, 1905-02-01

hN iouc way.
On his chair in his room lay a scar
let captains suit, fresh from London;
on the floor a display of new boots.
How would the coat become her and
the boots fit her? Her face was the
captains chat beardless officer oft was
styled 1.-THE girl'), her mouth, blue eyes,
brow, exactly like his.
OF a mood to see, her gown vas
thrown aside, and presently, before
the mirror, in counterfeit presentment,
stood our Captain Renew. "Ah, Rob,
were | you-were | you! But l am"
Could she but have those muscles of
steel his slight figure held. All, but
she had his will, and, rather more than
his, her own. So she strutted and
grimaced, "Oh, Captain Renew" and
"Ah, captain,' and, initiating Madam
Pendleton's voice, you tomboyr' to
be stopped by Belinda's grinning black
face
"NIr. Jim Napleton of Gin'ral Wash
ington's-and scand'lous ragged for Il
Napleton-askin' for you"
"Soldiers?'
"a whole regiment paSSin'"
The scarlet trappings flew about like
rose leaves in il gust, and five minutes
after twas my little lady of Beech
wood who entered to Napleton.
II was passing and could but stop
"Why, indeed, you should'-
"And | came, besides, to tell you Rob
is taken-our prisoner, but don't wor-
ry!"
Law, Rob caught!'
Poor Rob-luckless Rob. How was
he to surprise them at dinner that
night at Ballow's? She sat down i'll
dismay, her face in her hands, and,
presently looking up, she found Jim
Napleton on his knees before her.
Il cant have you cry, Clysta! l can't
have you in tears, and a prisoner has
good care, believe me-"
She laughed.
Get up" said she. And up stood
the ~redoubtable Napleton, while. as it
would happen, his orderly burst in. Il
beg pardon, sir, but It's time, as you
told me to call you. sir"
presently mean now-Jenkins."
And he nodded in ii confusion of words
and love, "Goodby, Miss Renew" She
was tempted to call after, DO you dine
with them tonight at Ballow's?" but
she did not, remembering ROb's plot.
Poor captive Rob!
She sat down, crossing her knees
with her hands. $50 they caught him.
And now Potter and the men are wait
ing him at the crossroads with no one
to lead them" And" she went ID,
"who could lead like Rob? Could 1?
Could l get there? And why not?
And wouldn't they follow me-? What
was the girls name in Shakespeare:
Rosalind! Law, I'll be she, l will!'
BY this time she was in Rob's room.
Off went the gown and shoes and
skirts, and on went breaches and boots
considering. The hair was caught in
the knot and topped with a cap.
Now, then, I'll be Rob, and Rob's
self shall ride to the men at the Forks,
and Rob's self will say, I'm faith we
ride to their dinner at Ballow's. Sad
dep said she.
Presently, with Rob's scarlet, Rob's
spurs, Rob's heart and her own, Clysta
was on the road. The twilight was
long faded, and there was no moon
when she found Rob's lieutenant, Pot
ter, II the men in hiding in the wood
at the crossroads.
1t was midnight at Ballow's. a hot
July night Of ISL. The officers had
Inner in the long room, hung with
antlers, its floor strewn with lynx and
fox and bear skin.
There Ballow, a trim little man-at
his tongues end all the gossip of Viz
ginia-bustled about. Napleton was
telling of the capture of his neighbor
and foe, Rob Renew.
"A good fellow, though" said Cap
tain Renshaw. And you failed to see
the fair Clysta when on the Beech
wood road?'
mot he, not he! Don't you believe
it,"
Yes, l stopped" said Napleton.
ITO the lady of Beechwoodr' cried
one. raiSino hiph a hnnkor nf pnEou,n