windows of the great forenoon
flung bands of yellow torchlight out upon
the lawn and knew that Tarleton's court
was set again. At that the pains Of hell
gat hold upon me and did pray as had
never prayed before that God would grant
me this one boon-to stand beside her in
this time Of trial; to give me tongue of
eloquence to tell them all that she was in
nocent; to give me breath to swear she
knew not why she went or what the mess
age was she carried.
Yours is skeptic age, my dears. and you
have learned to scott at things you do not
understand. But so long as 1 shall live /
must believe that agonizing plea was an
swered. While yet the anguish of it wrung
my soul there came hasty trampling in
the corridor, the sentrys challenge and
then a quick unbarring Of the door. 1