The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-29

I across her knee and would not look at me.
us it-about-Sfr Francis?"
ut Is" said I. pausing once more upon
the brink of full confession.
She waited patiently for me TO speak
further: waited and let me fight 1t out in
slow pacings up and down before her chair.
Without, the night was calm and still, and
through the opened easement came the
measured beat of footballs on the gravel
where the outer sentry kept watch beneath
the window Within. the single candle bat
tied feebly with the gloom and lighted
naught for me save my dear lady's face.
pensive now and sanity sweet as 1t had
been that morning. when had dwelt upon
II the while she knew IT not. And in the
background stood the sleepy tire-woman
giving no sign of life save now and then
tortured yawn behind her hand.
1 think my lady must have known how
hard it was for me TO speak. for, when the
silence had grown overiong. she said. gent
ly: II bought these flying minutes Of the
sentry. Monsieur John Win you not use
them?'
III I should say the thing I ought to
say, you'll think the minutes dearly bought
l fear
NO. that shall not if It will ease your
mind"
Then tell me why you sent for Father
Matthew
The light was dim. as 1 have said, vet
could see the faint flush spread from
neck TO cheek.
You are not of the Church. Monsieur
John You would not understand il l should
tell you"
:" think I understand without your tell
ing, You said Sir Francis Falconnet had
asked for you"
=. Twas you who drove me to say it."
Because I tried to warn you"
Because you would be vengeful when
- Gov ix-fv,e
Twas not revenge. just then. though
while live shall have ample cause to
hate this man."
What was 1t. them"
'Tt was love: love for you. and-and
Richard yennife-."
!, She rose. and I could see her eyes ashine
for all haif-gloom Of the candle light
You are loyal friendi she said, and
there was that within the words to mako
me glad, whatever fate the dawn should
have in store for me- You always think
Of others first: you think OF others now.
when-when death-oh. Monsieur John!
what can do for you? Say quick! The
man is coming to the door,"
- Now have told you this, there Is but
one other thing. Margery dear: one little
thing that will not let me die in peace. If
4 might have ten words with Richard
Jennifer-"
She left me in fever-futter of excite
UneHt, Wnfpptu TO Tie uooT- iidu a "oIu
with him who stood without. / heard the
chink of coin, and then she fastened back
to me, all eagerness and tremulous i'm
patience.
''Tell me-tell me instantly what I must
do. am not afraid. Shall 1 ride down
to Jennifer House and fetch Dick here?"
HE Is prisoner, and II he were
not they would not let him see me. Be-
sides, would not let you go on such an
errand. And yet-God help me. Margery!
there is many an innocent life hanging on
this: the lives of helpless women and little
children. Have you ever a message to
send, a man who viii risk his LIE and
can be trusted fully?"
Yes. yesr' she cried. Write It down for
me and Dick shall have it Quick; for
Our Lady's sake. be quick about It! o Sane
ia Maria mater Del"
The low impassioned chant Of the Ro-
man lltany was ringing in my ears as I
sat down to the table 70 write my mes
sage to Richard Jennifer. There were quilts
and an ink pot at hand. but no paper. l
felt mechanically in my pocket and found.
not some old letter, as 1 hoped, but the
crumpled parchment map snatched and
hidden when Captain Stuart had WINGED
and dropped It at the bidding OF the
whisling sword about his ears.
How II was they had not searched me
for 1t, know not: though haply the Cap
tain did not guess how ne had lost 1t. Be
that as It might. I had it safe, and Dick
should have II safe. and use 1t. too. to
some good purpose. as fondly hoped.
You'd hardly think from the slow and
clumsy spinning OF this tale that could
crowd the narrative Of all that had seen
and heard into a niggard three-score words
or less. But this did. writing them upon
the margin of the Captains map. and not
ing In an added line the pricking out OF
the powder conveys route. And while my
pen was looping on the flourish to my
name. my eager little LADY seized inc
poupce-box. sanded me the heavy trailings
Of the quill. snatched and hid the parch-
ment in her bosom, and was gone.
And but for this; that heard the door
latch click behind her, and then the heavy
wooden bar fall into place. might nave
thought the happenings Of the hour the
unsubstantial fancies of a dream
CHAPTER X.