The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-18
CHAPTER XXXIH.
IN WHICH HEAR CHANCEFUL TID

IN WHICH I HEAR CHANCEFUL It'd
INGS.
You are not to suppose that the hazards
of this hiding place in my Lord Corn
wallis's headquarters would keep me from
sleeping well and soundly. One of the
things a soldier learns soonest is to take
his rest when and as he can: and after
peering curiously into the hooks and cor
ners of my garnet to make sure 1 was
alone 1 flung myself a-sprawl on the broad
settle and was dropping off into forgetful-
ness when heard a tapping at the wains-
cot
1t fetched me wide awake with a start.
and was up and weaponed instantly, hav-
ing taken the precaution to lay my sword
in easy reach before blowing out the can
die. Cropping my way cautiously to the
secret door 1 crouched and listened. All
was silent save for the intermittent clamor
of the wassailers in the room beneath.
After waiting a full minute 1 opened the
door and looked without The high dormer
window in the end of the corridor made the
darkness something less than visible, and
I could see that the passage was empty.
But on the floor at my feet was my sup
per, roasted fowl on server hot from
the spit, with maize bread and garnish-
ings fit for an epicure.
Since as appanage of Appleby Hun
dred this was mine own house, and by
consequence the fowl was mine. ate as a
hungry man should, making no scruple on
the score of pride. Nor did 1 forget to be
grateful to my lady, though when I re-
membered that this was doubtless but an
other leaf out of her duty book the meat
was like to choke me- And II was this
thought that made me resolve thrice over
to loose her from the onerous burden of
me so soon as ever the morning light
should come to help me find the way out
of my covert prison.
None the less for all my fine resolves to
be astir and OF by daybreak the sun was
shining broadly in at my garnet window
when 1 awoke.
Seeing the sun, tumbled out of my set
had bound me so fast and made for the
door. But some one had been before me,
entering whilst L slept. On a broken chair
were basin and ever, with soap and tow
els: beside the chair was my portmanteau
and on a deal box neatly covered with a
linen cloth was my breakfast.
You, my dears, who have your maid or
man to tell you when your bath is ready
and to lay out the fresh, clean garments
sweet from the laundering. may wonder
that put away the thought of flight and
let the breakfast cool whilst L shaved and
washed and scrubbed, and doffed the vaga-
bond and donned the gentleman. 1 did it:
did it leisurely, rolling the privilege as a
sweet morsel under my tongue. They say
the raiment never makes the man; tits
half truth only. For in his own regard
at least the man is vagabond or gentle
man as he may dress the one part or the
other. And am sure Of this, that when ]
drew up another of the CASTOR chairs to
sit at meat, freshly groomed and clad in
the field uniform of a captain of her apos-
tolic Majesty's hussars, 1 was the filter
by many transmigrations to cope with fate
| or any other adversary.
And now, the claims Of decency paid in
| full and the keen edge of hunger somewhat
| dulled, / was free to think of my sweet
lady's loving kindness to one she hated
| and to wonder what she would do and be
| for one she loved. AS you would guess
there were dregs of bitterness in that cup
| and l was once again set sharp upon re.
| Iieving her of the burden of me.
Having my Austrian uniform, i was now
ready TO move in that venture outlined in
! part to Colonel Davie: but to set my plan
| in action l must first get free of the house
| unseen by my lord or any of his suite
| How to do this unaided / could not deter
| mine and since any fresh laundering would
| surely breed new trouble for Margery
was forced to wait for her return.
made sure she would come, If only to be
| the sooner quit of me; and so she did, tap
| ping at the wainscot door whilst / was
| dallying with the breakfast leavings. Twas
| worth something to see her start of sur.
! prise when / opened to her: but she was
| far too true lady to be one thing to the
| unwashed vagabond and another to the
| gentleman-clad.
| / gave her good morning and was begin
| ming in some formal fashion to thank heI
! for her thoughtful care when she cut me
! short.
"'Tis my bounden duty, SIR" she said
| twanging once again upon that frayeC
| string You are my guest and my-hus.