The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-23
CHAPTER XI.

HOW A LIE WAS MADE THE VERY
TRUTH.
For some small instant I dared not loose
my eye grip on the colonel to glance aside
at Falconnet or Gilbert Stair or at the
woman close beside me- If 1 had finched
or wavered or let an eyelid droop but by
the thickness of hair this keen-eyed
colonel would have been upon me to cut
the ground beneath my feet and leave me
dangling by the lie.
But as Ii was, / faced him down, and,
winning him, won all. There NUT
tered oath from Falconnet, tremendous
cry Of rage from where her father stood,
my sentence in them
She gave me but a glance, and though
1 tried as 1 had never tried before to read
her meaning 1t was hid from me. But this
1 marked: that she did draw aside from
me and that her face was cold and still,
and that her lips were pressed together as
if not all nor any should ever make her
speak again.
At this sharp crisis, when a look or word
would cost me more than death and my
dear lady her honor, 1t was the colonel who
all unwittingly stood my friend. breath
of doubt upon my lie and we were lost;
and once 1 thought he would have breathed
it. But he did not. Instead he broke out
in laugh, with gibe flung at Gilbert
Stair and then at Falconnet.
God save us! l give you joy. Mr.. Stair,
and you. Sir Francis. These two have
duped you bravely. By heavens! Sir Frank,
twas you who should have had the sword
thrust in the duel. In that event you
might have stood in Captain Ireton's shoes
and so had the priest fetched for your
benefit" Then he turned to Margery with
a bow that had no touch of mockery in it.
II crave your pardon, madam; knew not
you were pleading for your husbands life
an hour ago. 1t grieves me that may not
spare him to you longer than the night but
war is cruel at it's best"
She stood like any statue done in cold
Carrara while he spoke. and when she made
no sign he gave the word to recommit me.
take him away. Lieutenant Tybee. and
see he has bribe-proof man this time to
keep him company. Madam Ireton. I'll put
you on your honor: you may have access
to him, but there must be no messages car
ried in out To your quarters. gentle
men. We must ride far and hard to-mor-
row."
When his final word had set her free my
frozen maiden came to life and ran to
throw herself in helpless sobbings, not upon
her father, as you would think, but upon
the good priest. And it was Father
Matthew who led her, still crying softly,
out of the throng and up the low stair; and
now / marked that all the rough soldiery
stood aside and made way for her. with
never a man among them to scott or sheer
or point gibe.
At her going Tybee drew his sword and
cut the cord that bound me.
'These youngling cubs are overcautious.
Captain Ireton. We shall not make 1t hard
er for each other than we must" he said
with bluff good nature. And then: "Will
you lead the way to your room, sir?"-this
to give the younglng cub another lesson,
1 suppose.
1 walked beside him to the stair, and
when stumbled, being weak and spent, he
took my arm and steadied me, and 1 did
think it kindly done. AT my own door he
gave me precedence again, saying with a
touch of the grateful old world courtesy,
after YOU SIR" and standing aside to let
me enter first When we were both within
he touched upon the colonel's mandate.
ct must obey my orders. Captain Ireton.
hut by your good leave l shall not lock you
up with any trooper; I'll stay with you
myself
I thought this still more kindly than
augbt he had done before, and so 1 told
him. But he put it off lightly.
Its little enough any one can do for
Won. nv friend, but l will do that little as
70 no wi
take it; if you have I'm sure twill be a
blind and deaf"
So saying, he dragged the big wicker
chair into the window bay, planted himself
deep within it. with his back to all the
room, and so let me to my own devices.
Being spent enough to sleep beneath the
shadow of a gibbet, 1 threw myself full
length upon the bed and was. think, adrift
upon the ebb tide of exhaustion and forget
fulness when once again the shifting of the
wooden door bar aroused me. / rose up
quickly, but Tybee was before me. There
was some low-voiced conference at the
door, then Tybee came to me.
"'Tis Mr.. Gilbert STAIR" he said. "He
has permission from the colonel and insists
that he must see you solus. I'll take your
word and leave you if you like"
At first 1 hung reluctant. wanting little
of the host who came so late to see his
guest. Then, as If a sudden flash of light
ming had revealed 1t, realized as had not
before how / had set the feet of my dear
lady in a most hideous labyrinth of decep-
ton: how this lie that l had told to bridge
a momentary gap must leave her neither
maid nor widow in the morning.
Eyes. yes; for Gods sake let him in, Mr.
Tybee!" / burst out. II am fair crazed
with WEAKNESS and had forgot. IT'S most
important do assure you
The thing was done at once, and before I
knew it / was alone with the old man who,
though he was my supplanter. was also
Margery's father. He entered cautiously.
shielding his bedroom candle with his hand
and peering over il TO make me out, as IL
his venturing in were not unperilous. And
/ marked that when he put the candle down
upon the table he edged away and felt be-
hind him for the door as If to make sure
of his retreat in case of need.
sit down. Captain Ireton: sit down, I
beg of YOU" he said in his thin, rasping
treble And when I had obeyed: 81 think
you must know what I've come for, Captain
Ireton?"
1 said could guess; and he began again.
volubly now, as II 10 have II over in the
shortest space