Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-05-25
HOW A GOLDEN KEY UNLOCKED
nnnI

A DOOR
Having my dismissal and reprieNe l
was remanded to the custody of that
young Lieutenant Tybee whom you
have met and known as Falconnets
second In the duel. Interpreting his or
ders literally, he suffered me to keep
my own room for the night. l had ex-
pected manacles and room mate
guard at the least, but my gentlemanly
taller 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 so left me.
There was no great need for either
sentry. or for bolts and bars. What
with the nights adventures and my
scarce headed wound. / was far sped on
that road which ends against the blind
wall of exhaustion, as you may Well
suppose For while a man may borrow
strength OF wine or rage or passion,
these lenders are but pitiless Insurers
and will demand their pound of flesh !;
aye, and have II, too. when all the prin-
cipa 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 I'm utter WEAKNESS. thinking that
the respite bought by my sweet lady's
humbling WAS more dearly bought than
ever, and that the truest mrecy would
have been the rope and tree without
this interval OF waiting.
TO me In this grim Doubling Castle
of despair the priest came. He was a
good man and Il true. this low-votced
missioner to the savages. and he would
be a curster man than i who failed to
give him his due need of praise and
love For In this dismal Interval of
y, ~,
that all the air was growing chill and
lifeless at It's presence, he was a ready
help in time of need. If l We're her
etic" to him. swear l knew 1t not for
aught he said or did; and though l
trusted that when my time was come
1 should stand forth with some small,
simple hearted show of courage, yet
when he went away I felt was the
stronger for his coming. And this.
mark you, though was still unshriven.
and he had never named the churchly
rite to me.
When he was gone I fell to wearing
out the time afoot. and, lest you think
me harder than was, 1t may be said
that while l did not make confession to
the kindly priest. / hope tried to make
my peace with God In some such sim
pier fashion AS our forbears did. Twas
none so great matter. for one who
lives a soldiers life must needs be ripe
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