The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-05-05
THE MASTER OF APPLEBY|
'-= BY Francis Lynde. -->
BY Francis Lynde.


IFS Spti anu true OF you 10 S6N 81
little one; hut there he two sides 10 that
AS Well. SO my fathers acres come u
last 10 YOU and Richard Jennifer. l shall
be we'll centent. / do assure you, Mar
gerry"
She sprany up from her low seat an,
went to stand in the window bay. Afte'
d time she turned and faced once again
and the warm blood was in cheek an,
neck. and there WAS a soft light in he
eyes 20 make them shine like stars.
Then YOU would have me marry Rich
ard Jennifer?" she asked.
Twas but a little word that honor
babe me say, and yet it chcked me and
could not say it.
Dick would have YOU, Margery; and
Dick is my dear f~riend-as l am his"
But YOU" She Qucried. Were you my
friend, as we'll. is this as You would
have it,"
My look went past her through the
lead-rimmed window-panes to the great
oaks and hickories on the lawn; to these
and to the white road winding in and out
among them. While yet L sought for
words in which to give her unreservedly
10 my dear lad, two horsemen trotted into
View. one OF them was a kings man
the other a civilian i'll sober black. The
redcoat rode as English trooper do. with
a firm seat. as IL the man were master
VI Ills mount, W lle SIIlilttF man Ill
black seemed little to the manner born.
and daylight shuttled in and out beneath
hin. keeping time to the jog-trot of his
beast.
| thought it passing strange tina with
all good will to answer her. these coming
horsemen seemed TO hold me silent. And,
indeed. l did not speak until they came
SO near that L could make them out.
II am your friend. Margery mine: as
GOOD q friend as Won will lot mo be And
as between Richard Jennifer and mother
l should be a sorry friend to Dick did 1
not
She heard the clink of horseshoes on
the gravel and turned. signing to me for
silence While she looked below. The win
dow overhuns the entrance on hat side.
through the opened air easement 1 heard
some bahblement of voices, though not
the words.
II must go down" she said. "'Tis com
pany come. and my father is away"
She passed ehind my chair. and, hear
ing her hand upon the latch. 1 had
thought her sone-gone down to welcome
my enemy and his riding mate, the fac
tor. Blu While | was cursing my nnready
tongue and %repenting that had not Civ
en- her some small word of warning, she
spoke again.
You say Richard %Jennifer or another
What know you of any other, Monsieur
Nay. know nothing save what you
have told me: and from that | have been
hoping there was no other"
"But if / say there may be-"
My heart went sick at that. True, 1
had thought to give her generously TO
DICK, whose right was paramount; but
to another
"Margery. come hither where / may see
you" And when she stood before me
like a hidden child: Tell me, little
who is that other?"
But now her mood was changed. and
from standing sweet and pensiye she fell
What i,n~pudence.." she cried. .Ma
fol! You Should borrow Pere Matthieu,s
cassock and breviary; then, mayhap. 1
might confess to You. But not before"
But still 1 pressed her.
Tell me, Margely."
She tossed her head and would not
look at me. Dick Jennifer is but a boy:
suppose this other were a man full
grown"
"Yes?"
And a soldier"
The sickness in my heart became a
fire.
20, Margery., Don't tell me 1t is this
who came just now!'
All in q flash the testing mood was
but that which took its place was
strange to me. Tears came; her bosom
heaved. And then She would have passed
me but l caught her hands and held them
fast.
"MarGery, one moment: for your own
sweet sake, IL not for Dicks or mine have
naught to do with this DEVILS emissary
OF a man. If you only knew-if L dared
tell you
But for once, it seemed, / had stretched
my privilege beyond the limit. She
whipped her hands from my hold and
faced me coldly.
"Sir Francis says you are a brave gem
tleman. Captain Ireton, and though he
knows well what you would be about.
has not sent a file of men to put YOU
In arrest. And in return you call him
names chino his back. l shall not stay
to listen. sir"
With that she passed again behind my
chail, and once again l heard her hand
upon the latch. But I would say my say.
Forgive me. Margery. / pray you;
twas only what YOU said that made me
mad. It's less than naught if you'll
deny it."
] waited long and patiently, and thought
she must have gone before her answer
And this Is what she said:
IF L must tell YOU then; tits now two
weeks and more since Sir Francis Fall
comet asked me to marry him. II hope
you do feel better. Captain I%reton."
And with these bitterest of all words
to her leave-tal1ing. she left me to en-
dure as best ! might the hell of torment
they had lighted for me.
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