Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-12-15
THE MASTER OF APPLEBY|


1 SAA~ NJ NAASAAAN AS~N
know-that l know-how-how you
came there"
She was flushing most painfully, and
| was scarce more at ease, But having
gone thus far, / must needs let the
thought consequent slip into words.
Your father's motives have ever
been MISUNDERSTANDING to me. What
could he hope to gain by such a thing "
| had no sooner said ii than | could
have bitten my masterless tongue. For
in the very voicing Of the wonder !
saw, or thought / saw, Gilbert Stairs
purpose. Since I had not made good
my promise to die n leave the es-
tate TO Margery, he would at least
make sure of his daughters dowry in
1t by putting it beyond us to set the
marriage aside as a thing begun but
not completed. SO, having this behind
time flash OF after wit, | made haste
to efface the question / had asked.
Your pardon, l pray you; ] see now
tbs a thing we must both bury out of
sight. But to the other-the matter
which has brought me hither; will you
put me in the way Of finding Father
Matthew"
We had talked on through the meas
ures of a cotillion, and the dancers,
warm and wearied, were beginning to
fill the entrance hall below. Our poor
excuse for privacy would be gone in a
minute or two, and she spoke quickly.
you shall see Father Matthew, and
I will help you. But o must not
linger here. In a few days the army
will be moving northward-Oh, heav-
ems! what nave l saidi"
Nothing" l cut in swiftly; you are
speaking now to your husband-not TO
the spy. Go On, if you please"
I'VE shall return to Appleby Hun
dred within the fortnight. There, If
,,z,, -, .4sI1 & $500, I,ntrn a. ,yDY, .,a ~
meet the good cure, and
A neutrality-suspicious. captain of cav
airy was coming up the stair to claim
her, and / was fain to let her go. But
at my passing of her to the step below,
L whispered: II shall keep the tryst-
my first and last with you, dear lady.
Adieu."
So soon as she was gone l made
haste to find Richard, having. as l
feared, greatly overstayed my APP
pointment to meet him at the door. He
was not among the promenaders in the
hall, so | began to drift again, through
the ballroom and so on to where the
| spread table stood ringed with it's
groups of nibblers. l had made no
more than half the round of the re-
| fectory when / saw Margery standing
in the curtained arch, looking this way
and that, with anxious terror written
plainly in her face.
What is it?" | asked, when she had
found me out.
Its the worst that could happen"
she whispered You are discovered,
both of you. Colonel Tarleton was too
shrewd for us. He has let it be known
among the officers that there are w
spies in the house, n now-Hark!
what is that?'
We were standing in a deep window
bay and | drew the curtain an inch or
two. The air without was filled with
the trampling of hoofbeats on green
sward, A lighthouse troop was sur
rounding the manor house.
/ drew her arm in mine and led her
back to the ballroom; twas now come
best safeguard. I'VE must find Dick"
said l. Have you seen him?"
NO"
Together we made the slow circuit
of the dancing room, but Jennifer was
not to be found. Out of the tail of my
eye 1 saw a soldier slipping in here and
there to stand ~statue-like against the
wall. This brought it to a matter of
minutes, of seconds. mayhap, and still
we looked in vain for Dick.
"Oh, why did you bring him here? He
will surely be takeni" Her voice was
tremulous with fear, and l answered
as | could, being sore at heart, in spite
of all. that her chief concern should be
for Richard.
But by now my purpose was we'll
taken, and though 1t appeared that
Richard Jennifer was more than ever
my successful rival, | pledge you my
dears, l had no thought of leaving him
behind, SO we made another slow
round of the rooms and whilst we were
looking for Dick / spoke in guarded
whispers to warn my lady OF Falcon
nets return. But the warning was not
needed.
Her shudder Of loathing shook the
hand on my arm. THAT man.! oh,
Monsieur John! / fear him day and
night! If | could but run away; but
you are not finding Dick-we must find
him quickly"
There was no other place to look save
in the entrance hall. and at the door
one of the two statue-like soldiers took
two steps aside and barred the way. /
faced about and we plunged once again
into the throng, but not before | had a
glimpse of Richard in the hall beyond.
When the chance offered. | bent to
whisper.
Dick is in the hall, looking for me,
go 0 10 him and warn him. l may
not pass the door, as you have SEEN"
will not escape without you" she
demurred.
Tell him he must. Tell him l say
he must!".
She glanced over her shoulder with a
look in her eyes that made me think
of a wounded bird fluttering in the net
of the fowler.
ooh, it's hard, hard!" she murmured.
l snatehed the word from her lips.
ITO choose between love and wifely
duty? Then / make it a command. Go
quickly"
She went at that, and | made my way
slowly TO the far side Of the ball room,
taking post IN a deep-recessed window
giving upon the lawn. Though it was
January and the night vas chill and
raw, the rooms were summer warm
with the breath of the crush, and some
one had swung the easement.
Without, / could heal the horses Of
the waiting troop champing restlessly
at their bits, and now n again the
low gentling words of the riders. Why
the colonel did not spring his trap at
once l could not guess: though / learn
ed later that he had magnified our two
man spying venture into a patriot
foray meant to capture the whole
household of British officers at a swoop
and was taking his measures accord
ingly.
Twas while / was listening TO the
~champing horses that | heard my name
whispered in the darkness beyond the
open easement. / turned slowly, and
the nearest of the soldier watchers be-
gan TO edge his Wa toward my win
dow.
"'Tis I-Dick Jennifer,n whispered
the voice without. Swing the case
mant a little wider and out with Won