The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-10-06
CHAPTER NNNH.-Consinued.

would see?' she asked: and now her
eyes did not meet mine. and l would
think the chill had melted a little.
NO. l was begging a nights lodg-
Ing Of a friend whose house is full. He
sent me here With a note to-ah-to
your father, as I suppose, though in his
haste he did not mention his name."
She held Out her and. Give me the
letter."
Nay" said I; that would be but
%thankless work. Knowing me-, your ia
Their must needs conceive it his duty to
denounce me-
Give it me-" she insisted; this with
an impatient little stamp of the foot
and an u%pslance of the compelling eyes
tina would have constrained me to do
a far foolisher thing. had she asked it.
So | gave her the letter and stood
aside, hat in hand, While she read it.
There We're candles in their sconces
over the mantel II she moved nearer
to have the better light. The soft glow
of the candles fell upon her shining
hair. and upon cheek and brow, and |
could see her bosom rise. and fall with
the quick-coming breath, and the pulse
~throbbins in her fair white neck. And
with the seeing ! became Il fool of owe
again in Very earnest, II was within
a hairs breadth of sinking honor and
all else in an outpouring of such words
DIS IL Hldil HAY SLY plltc W ole "oiiisil4
in all the Woodland having said them
may never uns;iy them.
Eva a most practical little thing
she did that saved me from falling
headlong into this last ditch of dis
honor. Twisting the letter into a spill,
She stood on tiptoe to light it at one of
the candles, saying: "'Twas a FOOLISH
thing to put on paper. and might we'll
hang the writer in such times as these.
He says you are Il kings man and we'll
known to him, and YOU are neither
But when the letter was Il crisp of
blackened paper-ash she turned upon
me, and once again the changeiul eyes
We're cold and her words We're stranger
formal.
What is it you would have me do.
Captain ireton?"
Nothing" l made haste 10 say;
"nothing save to believe that l came
here observation-disclosures to let me GO
"Where will You go? The town is
alive With those who would-who
would
WHO would show me a mercy,
you would say. True; and Yet | came
hitherto the town, l meun-of my
own free WILL"
Her mood changed in the pivoting
fraction of an instant, and NOW the
beautiful eyes We're alight and warm
and ~plesldingly eloquent.
"Oh, why did you come? Are YOU
are you What they said you were9"
"a spy? Ii | am, you would scarce
expect me to confess it, even 10 YOU"
"'Tis Observation-Disclosures dishonora-
ble!" she cried. Il could respect 4
brave soldier enemy: but a spy
There was a Gathering of hoofs in the
street and a jingle of sword-scabhards
on the door-Stone. | wheeled to face
the newcomers, determined now tc
front it boldly as a desperate nan al
bay. But before the fumbling handS
without could find the door-knob Mar
gerry was beside Inc. all a-fluttcr in {
trembling fit of excitement.
up the stair. quickly, pour Famous
de Dieu." she whispered; and we wer'
at the clock landing when the grea
door opened and some half dozen king:
officers came in. We crouched togethe,
behind the balustrade till they shoult
pass beyond the sight of us. and in TIL
group | marked a man stout and heaN,
huil:. walking full solidly for his two
nnd-forty years. He wore his own hal
dressed high in front in the fashion
first set for the women by the Crane
Monarque's loose-wife: and as h
passed under the candles l saw that i
was craving slightly. His face, high
proved. long-nosed. double-chinned
with the eyes womanish for bignes
and marked with brows that nigh
have been penciled by the h~air-dressei
| had seen before; but lacking thi
present sight of it. the orders on hi
breast would have named him tn
ranking general of the army in tn
feld-LoYd Charles CORVALLIS. Wit
all the houses in the town to choos
among, | had b%lundered into this-m'
lords own headquarters.
l had but a passing glimpse of tn
r,n,, F~, ,t-1r, Il ,,-r. 40
beneath the turn of the stair. my lad
had me up and running again. drivin
me on before her to the chamber tloo
above, along a dimly lighted corrido
with many turnings, and so to Il Guide
sac in the samoa doorless passag
with a high dormer window in the en-
and no other apparent means of eSres'
Margery had snatched Il candle froi
one of the corridor holders in the fiigh
and now she babe me sit on the foo
and draw my boots. l did it, shame
facedly enough, being but Il foul an
ragged vagabond unfit to a w he
come anigh ne. But I might hay
spared my blushings, for she ha
turned her back and was opening
secret door in the high wainscot.
Beyond the door lay a raftered garr'
half filed with cast-off house Jumbo
and lighted and aired by two high TO,
windows. Into this she led me, with
finger on her lip for silence. a HUI
of voices. the blinking of glass, ar
now and again a hearty soldier laua
told me that my garnet was aboN
some living room of the house.
) While l stood, boots in han
she found a makeshift cal
dlestick, and in a 1rice HI
spread me a pallet on an ancient bake
settle big enough to serve for a cho
: stall in Il cathedral.
Z you'll be safe here for the nigl
q if so be you will make no more moi
. than d rat might make" she VIII
0 pered. "Mais, mon Dieu. tbs a terrib
n risk. How you will get off in the NOR
v ing l do not know.
c Leave that to me-, I rejoined. Tn,
L I remembered the portmanteau and t
promise that it should be sent hithe
r Here was a further complication, and
S must needs beg a boon on her. "A bla,
d boy will bring my portmanteau in t
y morning. l have a decent desire to
y hanged in clean clothing; may l b
. you to
! She made a quick little gesture
impatience: at the further compile
= ton, or at my holiness in asking,
10 knew not which. But her whispered !
ply was an assent, and her she turn
9 to leave me.
II At that a udden fierce desire
know why she had thus befriended !
came to throttle prudence.
- "One more word before you go, NJ
tress Margery. Will you tell me W
;, you have done this for the man w
u can serve you only by thrusting
!" neck into the ~hangman's noose?"
She was silent for a little Spa re. a