The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-06-09

.low-voiced priest was striving us the
while we knelt to take his benediction
through this farCe-whiCh was in
ruth the grimmest of all tragedies
my lady played her part as one who
walks in sleep; n at the end she let
her father lead her out with not a word
or look or sign to me.
You'd guess hat I would take 1T
leaving of me thus. as l
made sure, for all eternity; and l did
take 1t hard. For when the strain was
off and there was no one by t. see or
hea ave my good-hearted death
watch, l must needs go down upon my
knees beside the bed in childish weak
ness, and sob and choke and let the
hot tears come as I had not since at
this same bedside l had knelt a little
lad to take my mothers dying love.
MI.
HOW THE NEWS CAME TO IN
WELCOME EARS.
Though all the western quarter Of
the sky was nigh.-black and spangled
yet with stars, the dawn was CRAVING
slowly in the east when Tybee reused
They have not come for you as
yet" he said, 80 l took time by the
forelock and passed the word for
breakfast. 1t henrtens a mar to eat
a bite and drink a cup of wine just
on the battles edge. viii you sit and
let me serve you. Captain 1reton'
That will not" said l, adding that
would blithely share the breakfast
with him. Whereat he laughed and
clipt my hand, and swore l was a true
sol1ier and a brave gentleman to boot.
So we sat and ~hobnobbed at the ia
BILE, and Tybee lighted all the remnant
, o-1l,.o,1e ovid hrnaphai tho wilma
and pledged me in a bumper before we
fell to upon the old haunch Of veni-
son.
NV came when we had
shared the heel-tap of the bottle. 1t
was my toast to this kind-hearted
youngster, and We drained 1t standing
what time the stair gave back the
tread of marching men. Tyhee crashed
his glass upon the floor and wrung
my hand across the table.
"Good-by. my captain; they have
come. God damn me, sir, III swear
they might do worse thar let O go,
for all your spying. You've carried
off this matter with the lady as a gen.
tleman should, and whilst l live she
shall not lack a friend. If you nave
any word to leave for her
/ shook my head. NO" said I; then,
on second thought: And yet, there is
a word. You saw nov l must see the
matter through to shield the lady?"
Surely; twas plain enough for any
one to see"
Then l shall die the easier If you
will undertake to make 1T plain to Rich
ard Jennifer. He must be mad to
know tina l 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 al 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 TIE legion an
guard was astir, and newly kindleG
camp-fires smoked and blazed among
the trees. In shortest space we left
these signs of life behind, and l begar
to think toward the end.
TITS curious how sweet his troubled
life of ours becomes when that day
wakes wherein 1t must be shuttied off
AS a soldier must, l thought l had helt
life lightly enough: nav. this l know
l had often worn it upon my sleeve il
battle. But now, when l was marching
forth to this cold-blooded end withou
the battle chance to make it welcome
ah nature cried alound to me.
The dawn was not unlike that othe
dawn a month past when l had riddel
down the river road with Jennifer;
morning fair and fine, it's cup abrin
and running over with the wine CT life
l thought the cool, moist air had neve
seemed so sweet and fragrant; that ma
lures garb had never seemed so blithe
There was no hint or sign of death il
all the wooded prospect. The bird
were singing J~oyously; the squirrels
scarce alarmed enough to scamper gu
i ne r. ;phf cot aanh llrnr hic hn1l0h I
chatter at US as we passed. And once
when we were filing through a bosk,
dell with softest turf to muff1e all on
t~readings, a fox ran out and stood wit
one uplifted foot. and was as still a
any stock or stone until he had tn
scent of us.
A mile beyond the outfields of Apple
by Hundred we passed the legion pick
3 ct line, and l began to wonder why w
: went so far; wondered and made Dol
to ask the ensign in command, turnin
: 1t into a grim jest and saying | mis-
liked to come too weary to my end.
5 The ensign, a curst young popinja.
! as little officers cubs are like to b.
answered f%ippantly hat the colont
Ia commuted my sentence; that I wa
to be shot like a soldier, and that ia
l enough afield so the volleying woul
not wake the house.
A So we Jared on, and a hundred yard
e beyond this point Of question and repl
came out into an open grove of oaks
then I knew where they had brougf
me-and why. Twas the glade whel
! l had fought my losing battle with tn
baronet. On its farther confines tw
t horses nibbled rein's-length at tn
grass, with F~alconnet's trooper servin
mar to hold them, and, standing O
the very spot where he had thrust m
out, my enemy was waiting.
t Twas all pre-arranged, for whe
the ensign had saluted he marched h
men a little way apart n drew the
up in line with muskets ported. Bl
At . sign from Falconnet W. of tt
men broke ranks and came to strap II
helpless with their belts. l smiled
that, and would not miss the han
to leer.
g Falconnet, as DULLES EVER are" 1 sal
a Would not your sword suffice again
g a man with empty hands?'
He passed the in silence, ar
{ when the men had left me, said:
n have come to speed your parting, Cal
V tain Ireton. You are a thick-heade
witless fool, as you have always beel
yet since you've blundered into servjr
me l would not grudge the time
d come and thank you"
!: Il serve you?" 1 cried. God knoy
d I'd serve you up in collops at the tab
of your master, the devil, could l b
stand before you with a carving tool
n He laughed softly. always vengef
and vindictive, n always because "
n must eve mess and NEEDLE with 9th
e mems concerns" he retorted. "Al
Il yet, I say, yOu'Ve served me-"