Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-06-02
CHAPTER x.-continued.

They bound me well and strongly
with many wrapptngs Of stout cord De
fore they led me down. Nor must yol
think me broken-spirited because LEI
them. In any other cause but this
hope / should have fought TO die I'M
manac1ed; but now ! suffered gladly
this little, seeing ] had made my deai
lady suffer SO greatly.
When we were come into the room
below they let me stand beside her.
as / had prayed God they might; and
when / stole a glance at her | was fair
to think my coming gave her courage
and support. For you must know the
place was fair alive with men. and
naring light with torches. and they had
never offered her a chair.
The colonel stood apart, the center OF
A group or officers, and Falconnet was
with him, lowering on the edges OF the
group, as If afraid TO show themselves
700 boldly in such a coil, were Gilbert
stair and that smooth parchment-vis-
aged knave, his factor. The while they
thrust me forth TO take my place at
Margery's side. the good old priest
came and would have joined us; but
they would not suffer him.
So we two stood alone together az we
had stood before; but now my lady's
eyes were. downcast, and her lips
and cheeks were pale. Yet she
was more beautiful thar had
ever seen her so beautiful
that | would swear the sum of all the
precious gifts IN Gods great universe
might be expressed for me in this. that
{ might die to save her from this shame
and agony.
When my guards had thrust me for
ward. the colonel made snort work OF
our fresh offense.
Twas a dastard'S trick, my captain
--tiIis tangling OF a lady in your trea-
son." he began How did you get
your speech with her?"
That is none OF your affair, Colonel
Tarieton." I retorted boldly, thinking
that with such a man the shortest
word were ever the, best. yet / may
say that the lady knew not what she
did, nor why. As for my getting
speech with her. she was not any way
to blame. / tempered with your sem
try"
by God. you lie!' was his comment
on this. she might have tempered
with the guard and SO got leave TO keep
a midnight tryst with you, but not
YOU" And then to my poor frighted
owe: Have you no shame, Mistress
Margery Starr"
Now / have said that she was change
~ uH any III vi NIL IN . ~
had / seen her pass from mood to mood
as she did then. one h
stood a woman tremulous and fearful
as any woman caught in desperate
Iced, the next she became a goddess
yillihed. and IL her look had been a
lager / think her flashing eyes had
killed him where he stood.
You've found a way TO make me
speak. sir, and l. wish you joy of ii.
Twas / who bribed your sentry. and
I did go to Captain Ireton's room
The colonel laughed and shot a gibe
sharp at my enemy.
How Is this, Sir Francis. Did / not
tell you you had thrust an inch or so
TO high. BY God, sir. / think you will
come oy~er-late, IL eve you do come at
all. This captain-emeritus hath fore
stalled you beautifully"
AS more han ones before In this
sventful night. the or went F"-H'n~ rod
before my eyes and helpless wrath came
lppermost. / saw no way TO Ctear ~.
and had there been the plainest way.
dumb rage would stin nave held me
tongue-tied. So l could only mop and
NOW and stammer, and, when the
words were found, make shift to blum
der out hat such an accusation did the
ady grievous wrong; that she had come
attended and at my b~eseeching, to take
a message from a dying Cian to II
who was his friend.
For my pains l had a brntal laugh in
payment; a laugh that, starting with
the colonel. went the rounds in jeering
grins OF incredulity. And on the heels
Of It the colonel swore afresh, cursing
me for q clumsy liar.
"a likely story, that" ne scoffed.
Next you will say she knew not what
message was
II said it once. She knew not what
the message was. nor why / sent it,
/ felt her eyes upon me as | spoke.
and turned to find them full OF fearful
pleading. "Oh, tell the truth" she
whispered. Don't you see? He has
the letter.
/ looked. and sure enough he held 1t
In his hand, and then | understood the
flash of irony In the oe-black eyes OF