New Ulm review., 1903-08-05

dows, dropped something into James
lap and backed out the way it had
come. -~-
CHAPTER III.
AN INVASION. II.
Bessemer and his officers half
started to their feet, and all bent
their eyes inquiringly upon Jane,
whose nomad color fled her cheeks
and then came back with a mighty
rush.
''Who was that? What is the mean
ing to this strange proceeding, if I
may inquirer" Bessemer demanded
lingering his sword nervously.
"You may well ASK Jane an
swered, 'and I must apologize for so
amazing an interruption, but among
our retainers there is one whose
brain is fighty and, allowed through
our indulgence much liberty, he does
some startling things at times He
is harmless, however, and pray you
to dismiss the incident from your
mind" 81
AS she spoke she was with deft and
stealthy fingers slipping the note
which had fallen into her lap under
her girdle. The gentlemen resumed
their meal with apparent sangfroid,
but upon Bessemer's brow there lin
gered the slightest cloud of perplex-
ity. -
Jane sat with palpitating heart,
the necessity for keeping a calm
front making her hands cold and put
ting her brain on fire. Her ears were
strained to catch every sound with
out, expectant Of shots or melee of
some sort. >.s. s-
''Is he worth it?'' she asked herself
angrily. 'Is he worth that I should
trouble thus? Nay, it would be but
meet that the British should catch
him and deal with him as his hare
Drained folly deserves. Little does
it behoOve me to care aught what
becomes of such an addle-pate, and
especially when recall how he dared
talk to me when last we spoke to-
gether." Her eyes sparkled with an
ger at the recollection, and the tru-
ant color mounted again her creamy
cheek, until Bessemer, sitting oppo-
site her, thought never had he seen
such changeful and ever-increasing
loveliness.
Jane had no idea what the note
contained, and she grew nervous with
1mPatlence as her guests continued
to toy with their dessert. If they
would only finish and retire to the
i drawing-room or, better still, the IL
brary.
When she had established them
there, she Slipped out to the kitchen,
4 where the servants were having their
dinner in long, low shed off the
kitchen proper. She beckoned to Aunt
Rachel, and the negress got up and
joined her mistress
/ Where did Master Godfrey go?
Did he get away safely?" Jane asked.
Law bress you, yes, honey. He jes'
WhlrlyJigged 'roun' de yawd in de
wet, his face all blacked wild some
OBJ dat berry stuff what HMM you'n
Marse Edwahd ustah put on when you
wanted to play you was niggahs over
at youah Aunt Susannah's, n his hair
| all kinky like it gifts when it rains,
an, dem fool soljahs tot him wah a
real niggah. suah. Dey was ies' split
tin dey alfs sides a-laughin' at de
funny antics he Wah a-cuttin', and
de fust ting ye know he whall1ed off
towahds de woods, and dey nevah sus-
pest nothin'. Oh, he's mighty smaht
Marse Godfrey is; he suah am smaht
Miss Janey, honey
She looked at the girl anxiously
for she had as much of the match.
making instinct as any Of her white
sisters, and it had long been the wish
of hersheart that Jane and Godfrey
should marry; not that the idea had
originated with her, for James Aunt
Susannah, who was godmother tc
them both, had frankly expressed the
same desire.
Jane threw back her head defiant
ly He is a very foolish and reck
less person. she said severely, ssano
wish he would not come to my
fathers house at all unless he can sc
time his. coming that it will not be SC
upsetting to our nerves and SC
hazardous to all concerned with
which she turned toward the dwell
ing.
The scouts Bessemer sent out came
back with doleful tales of the impass
able condition of the roads, swol1e1
streams, and treacherous marshes
SO that Bessemer was fain to crave
from Jane the stretching of her hos
pitality to cover a nights lodging fol
him and his men.
. 'The hospitality Of Ellery planta
ton, dear colonel" !" she answered
sshas never yet been strained until i
broke, and / should be shamed in
deed were it not sufficiently expan