The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-10-30

appeared.
Eat. eat" said she, and pointed to
the table. l stepped briskly across, for
tho injunction chimed gratefully with
my humor. l was as empty as a drum
and as hungry as a wolf, and the table
was furnished royalty. / sat down and
did as / had been hidden with a will.
Twice during my meal Siani's peering
face came at a crack of the door, and
l took 1t for a hint that there was no
time to be lost, and that she was there
on guard, and I ate the faster. I stood
up. feeling myself another man. and
Sianfs head popped In at the scraping
back Of my chair.
You can walk! Oh, yes" said she.
showing a very disturbed and anxious
face. l thought for q moment, since
Sianis English was no asy thing to
u%nravel, then replied, in a little won
der:
Walk! Ay, ay. quite easily"
T walk away is the best" went on
Siani, nodding at me a face which
looked all the paler for the obstinate
patches of red burnt Into the middle of
her cheeks.
l rose n approached the door,
which Slant opened a little wider, yet
held up a hand to forbid me passing
through.
mot go ont" said she. "till the mis-
treSS Dflng q word
l listened and heard a faint tumult of
voices. 1t sounded as ii there were a
rare hubbub in the hall and COURTYARD.
"who are quarrelling ~..ere?". said I.
All, all" whispered Siani, Just go
ing to fight"
AT that moment a swift shadow fitted
along the passage toward us. 1t was
Enid herself.
"oh!" said she, quickly, II am afraid
7 hnSn DANA r, a. - -
bringing you here" She stopped and
caught her breath, then went on, but
you seemed so weak, and I knew not
what else to do. And now they are
saving the most dreadful things. I
know they are not true-they are try
ing to screen themselves"
Il understand perfectly what you
mean" l returned. 'Thos two whom
you found with me declare that / am
in the fault Of Owain's death"
Yes" she said, with a sob, but I
knew 1t impossible. Besides, Gwilym
followed them secretly and saw every
thing, till Hugh Mervyn struck Owain.
Then he ran back In terror and shouted
1t all out in the house"
"Ay, ay," said I, land that brought
you up in a body. But how dc they
meet the old mans testimony"
1T is thrust aside as of no weight"
said Enid. land the only manner in
which concord can be restored is to
turn the whole force of vengeance upon
you"
Last night makes it look the black
err, admit" said I. seeing how natural
was the outburst of fury in my direc-
ton; but no finger was laid upon that
man-none. Whitesock threw him and
broke his back"
Their rage is running higher and
higher" went or Enid in a strained.
hurried voice. ."Vn,l rr,,,Sf oo ~ o,na
or they will kill you. And 1t is I who
have brought you into this trap. +
had enough influence to get you safely
here, but l fear l cannot"
l raised the little right hand which
was clenche at her side n pressed
1t to my lips. All my belongings had
been carried to the room, and L hastily
buckled on belt and sword. l looked at
her and she knew very we'll what 1
meant.
"Whitesock is safe and in the stable"
she said, Sinai shall she paused
and bit her lips for a moment. Mo-
she went on, they would put her aside
II refuse her. I must 20 myself"
Siani. who la been out in the gallery
accommodating. now ran silently back
and spoke a few hurried words to her
mistress. Enid lifted a hand in despair.
They have set a guard at the foot of
the stairs she whispered: -four men,
"StA al llSu, Two OIL caCn party
h they have come to an agree
ment." said I, land it is time for me
to move"
I ran across to the window and
glanced out cautiously. Two men, car
blnes on shoulder, stood there talking
together.
What is the attitude of the men at
the stairfoot?" I asked, moving swiftly
back. Enid went herself to look upon
them.
Careless" she whispered, as she re-
turned. One is sitting on the lowest
stair, the other three leaning against
the WALL
Then they have no Immediate inten-
ton of marching pon me-" l re-
marked; the guard is simply to make
sure, and without doubt they believe
me still of their intentions.
Now, If 1 could find anything like a
rope to slide down on a side OF the
house where q watch Is not placed, and
were Whitesock set free, I should be as
safe as a man could wish"
The empty room at the end of this
gallery" said Enid, quickly, that is it.
1t has one window looking out on the
north side OF the house, which, but for
that, is a blank wall. Come, comet"
SIAM, at a word from her mistress,
had disappeared, and I now followed
Enid cautiously. Luckily. we had not
~ pass Lax SlSaI-LSdu, anu We soon
reached the mouth of a winding passage
which led to the room in question, a
great bare apartment, with windows
looking to the porth and east.
We were scarcely there when SIAM
ran in noiseless. in her stocking feet,
and bearing in her arms a roll Of liner
cloth. 1t was about eighteen inches
wide, n the piece was many yards
long. Better stuff for the work could
not be, n I seized upon it at once.
Il Will bring Whitesock to that side
said Miss Vaughan.
No, no." said I, do not identity
yourself too closely with my escape. II
may be unpleasant for you in the pres
ent state of feeling"
~" said she: there is no need O.
fear for me. Our people. though rude
and rough to strangers, are faithful t.
their W to the last. They woulG
slay you against my will, true, but hur'
me, never!"
But I urged, there is no need TO,
1t. Do but turn her loose on the hill,
side she will find her way to me a:
surely as she has four legs under her.
Enid gravely bent her lovely heat