Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-12-08

anke OF naughty DANES and prinklng
dandy officers. Beneath :he notice, |
say and yet / would qualify this, for
more than one of the epauletted mac
aronis trod upon my toes or BUSTED
ne rudely In the crush till | trembled,
not for my own self-control, but for
Richards, making sure that the lad
was having no more gentlemanly well
come than l.
Twas with some notion of finding
ampler room for my feet that i edged
away through the fringing wall-crowd
in the dancing room toward a ~curtained
archway at the back. AS yet l had
overhead naught save the silly persi-
flage OF the bellies and beaux-a word
here and another there-and / was be-
ginning to fear that this was as poor a
place to look for information as was
the pothouse, hen a thing befell to set
me a-quiyer with all the th%rillings the
human heart-strings a thrum to in
one and the same instant of time.
/ had shouldered my way out Of the
ball room medley and INTO the less
crowded room at the back. This proved
to be a rear drawing room serving for
the nonce as a refectory. There were
little groups and knots of chatterers
standing about; fair maids, each with
her ring of relocated courtiers, laugh
ing and testing or picking daintily at
the viands on the great table in
the midst.
Rounding the PFomontory Of the ia
ble's end to come to anchor in some
quiet eddy where | could listen I'M
noticed for the word l was thirsting
for, l must needs entangle the button
of my cOat-cuff in the delicate lace of
a lady's sleeve in passing.
The wearer Of the sleeve had her
back to me, and l saw the white shOul-
ders go up in a little shrug OF petulance
whilst | sought to d~isentagle the but
on. Then she turned to face me and
the words Of apology froZe on my lips.
'Twas Mistress Margery, standing at
ease with-good heavens! with Rich
ard Jennifer and Colonel Banastre Tar
Teton for her company!
Here was a halter, with n double
snaffie at the end Of it, was the thought
that flashed upon me; and l was gath
ering my wits to brazen ii out in some
such manner as to leave Jennifer un-
attainted, when my lady gave a little
start and a shrek,
La, Mr.. Septimus; how you startled
met" she cried. Then, with a tremor
of the lip or a pause for breath-taking,
she presented me: Colonel Tarleton,
Mr.. Septimus Ireton, of ~Iretondene in
Virginia" And next to Dick. Mr..
Richard, my very good friend, Mr.. Ire
tom
Twas done so cIeverly and with such
an air that even Dick, who had known
her from childhood, was struck dumb
with admiration, as his face sufficiently
advertised. And, indeed, 1 had much
ado to play my own part with any de-
cent self possession, though l did make
shift to bow stiff1y, and 70 say: Il see
/ should have brought the ~Iretondene
title deeds with me to make you sure
that / am not my rebel cousin John,
Mistress Margery. Your servant, Col
onel Tarleton; n yours, Mr.. Rich
ard"
Dicks bow was an elaborate hiding
of his tell-tale face. but the colonel's
was the slightest of mods, n | could
feel the sloe-black eyes Of him boring
into my very soul.
Had my lady given him but a mo-
ment's time / make no doubt he woul
have come instantly at the truth n
the little farce would have been urned
into a tragedy on the spot. But she
gave him no time. The spinet in the
ball room. alcove was tinkling out the
overture to a minuet, and she laid the
tips of her dainty fingers on the colo
nel's arm.
This will be ours to walk through,
will 1t not, Colonel Tarleton?" she said,
playing the sprightly mink to the very
climax of perfection. hen she dipped
us a curtsy. '"Au reYoir, gentlemen.
IT'S a thousand pities you had not
Joined sooner, and so had the red coat
and small sword to grace you here"
When they were gone Dick laughed
sardonically.
Saw you ever such a cool blood lit
tie jade in all your life? Twas with
me as it was with you; |, too, stumbled
upon them, and the colonel hustled ms
and set his heel on my foot. L dare say
/ should have had myself in irons in
another moment but for Madge. She
slipped in between and introduced us
as sweetly as you please"
Nevertheless said !, the colonel
recognized us both"
mo! hin you SOP
"'Tis certain enough to play upon.
What we do now must be done quickly
or not at all What have you over
heard?'
He swore softly. Never a cursed
word; less h nothing of any inter-
est to Dan Morgan"
1--WE must try again. Twill surely
be talked of here If the army is about
to move. Do you take a turn in the
ante-room and meet me in a quarter
of an hour at the outer door,"
At the word, Dick promptly loss
himself in the throng whilst made a
SLOW circuit of the refreshment table.
Once | thought 1 had the clue when a
girl hanging on the arm of an infantry
lieutenant said: "Will it be true that
you will presently go out to hunt the
rebels down, Mr.. Thornicroft? But
the prudent lieutenant smiled and put
her off cleverly, leaving his fair ques-
tioner-and me-none the wiser.
Continued Next Weekly
Girls and Their Education,