, 1905-02-01

Sdllulg
They all rose, our officers and gentle
men taking this little gayety in pass
ing. The spluttering candles slammed
their flushed faces.
and here's to fair Clysta of Beech
wood"
AT the moment one stood In the LOOT
and heard. part in anger, part III sur
prise and perhaps a little in pleasure.
Turning. they saw the intruler-dusty.
flushed, martial, menacing. tie scarlet
figure of Our Captain Renew
Jaws fallen. glasses suspended. they
turned to face this apparition' debo-
nair and insolent.
"For us of Beechwood.' said Renew,
81 thank you" Behind him crowded
the kings troopers. Striding to the ia
BILE he ca1ght up a bottle still half full
of good Canary.
"Tn change the toast to George, the
king" And he did effectively.
They drank with IA line of men be-
hind to shout it loarsely, while Il SER
geant enforced the position with an
admonition to keep hands well up from
hits and pistols.
Napleton, in open eyed wonder, saw
his quondam prisoner, and he, seeing
Napleton, edged away into the next
room, near tumbling over Mrs. Bal
lows buxom self. "Ah, Mr.. Rob, tits
as in the old day after the hunt"
"A good lot of foxes tonight" said
Our Captain.
And your old acquaintance, Mr.. Jim
Napleton, 'mong 'em."
so | noted"
She would have twirled a mustache
had she it, when suddenly Mrs. Bal
lows fat hands pounced on her Shout
ders.
"Law-ah, my bonny lady, it's not
Captain Rob; 'tis'-
Our Captain drew away. Enough!
Pen and ink. Quick"
Here, miss"
"What?"
81 mean Captain Renew, sir"
She was chuckling, her fat sides
shaking.
you know l am as much for the
king as you, and every bit of this body
for you, miss"
Hold your tongue" said Our Cap
tain, and, picking up pen, he wrote:
To Earl CORVALLIS, County York:
My Lord caught tonight a bakers
dozen of their officers, with their horses
and servants, who were gathered for din
ner at a crossroad tavern, a safe enough
spot, they thought. Twas not proven SO.
She paused, thinking how to sign it,
and then went on:
My brother, Captain R. Renew, was
made prisoner this morning. I crave,
my lord, as a favor, that you may en-
deavor to exchange him for one of these
prisoners, Mr.. j. Napleton of Culpeper
known among the rebels as "Colonel'').
This matter | deem feasible. 1 am, my
lord, yrs obediently,
CLYSTA RENEW,
OF Beechwood House, New Kent.
Virginia, July 81, 1881.
She folded it and sealed it with the
hilt of Rob's sword for impress. "This
for my lord general" she said to Rob's
lieutenant, Potter.
"Alrs WELL" said he. He had forgot
ten this was not the real Captain Re
new, for surely never had Captain
Rob borne himself more capably. I'm
reminded that one of the prisoners,
Colonel Napleton, insists on a word
with you"
Does he know that l am not Rob?'
The will was suddenly faint.
Il fear me he does,' said honest Pot
ter.
I'll not see him; I'll not see him.
Get 'em all on to York" She looked
despairingly at breaches and boots.
"A great feat, Miss Clysta, and, de-
pend on it, I'll bring the prisoners safe
to York" said Potter.
Five minutes after she heard the
clatter of hoofs and knew they were
gone. Then she sat down, trembling
at what she had done.
And Beechwood was seventeen miles
away.
A week after Madam Pendleton and
her niece were Mt dinner, the latter as
demure and nice as you please in a
confection of a frock. when Belinda
Il man from York with let
tiers.
"From York; asked madam.
"One from my Lord Corvallis" said
Clysta, breaking the seal.
"From my lord. indeed. He knows
us, and what says he?"
Said Clysta, in some confusion: "a
pretty, a well phrased note, some re.
ply for what was done at Ballow's:
MY Dear Madam-Surely never was
loyalty so hhely expressed as yours. You
are the toast Of us ALI And in nassinn
l have the pleasure of reporting that we
have had your brother, Captain r. Re-