The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-06-02
THE MASTER OF APPLEBY
b-- BY Francis Lyndo. --
BY Francis Lyndo.

II. But he did not. Instead, he broke
out In a laugh, with a gibe flung first
at Gilbert Stair and then at Falconnet.
God save us. / give you JOY, Mr..
Stair. and YOU. Sir Francis. These two
have duped o bravely. BY heavens!
Sir Frank: twas who should have
had the sword thrust in the duel In
that event o might have stood In
Captain 1reton's shoes, and so had
the priest fetched for your benefit"
Then he turned to Margery with a
bow that had no touch OF mockery in
1t. Il crave your pardon. madam: l
knew not you were pleading for your
husbands life an hour ago. 1t grieves
me that ! may not spare him to you
longer than the night. but war Is cruel
at Its best"
She stood like any statue done in
cold Carrara while he spoke; and when
she made no sign he gave the word to
recommit me
Take him away. Lieutenant Tybee,
and see he has a bridgeport man this
time 10 keep him company. Madam
lreton. III put you on your honor: you
may have access to him. but there
must be 10 messages carried in or
out. TO your quarters, gentlemen. We
must ride far and hard tomorrow
When his final word had set her free.
my frozen maiden came to life and
- ~ = ~ s'ii ~ i'i Sob-
bings. not upon her father. as you
would think. but Upon the good priest.
And 1t was Father Matthew who led
her. still crying softly, out OF the
throng and up the low stair: and now
I marked that all the rough soldiery
stood aside n made way for her with
never a man among them to scoff or
sheer or point a gibe.
At her going. Tybee drew his sword
and cut the cord that bound me.
"These youngling cubs are over
cautious. Captain Ireton. We shall not
make 1t harder for each than we must
he said. with bluff good nature. And
then: "Nvill you lead the way to your
room. sir?"-this to give the youngling
cub another lesson. | suppose.
! walked beside him to the stair. and
when | stumbled. being weak and spent.
he took my arm and steadied me, and
I did think 1t kindly done. At my own
door he gave me precedence again. say
ing. with a touch of the grateful old
world courtesy. After you. sir and
standing aside to let me enter first.
When we We're both within he touched
upon the colonel's mandate.
II must obey my orders. Captain
1reton, but by your good cave | shall
not lock you up with any trooper: I'll
stay with you myself"
thought this still more kindly than
duSnl he HHu uOIe DelOTe. ana SO l
told hin. But he put 1t off lightly.
Its little enough any one IAN do
for you. my friend. but I will do that
little as I can. You are like to have
a visitor. l take It,: If you have, I'm
sure twill be a comfort If your body
guard can be stone blind and deaf"
So saying. he dragged the big wicker
himself deep within 1t with his back
to all the room, and so left me to my
own devices.
Being spent enough to sleep beneath
the shadow of a giboet. l threw myself
f~ull-length upon the bed and was. I
think, adrift upon the ebb tide of ex-
haustion and forgetfulness when once
again the shifting Of the wooden door
bar reused me. l rose up quickly. but
Tybee was before me. There was some
low-voiced conference at the door;
then Tybee came to me.
"Tis Mr.. Gilbert Stair" he said.
HE has permission from the colonel
and insists that he must see you solus.
I'll take your word and leave you, if
o like"
At first I hung reluctant, wanting
little of the host who came so late to
see his guest. Then, as If a sudden
lash Of lightning had revealed it, I
realized, as I had not efore. how I had
set the feet of my dear lady in a most
hideous labyrinth of deception; how
this lie that I had old to bridge a
momentary gap must leave her neither
maid nor widow In the morning.
Yes. yes; for Gods sake let him in.
Mr.. Tybee!" l burst out. Il am fair
crazed with WEAKNESS, and had for
got. IT'S most important, l do as
sure you"
The thing was done at once. and be-
fore l knew 1t l was alone with the old
$500 u 80 H. a
er, vas also Margery's father. He en-
tered cautiously, shielding his bedroom
candle with his hand and peering over
1t to make me out, as If his venturing
in were not unperilous. And I marked
that when he put the candle down up
On the table. he edged away and felt
behind him for the door as If to make
sit down, Captain 1reton: sit down.
I beg of you." he said. in his thin.
rasping treble. And when l had
obeyed: II think you must know what
I've came for. Captain Ireton?"
said l could guess; and he began
again, volubly now. as If to have it
over In the shortest space.
Twas not a Rentlemanly thing for
you to do. Captain Ireton-this marry
ing of a foolish girl out of hand while
you were here a guest; and as for the
priest that did 1t, It'll have him
hanged before the army leaves. l prom
ise you. But now tbs done, l hope
ye're prepared to make the best of IT,"
l saw at once that his daughter had
not yet conflded in him; tina he was
still entangled in my lie. So I thought
1t we'll to probe him deeper While l
might.
What would you call the best IL
1 may ask" sale I. growing the cooler
with some better seeing Of the way
ahead.
The marriage settlements." he cried
shrilly. coming to the point at once,
as any miser would. "'Tis the merest
matter Of form. as We may say. for your
title to Appleby Hundred Is well burnt
ont. l promise you. But for the decent
look Of 1t you might make over your
quitclaim to your wife,"
AYE. truly: so / might"
And so you should. sir: that you
should. We miserable. spying runag"-
he choked and coughed behind his
hand and then began again without the
e%pithets. "'Tis the very least we can
do for her now. when you have the
rope fair around your curs-ahem-
your-your rebel neck. Only for the
FORMS sake, to be sure. We understand,
for she'd inherit after you In IN case
I saw his drift at last. and, not car
Ing to spare him. sped the shaft OF
truth and let 1t find the joint in his
harness.
TITS as YOU say, Mr.. Stair But as
1t chances. Mistress Margery is not my
Wife"
II 1 mad flung the cardle at him
where he stood tumbling behind him