The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-06-08

this same bedside I had knelt a little
lad to take my mothers dying love.
XII.
HOW THE NEWS CAME TO IN
WELCOME EARS.
Though all the western quarter Of
the sky was night-black and spangled
yet with stars, the dawn was grazing
slowly in the east when Tybee reused
me.
They have not come for you as
yet" he said, $50 l took time by the
forelock and passed the word for
breakfast. It 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'
h I will not" said I, adding that
I would blithely share h 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 remnant
candle-ends and preached the wine
and pledged me in a bumper before we
fell to upon the cold haunch of veni-
son.
My summons came when we had
shared the heel-tap of the bottle. 1t
was my toast to this kind-hearted
youngster, and we drained it standing
what time the stair CAV back the
tread of marching men. Tybee rashe
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
they might do worse thar let you go,
for all your spying. You've carried
off his matter with the lady as a gem
tleman should, and whilst I live she
shall not lack 6, friend. If you have
any word to cave for her
I shook my head. NO." said I; then,
on second thoughts: And yet, there is
a word. You saw how I must see the
matter through to shield the lady"
Surely; twas plain enough for any
one to see"
Then 1 shall die the easier If you
will undertake to make 1t plain to Rich
ard Jennifer. He must be made to
know that I supplanted him only in a
formal way, and that to save the lady's
honor"
The lieutenant promised heartily,
and as he spoke the oaken bar was
lifted and my reprieve was at an end.
Having the thing to dispatch before
they broke their fast, my soldier hang
men marched me off without ado. The
house and all within it seemed yet
asleep, but out Of doors tn, 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 1 began
to think toward the end.
'Tis curious how sweet this troubled
life of ours become when that day
wakes wherein 1t must be shuff1ed off!
AS a soldier must, l thought I had held
life lightly enough; nay. this 1 know,
l had often worn it upon my sleeve in
battle. But now, when l was marching
forth to this cold-blooded end without
the battle chance to make it welcome,
an nature cried abound to me.
The dawn was not unlike that other
dawn a month past when I had ridden
down the river road with J%ennifer; a
morning fair and fine, its cup abrim
and running over with the wine CT life.
I thought the cool, moist air had never
seemed so sweet and fragrant; that ma
lures garb had never seemed so blithe.
There was no hint or sign Of death in
all the wooded prospect. The birds
were singing %Joyously; the squirrels,
scarce alarmed enough to scamper out
Of sight, sat each upon his bough to
chatter at us as we passed. n once,
when we were filing through a bosky
dell with softest turf to muffie all our
treadings, a fox ran out and stood with
one uplifted foot n was as still as
any stock 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. n I began to wonder why we
went 50 far; wondered n made bold
to ask the ensign In command, turning
it into a grim Jest and saying l mis-
liked to come too weary to my end.
The ensign, a curst young popinjay,
as little officers cubs are like to be,
answered f%ippantly that the colonel
had commuted my sentence; hat / was
to be shot like a soldier, and that far
enough af1eld SO the volleying would
not wake the house.
So we Jared on, and a hundred yards
beyond this point of question and reply
came out into an open grove of oaks:
then I knew where they had brought
me-and why. Twas the glade where
I had fought my losing battle with the
baronet. On Its farther confines two
horses nibbled rein's-length at the
grass, with F~alconnet's trooper serving
the very spot where he had thrust me
out, my enemy was waiting.
Twas all pre-arranged. for when
the ensign had saluted he marched his
men a little way apart and drew them
uR In line with muskets ported. But
at a sign from Falconnet two OF the
men broke ranks and same to strap me
helpless with their belts. I smiled at
that, and you'd not miss the chance
You are a sorry coward, Captain
Falconnet, as DULLES ever are" l 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: Il
have come to speed your parting, Cap
tain Ireton. You are a thick-headed,
witless fool, as you have always been;
yet since you've ~blundered into serving
me I would not grudge the time to
come and mar you"
II serve your" I cried. God knows
I'd serve o up in collops at the table
oF 1yo1r rocfor the devil oo,1a T -