The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-07-07
CHAPTER xvI.-continued.

Here was another chance to tell him
What he should be told, but the words
you'd not say themselves.
II stood within arms reach or you
hat night" said l; and from that l has
ened swiftly through the story OF my
rial as q spy and what 1t came to IN
he morning. and never mentioned Mar
'ery's part n 1t at all.
you have a bitter enemy in Frank
r%alconnet," was his comment. when |
lad made an end OF this recounting or
nv adventures. He knows you ere IN
Sding hereabouts, and has been securing
he neighborhood well for you-or. more
.cl!ke. for both Of u.s."
"How do you know thisT' I asked.
Il have both been and heard. This den
# ours opens on the rivers edge. ana.
wo days since. his Indians came within
n ace OF nabb.ng me. Twas Just at
iusk, and / made out to dodge them by
doubling past In the canoe"
but you say you have heard. as weir!
yes
"How?'
Don't ask me. Jack"
said | had no right to ask more than
he chose to tell: and at this he blurted
)ut an oath and let me have the sharp
edged truth,
hrewder tina his. Can you guess who
1t is?"
NO"
"'Tls the same Madge Stair you have
,ecn 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,
She would have been content to let II
est so. But she would not let 1t rest 80.
with her own lips she assured Falconnet
he still had us to reckon with; nay. more
she made a boast of 1t that we would
never go so far away from her
Weak and fever-shaken az ! was, yet
made shift to get upon my elbow feebly
fierce, denouncing it hotly for a lie.
who slandered her like this. Dick2
Put a name to the cur, and as I 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 to
hang q quarrel on. But 1t came by n
sure hand. and one that Is friendly
enough to all concerned. An old free
borderer, Ephraim Yeates by name,
Drought me the tale. He had been spying
round at Appleby Hundred. wanting to
xnow. for some purpose Of his own. why
he redcoats and Cherokees were hanging
IN so long; and this much he overheard
one night when he was outlying under
he window OF the Withdrawing room. He
says she was in a pretty passion at the
Saronet's slackness, stamping her foot at
him and flashing him with the taunt that
he was afeard Of one or both of u.s.
l fell back on the bearskins to shut my
eyes and call up all the might Of love to
grapple with this fresh misery. 1t was
IN this fierce conflict of faith against APP
parent fact that | described the parting
tf the ways for the lover and the hus-
band.
Jennifer believed this most incredible
thing. and yet he loved her-would go on
loving her, as he had said, In spite OF all.
was the lovers road, and I could
never bear him company on 1t. Could
believe her SO pitiless cruel as this, ]
made sure no husband-love could live be.
yond that moment Of conviction.
But at this p~erilous pass the husbands
road ran truer han the lovers. Richari
believed her capable OF this hard-hearteG
thing and went on loving her blindly ir
/, spite of 1t. But as for me. l said I woult
room: hat had I stood in Ephrian
Yeates' shoes. having the witness Of my
own eyes and ears. I would still have
found excuse and exculpatlon 70 rher.
I stole a glance at Jennifer. He wal
sitting with his face In his hands. a silen
figure of a strong man humbled. He hat
called her a Delilah. and the green withe
VI e Dl1ulllB cut sore .lltO inc HeSn.
You say you love her. Dick: can 20,
believe her capable of this, and yet &,
on loving herr" I asked.
He let ME see his face. 1t was haggart
and grief-marred.
"1'd pay the devirs own price could
say no to that, Jack. But I cannot
Then swear I love her better than yo,
do. Richard Jenntfer. She hates me wei
God knows she has good cause to hat
Il N,n Aarnc1v. vnf 7 MOULD ~, No.. x-It1
my life"
l looked to see him pin me down a
this; and though the words had fa.rl,
shaped and said themselves. 1 laid fas
hold OF my courage and was prepared t
make them good. But he would onl
smile and draw the bearskin cover owe
me. tucking me in as %tenderly as a moth
or, and saying very gently:
S she has bewitched you. too: an
now there are two poor fools Of love ir
stead of one. But you are stronger tina
I. Jack. You will break the spell and pu
1t down and live beyond 1t, and that
never shall-God help met" And wit
that. he went to his own bed beside tn
fire, telling me l must lie quiet and tr
to sleep,
l did lie quiet. but sleep came NOT nc
did I WOO 1t. For long past the tim
when l could hear his measured breath
ing, lay awake to plan how l migt
draw the baronet's man-hunt to mysel
and free my loyal Richard Of the per
that by rights was mine.
XVIII
SHOWING HOW LOVE TOOK TOT,
OF FRIENDSHIP.
For some few days after JennIfer
narrow escape at the entrance to O,
hiding place. the Cherokees We're h,
upon u scent. quartering the fore,
on both banks Of the river, determine
as 1t seemed. to hun or starye us ont
1t was in this time of siege that
came to know. as ! had not known b,
fore. the depth and tenderness OF m
dear lads love for me. While the lif,
tide was at its ebb / was auerulo,
and helpless weak. he was my leel
and nurse and heartening friend
one. And later. when the tide ",
fairly turned and I had found nv 40
dier's appetite again, he spent many
the nights abroad and never let n
guess what risks he ran to fetch n
dainties from the outer world.
In this night raiding no danger W,
too great to hold him from secyi,
ne. Once, when we were wash,
down our evening meal Of meat al
I maize cake with plain cold water.
mourned h good wine idling In
8 bin at Jennifer House. At that, Wit
! out q word to me. he took the whc