Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-12-21
SILVER SPUR
ruAprER VI.

yee me try to describe that on whici
sag eres rested as | pushed the doc
wfsEe- Twas a long room, wainscote,
9xssIf slp the wall in some dark wood, an'
la daytime lit by one window only, which
Esaw mas hung with red curtains. u!
,xhsa fireplace. where a brisk wood hr'
y,sEs cracking, leaned a young gentle
syssagzn who, rs she now turned her eye
atssw me, ceased lingering the guitar o.
.anRa5,liD fiat she heit against her waist
mad raised her pretty head not without
~eariasifv
EsRt twas on the table in the center Of
ere eszmber that my gaze settled, and OF
au-a men beside it, of whom 1 must SPEAK
-Faasrs partic larry.
HE elder, who sat in nigh-baekec
,eh2ir, was little, frail, defermed gen
-SlsHau Of about fifty, dressed very rich
zr in DARK velvet and furs, and wore OF
hfS head velvet skullcap, around which
ttIs Waite hair stuck mp like ferret S
Fiat tile oldest thing about him was
ctl1spleaion that any maid of sixteen
srssRja give her ears for--of pink and
VFtlIfe 50 transparent that it seemed
ssfc bgat must be glowing beneath his
skin ON either cheek bone this deli
s.afe coioring centered in a deeper flush
Effs eyes were very bright and sharp, and
his chin stuck out like a vicious mules
The table before him was covered with
tasks. n the middle of which stood g
silver lamp burning. and over it silver
ssusspau that sent up a rare fragrance
50 the liquid within it simmerd and
bHshied So eager was the old gentle
naaH iM watching the progress Of his mix
smre that he rierely glanced up at my
entrance. and tn en-, holding up a hand for
'saAssoa, turn'd his eyes on the saucepan
.f9A6N
TIE second man was the broad-shoul-
sssD-& a8ckty, and stood over the sauce
nar with twisted Task in his hand
from which he pour'd a red syrup very
eagerly, drop by drop, with the tail OF
nis eye turn'd on his masters face, that
BE- might know when to cease.
Now it may be that my entrance upset
9izss experiment At any rate, | had
sa-arre come to stand about three PAGES
imssze the door, when the little old gen
siesstaR- bOunees up in a fury. kicks over
ms chair, hurls the nearest bottles to left
and right, aud sends the silver saucepan
spisHiag across the table to my very
Essst, whore it scalded me clean through
ehe boot, and made me hop with pain.
SDoild spOird" he screamed
>'JIrea.h'd in filthy liquor. when it should
have brearh'd but a tastep'
And, to my aE"azement. he sprang on
abe Swapping servant like a wild cat,
aRd began to beat. cuff and belabor him
with sill the strength OF his puny limbs.
Twas ike a scene out Of Bedlam.
sYee al the while the girl lean'd quietly
AGAINST the mantel-shelf, and softly
slacised the strings Of her instrument
&tlSe the servant tooL the rain Of blows
and slaps as though 'twere Il summer
shower. criRning all over his face, and
making no resistance at all.
Then. as | stood dumb with perplexity
she odd gentleman let 90 his hold OF the
ggsIi0wss hair, and, dropping on the floor
sseE7a 70 roll about in a fit of coughing
afae like of which no man can imagine
Twas hideOus. He bark'd, and writhed
5TId b1rl'd again, till the disorder seem'd
On seAreh and rack every innermost inch
&C &fa small frame.
Hes dying!" 1 cried. and ran forward
En- help.
Wac servant pick'd up the chair, and
fag.ther we set him in it. BY degrees
rae violence of the cough abated, and
hss lag back, Iivid in the face, with hh
eTez closed and his hands clutching tn,
knsbs OF the chair. | turn'd to the girl
safe had neither spoken nor stirr'd, bu
zaw came forward, and calmly ask'd M
asEsszess-
4 Gink," said I, that your name i,
xiIiigrewG"
Il am Della Killigrew. and this is my
fsSIzer. Sir peakin."
NsH on his way to visit his estates
"a CarnwallP'
She nodded.
Then l have TO warn you that your
Ffves are in danger" And, gently as pos
asl,{e. told her what l had seen anC
hoard downstairs. In the middle OF my
eaIe, the servant stepp'd to the door, ans
.7-sf1srn'd quietly. There was no lock OF
sfs inside After a minute he wen
sa-rsss and drew the red curtains. Tn,
window had a grating within, Of irol
harz as thick as a mans thumb. strongl,
a5smp'd in the stonework. Clearly, h,
qvaz a man OF few words; for returning
ass merely pulfd out his sword ans
evafned for the end AZ my tale The girl
alsss, did not interrupt me. but listen,
Ia silence. As l ceas'd she said:
us This ali you knowI'
Ma" answered I. 1T is not But tn
rest ! promise to tell you il we escap
eram this place alive. Win this conten
war
she turn'd to the servant. who nodded
NEbasrup0n she held cut her hand yer
ssrdiS1ly-
-'.yr. listen: we are travellers bound 70
Cornwall. as you know. and have som
small possessions. that will poorly r.
-srard the greed Of these violent mer
Nnpertheless. we should be hurrying o
s,vr jsurney did we not await my brothe
Anthony, who was to have ridden frot
Oxford TO join us here. but has been d,
fsred, doubtless on the Kings bus
hess
Z started; for below ! heard the mai
.laor open, and Captain Settles voice
rhe passage. The arch villain had r
tsFB'd-
Mistress Della" I said hurried
Inc twelfth man has enter'd the hous
ard unless we consider our plans at one
nfrs Up with US
'Tushg' said the old gentleman in Il
..hair. who, il seems, had heard all, ar
Nov sal up brisk as ever. Il, for II
part. leave it all TO Jacques. Come. S
3g 1ae, sir, and you shall see some pref
clay Why, Jacques is the neatest rog'
srifh q small sword in all France"
Sir" | put in, they are round do
81 in all. and your life at present
lza,s@ worth a pcnny's purchase"
That's q lie. It's worth this bo'
before me- that. with or without YOU
ssSsn 20 empty. What a fool thing
rsata! Sir, you must be dying mi