Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-07-07

could not have made him %tenderer.
Twas not the mere outgushing of "A
nature open-armed to make a bosom
friend OF all the world: nor any femi-
nine softness on his part: II | have
| drawn him thus my pen is but a clumsy
quill, for he was marlborough and
masterful, with all native strength and
vigor OF the born.
But on the side OF love and friend
ship no woman ever had a truer heart,
a keener eye or a lighter hand. And in
a service for friend or mistress he
would spend himself as recklessly as
| those old knights you read about who
made a business of their chivalry.
With his daily offerings of unselfsh-
nsss to sham me, you may be sure /
was fiayed alive: self-logged like a
miserable monk, with all the wound
ings OF the whip we'll sailed by remorse.
As you have guessed. / had not yet
summoned up the courage to tell him
how / had staked his chance OF happl-
ness upon a casting Of the die Of fate
staked and lost IL. Now hat II was
gone | saw how I had missed the golden
opportunity; how 1 had weakly hest
tated when delay could only make the
telling harder.
BY tacit consent we never spoke OF
Margery. Richards silence hung upon
despair, l thought; and as for mine.
since the husbands road and the low
er's lay so far apart, / could not bring
myself TO speak OF her. But she was
always first in my thoughts in that
time OF conValescence, as l made sure
she was In his; and at the last the
hidden thing between VS. was brought
to light.
II was on a night some three weeks
or more after my fever turn. Our lar
der la run low again, and Jennifer
haI 80 49, - - hAaWaA ~ a. WtwAA
abroad-to little purpose, as II CHANGED.
Twas midnight or Whereabouts when
he came swearing In to tell me that the
Tories were u again to harry our
side Of the i've afresh, and to make a
refugees begging OF a bag OF meal a
thing OF peril.
They'll starve us out in shortest
measure at this rate" he protested.
They have trampled down all the
standing corn for miles around. and
his morning they burned the milf. IT'S
our notice to quit. and we'd best take
II. There has been lighting to the
south OF us-a plenty OF tat Rocky
Mount and Hanging Rock, and else
where, and every man is needed. If
you are strong enough to stand the
march, We'll run the gauntlet down the
river In the pirogue and cut across
from the lower ford to join Major Da-
vie or Mr.. Gates"
/ said | was fit enough, and would
do whatever he thought best. And then
l too a step upon the forbidden
ground.
'Falconnet is stin at Appleby Hun
bred ?" l said.
He nodded.
And you will join the army at the
front and leave Margery to his tender
mercies2"
rJy. Io,,oh uyas h;ttar. so hitter tbat
/ scarce knew it for Richard Jennifer's.
: Mistress Margery stat Is well, and
well content. az l told you once before.
She has nj wish for you or me. unless
ii be to see us we'll hanged"
May, Richard; you Judge her over
harshIy. / fear you do not love her as
her lover should"
Say you so? Listen: Tonight got
as far as the manor house. being fool
enough TO risk my neck for another
sight OF her. God help me. Jack! 1
had II. They nave scraped together
all the Tory riff-raff this side OF the
river-Falconnet and the others-and
are holding high revel at Appleby.
Since 1t is still u true-blue border
land. they are scant enough OF women
OF their own kidney. and I saw Madge
dancing like any light o. love with ev-
cry j~ackanapes that offered"
/, 'In her fathers house she could not
well do less" / averred. cut to the
heart, as he was, and yet with
out his younger lovers jealously to
make me unjust.
.Or more he added, savagely. "'Tis
as / say; she lacks nothing we can give
her, and we'd as well be off about u
business"
I think he never had it in his heart to
leave her in any threat OF danger. But
from his point of view there was no
danger threatening her save that which
she seemed willing enough to rus upon
Ia life of titled misery as Lady Fall
comet. | saw how he would see IL;
saw, too, that his was the saner sum
ming of 1t up. And yet
He broke into my musings with a
pointed question. What say you,
Jack? IT'S but a little whiffet of a
Tory jade who cares not the snap of
her finger for either OF US. The night
is fine and dark. Shall we Loaf the
canoe and give them all the slip?"
This was how IL came to turn upon
a yes or mo- OF Aline. / hesitated.
I know not why. In the little pause
the fire burned low between is. and
the shadows deepened In the burrow
cavern until they strangled the eye
as mephitic vapors scant a man OF
breath. The silence. too. was sitting.
There was no sound to breach it save
the gurgling murmur of the river. and
this was subdued and intermittent like
thu death-rattle In the throat OF the
dying.
i've always made a scoff OF super
stition. and yet. my dears. a thousand
questions III this He os S.rs fs3s. hang
answerless TO the crack OF doom IL you
deny il standing room. | knew no more
than / have set down here Of Margery's
besetment: nay, / had every reason
Richard Jennifer had to believe that
sire was well and we'll content. lacking
nothing. save, mayhap. the freedom to
marry where she chose.
And yet, out OF the sitting silence
there came a sudden cry for help: a
cry voiceless TO the outward ear, but
sharp and piercing 10 h a finer inward
sense: a cry so real that l would start
and listen, marveling that Jennifer
made no sign OF having heard Ii.
In the hardening Instant there was a
faint twang like the drumming of a
distant harp string. and then the grave
like silence was rent srnartiy by h
whistling hiss OF an rrow. the shaft
passing evenly between US and scatter
ing the handful OF fire where il struck.
Jennifer came alive with q start.
leaping up with a maIediction between
his teeth upon our dallyfng.
TOO Late. by God," he cried. They
have trapped us like a pair OF blind
moles," And with that he caught up
the ancient broadsword. only to swear
again when he found 10 room To swing
IL In.
Having the handler weapon, I slipped
out before him. creeping on hands and
knees till I could see the leafy screen
at the denis mouth. and the Skinner