Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-07-07
THE MASTER OF APPLEBY|
CHAPTER xyl.-contlnued.


Here was another nance 10 tell hin
What he should be told. but the words
gould not say themselves.
II stood within arms reach OF yol
hat night" said I; and from that has
ened swiftly through the story OF ms
rial as a spy and what 1t came TO II
he morning, and never mentioned Mar
,ery's part m IL at all.
you have a bitter enemy in Frank
Talconnet," was his comment, when
lad made an end OF this recounting o.
ny adventures. He knows you are ~
liding h~ereaboGts, and has been securing
he n%eighborhood well for you-or, more
3elike, for both OF u.s."
How do yod know this?" l asked.
II have both been and heard. This der
" ours opens on the rivers edge, and
wo days since. his Indians came within
N ace OF nabb.ng me. Twas just al
iusk. and ! made out to dodge them by
ioubllng past in the canoe"
But you say you rave heard, as well?'
Yes
How ?"
Don't ask me. Jack"
/ said / had no right 10 ask more than
ne chose 10 tell: and at this he blurted
,ut an oath and let me have the sharp
edged truth.
"Falconnet has an ally whose wit is
lhrewder han his. Can you guess who
I isl
mo"
"'Tls the same Madge Stair you have
Ieen defending. Jack" he said. bitterly.
1T seems that Falconnet made sure we
had both gone to join the army, which
VAS but natural. II she were less than
he spiteful little tory vixen that she Is,
abe would nave been content to let II
rest so. But she would not let II rest so.
with her own lips she assured Falconnet
as still had US to reckon with: nay, more
she made a boast OF II that we would
never go so far away from her"
Weak and fsver-shaken an / was, | yet
made shift TO get upon my elbow feebly
ierce. d~euouncing 1t holly for a lie.
who slandered her like this. Dick =!
Put a name TO the cur. and as live and
get my strength again, I'll hunt him down
and choke him with that lie!'
Nay" he objected soberly that would
De my quarrel. were there ever a peg 10
lang a quarrel on. But ii came by a
sure hand, and one that Is friendly
enough TO all concerned. An old free
oorderer, Ephraim Yeates by name,
brought me the tale. He had been spying
'ound at Appleby Hundred. wanting to
know, for some purpose OF his own, why
he redcoats and Cherokees were hanging
on so long and this much he overheard
one night when he was outlying under
the window OF the Withdrawing room. He
says she was In a pretty passion at the
b~aronet's slacknes&, stamping her foot at
him and flashing him with the taunt that
he was afeard of one or both Of u.s."
/ fell ack on the bearskins to shut my
eyes and call up all the might Of love TO
grapple with this fresh misery. IL was
in this fierce conflict OF faith against APP
go. - 49, y
" the ways for the lover and the hus-
Jennifer believed this most incredible
thing. and yet he loved her-wouid go on
loving her. as he had said. In spite OF all.
hat was the lovers road. and I could
never bear him company on II. Could /
believe her so pitiless cruel as this. 1
sure no h~usband-love could 1--we be-
You'd hat moment OF conviction.
But at this perilous pass the husbands
road ran truer than the lovers. Richard
believed her capable OF this ha~rd-hearted
thing and went on loving her bllndly in
spite of II. But as for me. / said I would
give belief an inch OF standing
room; that had I stood in Ephriam
Yeates' shoes. having the witness OF my
eyes and ears, / would still rave
foun excuse and exculpation 70 rher.
I stole a glance at Jennifer. He was
with his face i'm his hands, a silent
figure OF a strong man humbled. He had
called her a Delilah, and the green w.thes
OF her binding cut sore uto the flesh.
You say you love her. Dick; can you
believe her capable or this, and yet go
loving herr" l asked.
He let me see his face. 1t was haggard
and grief-mRFred.
I'D IA the devils own price could 1
say no TO that, Jack. But l cannot.
Then swear | love her better than you
do, Richard Jennifer, She hates me well
knows she has good cause to hate
iercely; yet ! would trust her with
my life"
I looked to see him pin me down at
this: and though the words had fairly
and said themselves. I laid fast
hold OF my courage and was prepared to
them good. Blu he would only
smile and draw the bearskin cover oyer
me, ucking me In as tender1y as a moth
er, and saying very gently:
so she has bewitched yeu, too; and
there are two poor fools OF love in
stead OF one. But you are stronger than
1, Jack. You will break the spell and put
II down and live beyond 1t. and that I
never shali-God help met'' And with
he went to his own bed beside the
nre, telling me ] must lie quiet and try
TO sleep.
! did lie quiet. but sleep came not. nor
did I WOO il. For long past the time
when | could q his measured breath
Ing, ! lay awake to plan how I might
draw the baronet's man-hunt to myself.
and free my loyal Richard OF the perfl
that by rights was mine.