The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-10-20
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
CHAPTER XXXvI.--Continued.

beside her, and honor. or what may
stand therfor. betwixt a man and his
friend, was flung away. But when L
would have crushed her sweetness in
my arms she went upon her knees to
me. All, Cod! she kneit to me as
she had knelt to that other would-be
ravisher and begged me for mine own
honor's sake to bethin.. me of what |
would do.
ooh. Monsieur John: be merciful as
you are strong!" she pleaded. Think
what it will mean to you, and o you
will loathe me and yourself as we'll
when this madness is Overpast! Oh,
go: go quickly, lest l, too. forget"
And so 1t was that l found sudden
strength to turn and leave her kneel-
ing there; turned to grope blindly for
the door with all the pains Of hell
atiame within me.
For now had put honor under foot:
now l knew l had truly earned her
scorn and loathing. l could no longer
plead that | was the puppet of fate
flung against my will between this
maiden and my lei lad. l was the
wilful offender; false to my love. false
to my friend, a recreant to every oath
wherewith l had bound myself to be
true and loyal to these two.
With such a flaming sword to drive
me forth, I stumbled from the room,
thinking only how l hould quickest
rid me OF myself. fastening to my
garnet sleeping place. l buckled on my
sword, found my shake. and Went
straight to my lords bed-chamber.
My rap at the door went unanswered,
and "a broad-shouiiered young fellow
In a l~ieutenant's uniform. lounging on
a settle in the clock landing of the
stair, told me Lord CORVALLIS was
gone out.
I was face to face with this young
lieutenant before ] recognized him: be-
passed him on the landing without a
second glance had he not risen to grip
me by the shoulders.
by h LORD Harry" he cried, lis it
thus you pass an old friend without a
word, Captain 1reton""
Twas my good death-watch; that
Lieutenant Tybee of the lighthouse
man in hat trying night at Appleby
Hundred. | returned his hearty greet
Ing as we'll as l might, INC would have
explained my present state n stand
ing but that l was loath to lie to him.
But as to this, he saved me the hame
of it.
Il could have sworn you We're no
rebel, Captain Ireton: indeed, ] made
bold to say as much to our colonel, af-
ter it was all Yer. ] told him a soft
word or two would have Won you
back to our old service, You see
knew better than the others what lay
beneath all your madnesses that
night"
You knew somewhat, but not ALL" i
said; and thcrcupcn. lest he should in
volve me deeper n detain me longer
when | was athirst to be gone, l
FASTENED to ask where l might hope
to find his lordship and Colonel Tarle-
ton.
Ills the hour for parade; you Will
rnd them at the camp, ne replied. And
then. out of the homes English heart
of him: Have you made our peace,
Captain? Do you need a friend TO sc
with your"
i said l had been granted a hearing
by Lord CORVALLIS but a little while
before; that by my lords appointment
l was no a sort of honorary aide-de-
camp.
Good" said the lieutenant, gripping
my hand in a a to make ME vince
for the ~lie-in-effect hidden in the sim,
pie statement of fact. hen he roared
at the soldier standing guard AT the
house door below: "A mount for Cap
tain Iretcn-and be swift about it,"
He held me in talk till the horse was
fetched, happily doing most of the talk
Ing himself. and when l was in The sad
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ing so sick with self-despisings, feal
I made but II poor return fol, ali this
good comradeship: but at the time
could think Of nothing but the hell thai
famed within me, and of how l coult
soonest quench the fires of it.
The town, which l had not seen since
early summer, was but little changed
by the British occupation, save in the
livening of 1t by a near-at-hand camp
of an armed host. Being but a half
point en- route in the %northward march
it was not fortified; indeed, for the
matter of that, the amp proper was E
little way without the town, as l have
said.
I rode slowly across the common
skirting the commissary's quarters ant
making mental notes Of all l saw; thi.
from soldier habit solely. for at ths
time I had little thought of living OF
to make a spy's use of them. Arrived
at the parade ground, l found my iort
galloping through the lines on inspec
ton. and so l must draw rein In thu
background and wait my opportunity.
The pause gave space for some eye
sweep of the scene. and all the soldier
blood in eme was stirred by the ;trht
the first I had had In many a day, OF
well-ordered army. AT, disciplined, ma
chine-drilled to move like the parts o
a wOndrOus
AT the back of Lord CORVALLIS ant
his g%alloping suite, Tarleton's famou.
lighthouse legion was drawn up: an
fronting it was the infantry, ran OF
rank, the glittering bayonets slantins
in the October sunlight as the regi
ments o into place, or standing II
rigid groves of steel at the command t,
halt n port arms.
What was there in all our poor raw
land to stand against this well-trainet
host, armed-as W. were not-with tn,
deadly bayonet. n moving as on
man at h word Of command? Not tn,
bravest horne guard or militia troop,
thought; and this seeing of what h
had had to front o. the field Of Cam
den made me think less s%cornfully o
Horatio Gates.
Riding presently around the field t
be nearer to the general when my tim
should come, 1 missed the mark com
pletely. 1t so CHANGED that as the pa
rade raj ended my lord and his suit
were at the extreme right; and whel
the regiments broke ranks I was force,
to skirt the entire camp to come int
. the road. By this time those I sough
) were gone into the town, so L mus
I, needs turn about and follow, with tn
thing I had to say still unspoken.
l need not drag you back and fort
with me on the searcn to hnd Lor
CORVALLIS again. IT'S enough to sa
that after missing him here and there
! ran hin to earth at the court hous,
where. it was told me, my lord was sit
ting In council with his STAFF officers.
Thinking 1t worse than useless to tr
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