The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-12-01
CHAPTER NLIlI.-Continued

sword thrust. But that day YOU speal
of was not more hopeless for you thai
FOR me-
Il know it, said I, thinking only o
how the loveless marriage must grin,
upon her. But it must needs be hope
less for both till death steps in to breal
the bond"
Again she laughed. that same bite,
little laugh.
Indeed. it was a great wrong you die
that night. sir, l could wish. as heart
lily as you, that it might be undone
But this is idle talk. Let me see If thi:
Key will fit your manacles. l lave beer
all day finding out who had it, and
am not sure 1t will be the right one
after ALL"
But 1t did prove to be the right one;
and when the irons were off / felt more
like a man, and less like a baiteG
bear.
"Tha is better" said l., drawing
breath of unfeigned relief. II bean my
Lord Charles no malice, but twas q
needless precaution, this ironing of a
man who vas never minded to rur
away"
But you are going to run away
she said. decisively; and that as soon
as even O are able to hold a horse
between YOU knees. Shall | bring YOU
another dish of tea? Nay, never look
so Mortified; l shall not poison you this
time"
Stay" l cried. You mean that YOU
are going to help ne escape? Ills a
needless %prolonging of the agony. &C
n tell the guards where they can find
me-"
She stopped midway to the wainscot
door and turned to give me my answer.
NO; you are a soldier, and-and
| Will mt ho n on1Inu.r ,,.kl@,, ~ ..-.
hear, sir? II you are so eager to die.
there is always the battlefield" And
with that she left me.
may pass over the two succeeding
days in the silence was condemned
TO endure through the major part of
them. After that first visit, Margery
came only at stated intervals to bring
me food and drink, and my nurse was
an old black beldame. either deaf and
dumb, or else so newly from the Guinea
coast as to be unable to twist hel.
tongue to the English.
And In the food -bringings I could
neither make my lady stay nor answer
n question; this though l was hung
estnS to know what was going on be-
yond the walls of my garnet prison. In
deed, she would not ven tell me how
] had been spirited away from the two
sergeants keeping watch over me in her
~ SNioL6 lpOIIl DtlOW Stars,
That is Scfpio's secret" she would say
laughing at me. "and he shall keep it,"
But in the evening of the third day
the mystery bubble was burst, and |
learned from Margery's lips the thing
! longed to know. Lord CORVALLIS
had decided to abandon North Carolina
IN an hour or two the army would
be IN motion for withdrawal to the
southwark.
. Inylr tho r1.c .L 1,~- ~ rSo.i,, r--
most fervently. .King's Mountain has
begun the good work, and we shall
sho Farmer George Il thing or two
he had not guessed"
On this, my lady drew herself IN
most proudly and her lip curled.
You forget, sir, you are speaking to
Mr.. Gilbert Stairs daughter"
True" said 1: II did forget. We
are at cross purposes IN this, as in all
things else. I crave your pardon.
Madam
Her eyes were swapping by now.
Never tell me, my dears, that eyes of
the blue-gray can not flash fire when
they will.
How painstaking you will go abou,
to make me hate you!" she burst out.
And then. all in the same breath: but
you VIII be rid of me presently. for
good and ALL"
1NSJt eASA, NAIollGoS you
are always taking an ell of meaning for
my inch Of speech. IT'S l who should
do the ridding."
Mon Dieu!" she cried, In a sudden
burst Of petulance; II am sick to death
Of all this! Is there no way out of this
coil that is strangling us both, Captain
Ireton?"
II had thought to make a way three
days ago; did SO make it, but you kent
mo Tfrnrn WQ lk n o. In IT, Vat kt,-I .,...
Is still open-if o will but DROP a
word in my Lords ear when you go
below stairs"
"Oh. yes-a fine thing; the wife be-
trays the husband!" This With anothe,
lip-curl of scorn. 81 have some shreds
and patches of pride left. sir, If you
have not"
"rhen free me of my obligation ia
you and let me do 1t myself. I am we'll
enough to hang"
And so make me a consenting &C
complete? Truly, as I have said be-
fore. you have a most knightly soul.
Captain %Ireton."
I closed my eyes in very WEAKNESS.
You are hard to please, my lady,"
You have not to try to please me,
sir, I am going away-tonight."
Going away9" / echoed. "Whither,
II 1 may ask?"
+N4 VA AdlAlCI has ldhGLl plOlcCllOH dnC
we shall go south with the army. AS
Lord CORVALLIS says, M~ecklenburg IL
a hornets nest of rebellion, and in an
hour or two after we are gone you
will be amongst your friends"
She made to leave me now, but ]
would not let her go without trying
the last b%lunt-pointed arrow in the
culver of expedients.
Stay a moment" I begged. you are
leaving the untangling of this coil .,or
speak OF to a chance bullet on a bat.
tlefleld. Had you ever thought that tn.
church can undo what the church ha:
dolse?"
Again I had that bitter laugh which
was to rankle afterward in mem
DRY.
YOU are a most desperate, pertina
cious man, Captain Ireton. Failing al
else, you would even storm HEAVIER
:tself to gain your end she scoffed
then. at the very pitch-point OF tn,
bcornful outburst she put her face II
ner hands and fell a-sobbing as II he
heart would break.
IL knNw not what to say or do. an,
Nndedr rnanlike, by saying and doinI
nothing. And SO, still crying softly
she let herself out at the wainsco
door, and this was u leave-taking.
CHAPTER Xiv.
HOW HE CAME TO THE BEGIN
MING OF THE END.
1t was on the third day Of December
y cheerless and comfortless day at tn
close of the most Indictment autumn
ever remember, that the patriot arm
of the south was on the cOvlr