Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-06-08
XII.


MI.
HOW THE NEWS CAME TO IN
WELCOME EARS.
Though all the western quarter of
the sky was nigh black and spangled
vet with stars, the dawn was CRAVING
slowly in the east when Tybee reused
me-
'.They have not come for you as
yet" he said, 80 took time by the
forelock and passed the word for
bite and drink cup of wine just
on the battles edge. Will you sit and
let me serve you, Captain Ireton'
THAT l will not" said 1, adding that
would blithely share the breakfast
, with him. Whereat he laughed and
clipt my hand, and swore was 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 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 1t standing
what time the stair gave back the
4 tread of marching men. Tybee 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 than let you go.
for all your spyng. You've carried
off this matter with the lady as a gem
tleman should. and whilst l live she
shall not lack a friend. II you have
any word to leave for her"
shook my head No" said I; then,
on second thought: And yet. there is
/ word You saw how | must see the
matter through to shield the LADY,
"Surely; twas plain enough for any
one to see"
Then / shall die the easier if YOU
will undertake to make IL plain to Rich
ard Jennifer. He must be made to
know that 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
I 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 the legion van
guard was astir. and newly kindled
camp fires smoked and bazed among
! the trees. In shortest space we left
A these signs of life behind. and began
to think toward the end.
Ills curious how sweet this troubled
life of ours becomes when that day
4 wakes wherein it must be shutied off.
/ AS a soldier must l thought had held
life lightly enough; nav this ] know,
4 had often Worn it upon my sleeve in
battle. But now, when | was marching
forth to this cold blooded end without
1 the battle chance to make ii welcome.
all nature cried abound to me-
The dawn was not unlike that other
dawn month past when | had ridden
down the river road with Jennfer, a
morning fair and fine, Its cup abriin
and running over With the wine OF life.
4 thought the cool, moist air had never
seemed so sweet and fragrant; that ma :
lures garb had never seemed SO bithe.
There was no hint or sign of death in
all the wooded prospect. The birds
We're singing loyously; the squirrels.
scarce alarmed enough to scalnper out
of sight, sat each upon his bough to
chatter at us as we passed. And once,
when we We're filing through bosky
dell with softest turf TO muilie all our
: treadings, a fox ran out and stood with
J one uplifted foot, and was as still as
any stock or stone until he had the
scent of us.
A mile beyond The outnelds of Apple
by Hundred we passed the legion pick
Ell line. and began To wonder why we
went 60 far wondered and made bold
to ask the ensign In command, turning
it into a grim jest and saying | mis-
liked to come too weary TO my end.
The ensign, a curst young popinjay,
as little officers cubs are like To be,
answered nippantly that the colonel
had committed my sentence; that was
To be shot like a soldier. and that far
enough afield 50 the volleying would
not wake the house.
So we Jared ON, and n hundred yards
beyond this point of question and reply
came out into an oren grove of oaks,
then | 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 Falconnet's trooper serving
man To hold them. and. standing OF
[ the very spot where he had thrust me
out, my enemy WAS waiting
Twas all pre- arranged, for Wher
the ensign had saluted he marched his
men a little way apart and drew then
up In line with muskets ported. I5u,
at a sign from Falconnet two of tn,
men broke ranks and came to strap me
helpless with their belts. smiled al
that. and would not miss the chance
to jeer
. You are a sorry coward, Captain
Falconr4.t, as bnllies ever are" ! said
] Would not your sword suffice agains
man with empty hands,"
y He passed the taunt in silence, ant
. when the men had left me, said: q
I 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 would not grudge the time Il
I come and thank you"
II serve YOU" | cried God know:
: I'd serve you up In collops at the tabl,
: of your master the devil. could i bur
!, stand before you with a carving tool
He laughed softly. Always vengefu
and vindictive, and always bee ause You
/; must ever mess and NEEDLE with othci
mems concerns" he retor,ed "Ane
:. yet | say, you've served me-.
Tell me how, in Gods name, that
: may not die with that sin unsepentee
Of"
"Oh, In many small ways, but chieh,
: in this affair with the little lady o
!, Appleby"
Never" denied 80 far as de
:, cent speech could compass it, l have
ever sought to tell her what d con
scienceless villain you are
!. He laughed again at that.
/, You know women but indifferently
my captain, If you think to breach
: love affair by Il cannenade of hare
:. words. But | am in no hulnor to dis
pute with you. You have lost. and
. have won, and were | not here to conn
= between you'd look your last upon tn
:, things of earth in shortest order. l d.
!, assure you"
+ ''You?--you come between?" scoffed
You are all kinds of a knave, ST
4 Francis, but your worst enemy neve
accused you of being fool"
o There vas look in his eyes that
4 could never fathom.
1ou are bitter nara John lfetoh--
= bitter and savage and unfOrgiYing