The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-05-26
HOW A GOLDEN KEY UNLOCKED
A DOOR.

ASOi'
Having my dismissal and reprieve I
was remanded to the custody OF that
young Lieutenant Tybee whom you
tlave met and known as Falconnet's
second in the duel. Interpreting his or
ders literally, he suffered ME to keep
my own room for the night. I a ex-
pected manacles and a roommate
guard at the least. but my gentlemanly
jailer spared me both. When he had
me safe above stairs, he barred the
door upon me, set a sentry pacing back
and forth in the corridor without, and
another to keep an eye upon the win
dow from below, and 80 left me.
There was no great need for either
sentry. or for bolts and bars. What
with the nights adventures and my
:scarce-healed wound. l was far sped on
that road which ends against the blind
wall of exhaustion, as you may we'll
For while a man may borrow
strength of wine or rage or passion.
these lenders are but pitiless usurers
and will demand their pound of flesh;
aye. and have 1t, too. when all the prin-
cipal Is spent.
SO. when Tybee barred the door and
left me with a single candle to my
lighting. I was fain to fall upon the
bed in utter WEAKNESS. thinking that
the respite bought by my sweet lady's
humbling was more dearly bought than
'GNcI, III lIlhl AlG lloSoN AAhSSy "OAAN
have beer the rope and tree without
this interval OF waiting.
To me in this grim Doubling Castle
81 despair the priest came. He was a
good man and a true, this low-voiced
missioner to the savages. and he would
be a curster man than 1 who failed to
give him his due need of praise and
love. For in this dismal interval OF
waiting. with death so sure and neal
that all the air was growing chill and
~lifeless at Its presence, he was a ready
help in time of need. II I were her
,etic" to him, I swear I knew 1t not fol
aught he said or did; and though
trusted that when my time was come
I should stand forth with some small
.simple-hearted show of courage. yet
when he went away l felt 1 was the
stronger for his coming. And this
mark you. though l was still unshriven
and he had never named the churchl5
rite 70 me.
When he was gone I fell to wearing
out the time afoot; and. lest YOU think
me harder than I was. It may be saic
~ that while I did not make confession t.
the kindly priest. 1 hope l tried to makt
my peace with God In some such sim
plertfashion as our forbears did. iva!
none so great a matter. for one VIII
lives a soldiers life must needs be rip
for plucking hastily.
But in tile final casting of account!
there was an item written down IL
red, and one in black, and these would
mot be scored across for all the travail
,o1 a soul departing. The one in blacl
was bitter sorrow for the fate from
which might not live to save m,
that l should die n carry hence thu
knowledge that might else nip the In
dian onfall in the bud.
No sooner was the priest away thar
I began to upbraid myself because
had not old him Of this British-Indial
murder plan. And yet on secone
Thought twas clear that 1T had beer
but a poor shifting of the burden tt
weaker shoulders; and thankless. too
for Tarleton would be sure to put hin
on the ~question-rack to make him tel
of all thai passed between us.
As had let him go. he would hav,
naught to tell, and so was safe. wher,
otherwise he might be hanged or buried
In the hulks for knowing what l knew
No, 1t were best he knew it not: blu
how was l to rid me of this burden?-
of this and of that other laid upon m,
for my love?
The question asked itself many
time, and was as often answerless. be
fore there came a stir without ant
voices in the corridor. 1t was tn,
changing of the guard. / guessed. ant
80 1t proved, since presently I heard tn,
,clanking of the officers sword. ant
double footballs minishing into silence
The sentry newly come paced bacl
and forth to a low-hummed quick-stel
OF his own, bestirring himself as on,
who. reused but now from sleep, would
wake himself and be alert. He mad,
more noise than did the other. and tina
Ia why l marked 1t when the football!
ceased abruptly. A moment afterwart
the bar was lifted cautiously from 1t!
.socket. the latch clicked gently and tn
door swung open. l looked. and mus