The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-10-06

and myself as we'll. But I may not for
get my duty, SIR
And with his cruel word she was
zone.
CHAPTER XXxIII.
IN WHICH 1 HEAR CHANCEFUL
TIDINGS.
You are not to suppose that the haz-
ards of this hiding place in my Lord
Corvallis headquarters would keep
me from sleeping we'll and soundly. One
of the things a soldier learns soonest
Is to take his rest when and as he can;
and after peering curiously into the
hooks and corners Of my garnet to
make sure I was alone, 1 flung myself
a-sprawl on the broad settle and was
dropping off into forgetfulness when I
heard a tapping at the wainscot.
1T fetched me wid awake with a
start, and l was up and weaponed in
stantly-having taken the precaution
blowing u the candle. Cropping my
way cautiously TO the secret door, I
crouched and listened. All was silent
save for the Intermittent clalnor of
the wassailers in the room beneath.
After waiting a full minut / opened
the door and looked without. The high
dormer window in the end of the cor
Wv AoNS S1AS 10
less than visible, M I could see that
the passage was empty. But on the
floor at my feet was my supper; a
roasted fowl on a server, hot from the
spit, with maize bread and furnishings
fit for an epicure.
Since, as an appanage of Appleby
Hundred, this was mine w house,
mine, 1 ate as a hungry man should,
making no scruple on the score of
pride. Nor did / forget to be CRATE
full to my lady; though When l remem-
bered hat this was doubtless but an
other leaf out Of her duty-book, the
meat was like to choke me. And it
was this thought mat made me re-
solve thrice over to loose her from the
onerous burden Of me SO 500 as ever
the morning light should come to help
me n the way out Of my owe
prison.
None the less. for all my fine resolves
to be astir n off by daybreak, the
sun was shining broadly in al my gar
ret window when I awoke.
Seeing the sun I tumbled out of my
s~ettle-bed, with a malediction on the
sloth that had bound me so fast, and
made for the door. But some one had
been before me, entering whilst 1 slept.
On a broken chair were a basin and
ever, with soap n towels; beside the
SlldlI was uAy pOilIIldIlledu, anu OH a
deal box, neatly covered with a linen
cloth, was my breakfast.
You, my dears, who have YOU maid
or man to tell you when your bath is
ready, and to lay out the fresh, clean
garments sweet from the laundering,
may wonder that I put away the
thought of flight and let the breakfast
COO whilst I shaved and washed and
scrubbed, and DOTTED the %vagabond and
donned the gentleman. I did it; did it
leisurely, rolling the privilege as a
sweet morsel under by tongue. They
say the raimen never makes the man;
It's a half truth only. For in his own
regard, at least, h man is vagabond
or gentleman as he may dress the one
this; that when I drew up another Of
the cast off chairs to sit at meat,
freshly groomed, and clad in the field
uniform Of a captain of her Apostolic
Majesty's hussars, I was the filter by
many transmigrations to cope with fate
or any other adversary.
And now, the claims of decency paid
in full, and the keen edge of hunger
somewhat dulled, I was free to think
of my sweet lady's loving kindness to
she ~hated-and to wonder what
she would do and be for one she
loved. AS you would guess, there were
dregs of bitterness In that cup; and I
was once again set sharp upon re-
lieving her of he burden Of me.
Having my Austrian uniform, I was
now ready to move in that venture out
lined in part to Colonel Davie; but to
set my plan in action I must first get
free Of the house unseen by my Lord
or any of his suite. How to do this
uraided I could not determine; and,
since any fresh laundering would sure
ly breed new trouble for Margery. I
was forced to wait for her return.
I made sure she would come, if only
she did, tapping at the wainscot door
whilst I was dallying with the break
fast leavings. Twas worth something
to see her start Of surprise when I
opened to her; but she was far too true
a lady to be n thing to the unwashed
vagabond and another to the gentle
man-clad.
beginning in some formal fashion to
thank her for her thoughtful car
when she cut me short.
"'Tis my bounden duty, SIR" she said
twanging once again upon that frayed
string. You are my guest and my
husband; though God knows 1 would
you We're neither"
"Merci. Madame" said I; stung so
sharply that the retort would out in
SplIe OF everything. AS once before, /
am you poor misfortunate prisoner;
but this time you are not less willing
to give than I am to receive"
She gave me a look that I could not
fathom, and for a fitting instant I
could nave sworn there was a mocking
smile a-lurk at the Jack Of the beau
tiful eyes. Then she went straight to
the subject matter of her errand.
brushing aside the small passage at
arms as If 1t had not been.
You are in a most perilous situation.
Captain Ireton; do you not know 1t?
News of your presence in Charlotte has
got abroad, and at this very moment
Tarleton's dragons are making q
house-to-house search for you"
so; some one has betrayed me?"
She nodded.
do you know who 1t wasp"
She nodded again.
I considered Of it for a little time.
and then said: II must not be
taken here. Will your-ah-uty
stretch the length of showing me an
unmatched door?"
There are no doors unmatched. You
must stay here till nightfall."
Nay, that I will not. VIII! you tell
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