Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-06-09

vi A6hAl AAaA k811 tRf aAs&
low voiced priest was striving us the
while we knelt 10 take his benediction.
All through this fa~rce--which was in
truth the grimmest of all tragedies
my lady played her part as one who
walks in sleep; and at the end n let
her father lead her out with not a word
or look or sign 10 me.
You'd guess that / would take IL
hard-her leaving of me thus. as i
made sure, for all eternity; and i did
take ii hard. For when the strain was
of and there was no one by 10 see or
hear save my good hearted death
watch, / must needs go down upon my
knees beside the bed In childish weak
ness, and sob and choke and let the
hot tears come as i had not since at
this same bedside ] had knelt a little
lad to take my mothers dying love.
XII.
HOW THE NEWS CAME TO UN-
WELCOME EARS.
Though all the western quarter OF
the sky was night-black and spangied
vet with stars, the dawn was CRAVING
slowly in the east when Tybee reused
me.
They have not come for you as
vet" he said, $50 I took time by the
forelock and passed the word Tor
breakfast. Ii heartens a man TO eat
a bite and drink a cup OF wine Just
on the battles edge. Will you sit and
let me serve you, Captain Ireton"
That / will not" said /, adding that
I would blithely share the breakfast
with him. Whereat he laughed and
clipt my hand, and swore i was a true
soldier and a brave gentleman to boot.
So we sat and hobnobbed at the ta-
BILE, and Tybee lighted all the mna
candle-ends and preached the wine
and pledged me in a bumper before we
fell TO upon the cold haunch OF veni-
son.
shared the heel-tap of the bottle. 1t
was my toast to his hearted
youngster, and we drained II standing
what time the stair gave back the
tread of marching men. Tybee crashed
his glass upon the floor and wrung
my hand across the table.
"Good-by, my captain; they have
come. God damn me, sir. I'll swear
hey might do worse than let you GO,
for all your spying. You've carried
off this matter with the lady as a gen
tleman should. and whilst / live she
shall not lack a friend. If you have
any word 10 leave for her"
I shook my head. No said /; then,
on second thought: And yet, there lis
a word. You saw how i must see the
matter through 10 shield the LADY,
Surely: twas plain enough for any
one to see"
Then / shall die the easier IL you
will undertake to make ii plain TO Rich
ard Jennifer. He must be made TO
know that | supplanted him only in a
formal way, and that to save he lady's
honor"
The lieutenant promised heartily,
and as he spoke the oaken bar was
lifted and my reprieVe was at IN end.
Having the thing to dispatch before
they broke their fast, my soldier hang
men marched me off without do. The
house and all within IL seemed yet
asleep, but out of doors the legion van
guard was astir, and newly kindled
camp-fires smoked and blazed among
the trees. In shortest space we left
these signs of life behind, and began
TO think toward the end.
IT'S curious how sweet this troubled
life of ours becomes when that day
wakes wherein it must be shuffied off!
AS a soldier must, ] thought / a held
life lightly enough; nav, this / know,
/ had often worn IL upon my sleeve in
battle. But now, when i was marching
forth to this cold blooded end without
the battle chance to make il welcome,
all nature cried abound TO me.
Inc QdWn was not Unlike lidl olitT
dawn a month past when l had ridden
down the river road with Jennifer; a
morning fair and fine, its cup abrim
and running over with the wine Of life.
/ thought the cool, moist air had never
seemed so sweet and fragrant; that ma
lures garb had never seemed SO blithe.
There vas no hint or sign of death In
all the wooded prospect. The birds
were singing 1oyously; h squirrels.
.n 49, I u-1A1 -, 30 aCn ~ nnF mt
of sight. sat each pom his bough to
chatter at us as we passed. And once,
when we were filing through a bosky
dell with sGftest turf 10 TIiufhv ali OuT
treadings, q fox ran out and stood with
one uplifted foot, and was as still as
any stool or stone until he had the
scent OF us.
A mile beyond the outfields of Apple
by Hundred we passed the legion pick
ct line, and ! began 10 wonder why we
went so far; wondered and made bold
to ask the ensign in command, turning
ii into a grim jest and saying ! mis-
liked to come too weary to my end.
The ensign, q curst young p~opinjay,
as little officers cubs are like 10 be,
answered fippantly that the colonel
had commuted my sentence; that ] was
to be shot like a soldier, and that far
enough aheld so the y~olleying would
not wake the house.
ST we Jared on, and a hundred yards
beyond this point OF question and reply
came put into ar open grove of oaks;
then / knew where they had brought
me-and why. Twas the glade where
had tough my losing battle with the
baronet. On it's farther confines two
horses nibbled rein's-length at the
grass. with Falconnet's trooper serving
man to hold them, and, standing on
the very spot where he had thrust me
out, my enemy was waiting.
Twas all p~re-arranged, for when
the ensign had saluted he marched his
men a little way apart n drew them
un in line with muskets ported. But
at q sign from Falconnet two of the
men broke ranks and came to strap me
helpless with their belts. / smiled at
that, and would not miss the chance
to jeer.
You are a sorry coward. Captain
Falconnet, as bullies ever are" / said.
Would not your sword suffice against
a man with empty hands,"
He passed the taunt in silence, and
when the men had left me, said: II
have. come to speed your parting, Cap
tain Ireton. You are q thick-headed,
witless fool, as you have always been;
yet since you've Numbered into serving
me ! would not grudge the time to
come and thank YOU
Il serve your" ! cried. '-God knows
I'd serve You up in collops AT the table
OF your master, the devil, could I but
stand before YOU with a carving tooI,n
He laughed softly. Always vengeful
and vindictive, and always because you
must ever mess and NEEDLE with other
fnenfa roppQrpQ no raforfad .Apa