The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-04-20
all their stays and furbelows, could
match her supple grace and lissom fs-

wound fever, coupled with the subtle
witchery of her presence thus IN my
sick room, it Is little to be
at that e curious madness came over
me-, or that / forgot for the moment
the loyalty due to my dear lady. Could
I have stood before her and, reading
but half consent in the deep Welied
eyes, have clipt her in my arms ana
laid my lips to hers, ] would have run
to pay the price. in earth or heaven or
he'll. [ thought, deeming the fierce JOY
of it we'll worth any penalty.
At this | should ave stirred, sup
pose, for she came quickly and stood
beside me.
"You have slept long and well. Cap
tain Ireton," she said; and in all the
thrilling joy of her nearer presence l
found space to mark that her voice hao
in it that sweet quality of sympathy
which is all -womaniy. They say am
good only to fetch and carry-may l.
fetch you anything?"
I fear the madness OF the moment
must still a been upon me, for
said: Since you are here yourself.
lean lady, I need naught else
At a flash l had my whipping in q
low dipped curtsy and a hooking smile
like that she had flung to F~alconnet,
"Merci! MOI Capitaine,' she said;
and for all my wincings under the
1lloi II boi III iiN 'ii NS''i'i i 49, 49,
; 70 wonder how she had the French Of
IT.. n then she added! is it the
custom for her Apostolic Majesty's OFF,
GERS to come out of a death-Wound
only to pay pretty compiiments?'
Twas no compliment" l denied;
and, indeed, I meant it. Then | asked
where 1 was, and to whom indebted,
though I had long since guessed the
answer to both questions.
In q tricr the m0ckiDp mood was zone
and she became my lady hostess,
stepped to her finger tips in gracious
dignity.
You are at Appleby Hundred, sir.
Twas here they fetched o because
there was no other house so near. and
you were sorely hurt. Richard Jenni-
fer md my black boy made a litter of
the saddle cloths, and With Sir Fran
els and Mr.. Tybee to help
l think she must have seen that this
thrust was sharper than hat Of the
German long-sword. for she stopped III
mid sentence and looked away from
me. And, surely. I thought it was the
very irony of fate hat l should thus be
brought half dead to the house that
was my fathers. with my enemy and
his second to share the burden of me.
But your father" I queried, when
the silence had grown over long.
MY father is away at Queensbor-
ough, SO you must cen trust yourself
to my tender mercies. Captain Ireton.
Are you strong enough to have your
wound dressed?"
She asked, but waited for no answer
of mine. Summoning a black boy to
hold the basin of water, she fell to upon
the wound dressing with as little ado
as if she had been a surgeons appren-
tice on a battle field, and ! a bloodless
ancient too old to thrill at the touch
of a woman's hands.
Dear heart. it's a mOnstrous ugly
hurt" she declared, replacing the wrap
pings with deft fingers. How came
you to go about picking a quarrel with
Sir Francis?"
Twas not Of my seeking" I re
turned, and then l could nave cursed
my foolish tongue.
rs that generous, Captain Ireton?
We hear something of the talk of the
town, n that says"
THAT says 1 struck him without suf-
ficient cause. l am content to let it
stand So"
Nay, but you should not be content.
Is there not strife enough in this I'M
happy land without these causeless
bickerings?"
Here was my lady turned preacher
all in a breath and I with no words
to answer her. But l could not let it
go thus.
st knew Sir Francis Falconnet in
England said l, hoping to turn her
safe aside.
"Ah: then there was a cause. Tell
it me-
NAY, that I may not"
Though she was hurting me sorely
in the mountaineering, and knew it, she
laughed.
Ills most ungallant to deny a lady,
sir. But l shall know without the tell
ing: twas about a oma Tell me,
Captain Ireton, Is h fair?"
Seeing that her mood had changed
again, 1 tried to give her quip for jest;
but what with the pain of the sword
thrust and the sweet agony of her
touches [ could only set my teeth
against a groan. She went on drawing
the bandageings, little heedful how she
racked me, l thought; and yet when all
was done she stood beside me all of a
tremble, as any tender-hearted woman
might.
There" she said; '"tis over for a
time, and make no doubt you are glad
enough. Now you have nothing to do
save to lie quiet till 1t heals"
"And how long will tina be, think
you?"
"We shall see; a long time, I hope.
You shall be punished properly for
your hot temper, I promise you, Cap
tain Ireton."
Continued Next Weekly
Not a Spectator.
Brooklyn Eagle: PA" said the specn,
%iator's son, want some money for a
little speculation"
u am pleased my boy" returned the
father, as he fished a IS bill from his
| pocket, ITO see that you are taking ar