Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-04-20

GERS to come out OF a death wound
only to pay pretty compliments"
Twas no compliment" I denied;
and, indeed, meant it. Then I asked
where l was, and to whom indebted,
though I had long since guessed the
answer to both questions.
In a trice the hooking mood was gone
and she became my lady hostess,
stepped to her finger tips in gracious
dignity.
You are at Appleby Hundred. sir.
Twas here they fetched you because
there was no other house SO near, and
You We're sorely hurt. Richard Jenni-
fer and my black boy made litter of
the saddle cloths, and with Sir Fran
els and MIR. Tybee to help"
think she must have seen that this
thrust was sharper than that OF the
German long-sword. for she stopped in
mid sentence and looked away from
me- And, surely, i thought it was the
very irony of fate that should thus be
brought half dead to the house that
was my fathers. with my enemy and
his second to share the burden of me.
But your father ! aueried, when
the silence had grown over long.
My father is away at Queensbor-
ough, so you must cen trust yourself
to my tender mercies, Captain Ireton.
Are you strong enough to have your
wound dressed?"
She asked, but waited for no answer
of mine. Sulnmoning u black boy to
hold the basin of water. she fell to upon
the wound dressing with as little ado
as II she had been surgeons appren-
tice on a battle field. and l bloodless
ancient too old to thrill at the touch
Of a woman's hands.
Dear heart! tbs monstrous ugly
hurt. she declared replacing the wrap
pings with deft fingers. How came
you to go about picking a quarrel with
Sir Francis:"
Twas not of my seeking" I re-
turned, and then I could have cursed
my foolish tongue.
rs that generous. Captain Ireton?
We hear something OF the talk Of the
town, and that Says
That says ! struck him without suf-.
hclent cause. l am content to let 1t
stand So
Nay. but you should not be content.
Is there not strife enough in this un-,
happy land without these causeless'
bi"kerings?''
Here was my lady turned preacher;
all in II breath and ! With no words
Il" answer her But / could not let ii
go thus.
II knew Sir Francis Falconnet in
England" said 1. hoping TO turn her
safe aside.
All; then there was a cause. Tell.
ii me"
Nay. that l may not
Though she was hurting me sorely
in the wound dressing, and knew it, she
laughed.
" lis most ungallant to deny lady,
sir But l shall know without the tell
ing: twas about woman. Tell me,
Captain lreton. is she fairo''
Seeing that her mood had changed
again. | tried to give her quip for Jest;
but what with the pain of the sword
thrust and the sweet agony of her
touches could only set my teeth
against a groan. She went on drawing
the bandageinss, little heedful how she
racked me, l thought; and yet when all
was done she stood beside me all of IA
lremble, as any tender-hearted woman
might.
There she said; ''tis over for a
time. and make no doubt You are glad
enough. Now YOU have nothing to do
save to lie quiet till it heals
And now long will that be- think
YOU"
We shall see; a long time, l hope.
You shall be punished properly for
your hot temper, ! promise you, Cap
tain Ireton.'
Continued Next Week.)