The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-06-02
X.-Continued.

manacled: but now 1 suffered gladly
this little. seeing l had made my lear
lady suffer so greatly.
When We We're come into the room
below they let me stand beside her.
as l had prayed God they might; and
when l stole a glance at her l was fain
to think my coming gave her courage
and support. For you must know the
place was fair alive with men. and
daring light with torches; and they had
never offered her a chair.
The colonel stood apart. the center of
a group of officers. and Falconnet was
with him. Hovering on the edges of the
group. as If afraid to show themselves
700 boldly in such a coil. were Gilbert
Stair n that smooth ~parchment-vis-
aged knave. his factor. The while they
thrust me forth to take my place at
Margery's side. the good old priest
came and would have Joined us; but
they would not suffer him.
So we two stood alone together as we
had stood before: but now my lady's
eyes were downcast. and her lips
and cheeks We're pale. Yet h
was more beautiful than had
ever seen her - so beautiful
precious gifts IN Gods great universe
might be expressed for me in this: that
{ might die to save her from this shame
and agony.
When my guards had thrust me for
ward. the colonel mad shor work OF
our fresh o%ffense.
Twas a dastard's trick. my captain
this tangling of a lady in your trea-
son." he began. How did you get
your speech with herr"
THAT Is none of our affair. Colonel
Tarleton." I rctorted boldly. thinking
that with such a man the shortest
word We're ever the best. Yet 1 may
say that the lady knew not what she
did. nor why. AS for my getting
speech with her. she was not any way
10 blame. l tempered with your SEN
try
ny God. yo" .;e.' was mis- comment
on this. She might have tempered
With the guard and SO got leave to keep
a midnight tryst with you but not
you" And then to my DOR frighted
love: Have you no shame, Mistress
Margery Stair?"
Now l have said that she was change
tul as any child or April sky. but never
had I seen her pass from mood to mood
as she did then. One moment she
stood a woman trcmuious and fearful
as any caught in desperate
deed; the lex she became a goddess
villified, and If her look had beer a
Jaeger l think her flashing eyes had
killed him where he stood.
You've found a way to make me
speak. sir. and l wish you joy of it.
Twas l who bribed your sentry. and
[ did go to Captain Ireton's ROOM"
The colonel laughed and shot a gibe
sharp at my enemy.
How Is this. Sir Francis. Did l not
tell you you had thrust an inch or so
to high. BY God. sir, I think you will
come over-late. II ever you dc come at
all. This captatn-emerftus hath fore
stalled o beautifully"
AS moro than pnco before IN th}o
eventful night. tho nir wont aa->i-~ ~oa
oefore my eye and helpless wrath came
uppermOSt. 1 SAW no woy to .iear 49,.
and had there been the plainest way.
dumb rag would still have held me
tongue-tied. So l could only mon and
words We're found, make shift to blum
der out that such an accusation did the
lady g%rie.ous wrong that she had come
attended and at my beseeching. to take
a message from a dying man to one
who was his friend.
For my pains I had a brutal laugh in
payment: a laugh that, starting with
the colonel. went the rounds in jeering
grins Of in%credulity. AND on the heels
Of 1t the colonel swore afresh, cursing
me for a clumsy liar.
"a likely story, that" he scoffed.
Next you will say she knew not what
this message was"
~ i odAu ~ OISS. 3lIS hiiC u liz
the message was. nor why I sent It,"
/ felt her yes upon me as l spoke,
and turned to find them full of fearful
pleading. 'Oh, tell the TRUTH she
whispered. Don't you see? He has
the letter."
1 looked. and sure enough he held 1T
In his hand: and then / understood the
Hash of irony in the sloe-black eyes Of
him..
you lie clumsily, Captain Ircton,
though it is a g~entleEanly lie and does
you honor. But we have trapped you
fairly and you may as we'll make a
clean breast OF it. Your mistress knew
very well what o would have her do.
and since she is our mistress, went
to do It,"
While he was speaking 1 had a
thought Of white-hot from some forge
Are OF inspiration-a thought to tip an
arrow of conviction and set 1t %quiver-
Ing in the mark. I would not stop to
measure it: to look aside at her or any
other lest one brief glance apart should
send the arrow wavering from it's
course. So 1 looked the colonel boldly
In the eye and drew the bow and sped
the shaft.
you think NJ other than a mistress
would have o this. Colonel Tarleton
that 1t was done for love-? Well, so
1t was: but with the love there went a
duty"
"A duty. say you? How is that?"
I bowed as best 1 might. being so
tightly bound; then fixed his eye again.
You had forgot that honor is not
wholly dead, sir. This lady is my
Wife,"
CHAPTER NJ.
HOW A LIE WAS MADE THE VERY
TRUTH.
For some small instant I dared not
loose my eyc-grip on the colonel. to
glance aside at Falconnet, or Gilbert
Stair. or at the woman close beside me.
II I had flinched or wavered. or let an
eyelid droop but by the thickness of a
hair, this keen-eyed colonel would have
been upon me to cut the ground be.
meath my feet and cay me dangling
! by the lie.
But as it was. 1 faced him down: and
winning him. won all. There WAS a
muttered oath from Falconnet, a trem-
ulous cry OF rage from where her
father stood: and her 1 sought my
lady's Eyes to read my sentence in
them.
She gave me but a glance. and though
I tried as l had never tried before to
. read hor ~oorin~ e. ,,,o q hll