The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-05-26

some broad figure of a woman whom l
knew for her stout Norman firing
maid.
She gave me little time for any word
of welcome or of depreciation. While
still | stood amazed she dragged the
woman in with her and closed the door.
AT that | found my tongue.
"Margery! Why have you come
spoke In French. and she was quick
to lay II finger OF her lip.
Speak to me In English, II you
please" she whispered. Jeanne knows
nothing, and she need not know. But
you ask why I come: could l do less
than come, dear friend?" 80.
| had always marveled that she could
be so hooking hard at times, and at
other times-as now-so soft and gen.
tie. And though l thought 1t cruel
that | should have to fight my battle
for the losing of he" over again mad
not the heart to chide her.
you could have done much less.
dear lady" | said, taking her hands In
mine; much less. and still be blame
less. You have done too much for me
already. would you had not lone 50
much, | would to God | had been
hanged before you went upon your
knees to that"
She freed one hand and laid a finger
on my lip-nay, it was her palm, and II
took a dying mans fair leave and
kissed it softly, l think she knew II
not.
'Hush!" she commanded. rs this
q me to harbor bitter thoughts?
.yusht you might I'VE other things to
say to me. Monsieur John"
There Is not other thing that may
say"
mot anything at all"
"Naught but a parting hope for you
hope you will be true and loyal to
yourself, Margery mia"
ITO myself? do not understand
81 think you do-I think you must
Blu | do not
turned, 1t over more than once In
my mind If | should tell her all l had
feared; should tell her how | came
to kill a mar and was fair set to XIII
another had found a wedding afoot
In the great forenoon. l could not
bring myself to do 1t. and yet l thought
It would go hard with me If l should
leave her still unwarned.
IF l should try to make you un-
derstand, you will be angry, as you
were before"
The wicker chair was close beside
the table and she sat down. And wher
she spoke she had her hands tight
clasped across her knee and would no
look at me.
rs it-about-Sir Francis
ut u.s." said l, pausing once more
upon the brink of full confession.
She waited patiently for me to speal
further; waited and let me fight 1t GU
in slow pacings up and down before hel
chair. Without, the night was ain
and still, and through the opened case
ment came the measured beat of foot
falls on the gravel where the oute1
sentry kept his watch beneath thu
window. Within, the single candle
battled feebly with the gloom ant
lighted naught for me save my dea'
lady's face, pensive now and saint.
sweet as it had been that morning
when had dwelt upon 1t and the Will,
she knew it not. And in the back
ground stood the sleepy tice-woman
giving no sign of life save now ant
then "a tortured yawn behind her hand
I think my lady must have know
how hard 1t was for me to speak. fol
when the silence had grown overlonR
she said gently: II bought these fly
ing minutes of the sentry, Monsleu
John. VIII you not use them"
IF 1 should say the thing l ough
to say, you'll think the minute dearl,
bought, l fear"
NO, that l shall not. If it will cas-
: your mind"
Then tell me why you sent for Fa
, Their Matthew"
! The light was dim. as I have sale
t r.t l could see the faint lush sprea
On IN neck to cheek.
a You are not of the church, Mon
, ieur John You would not understan
! If should tell YOU
II think I understand without you
telling. You said Sir Francis Falcon
j net had asked for YOU"
E "'Twas o who drove me to say It,
Because tried to warn you""
: . .,~,, ,N,,1I no SvnnDnfl
when you should have been forgivlng
Twas not revenge just thel
> though while l live / shall have ampl
7 to hate this man.
q What was 1t. then"
1T was love; love for you and-an
Richard Jennifer."
:. She rose, and I could see her eye
ashine for all the half-gloom or .tf
candle light.
- You are a loyal friend!" she sal
; and there was, that within the wore
o. to make me glad, whatever fate TT
= dawn should hay in store for m
4 You always think Of others first; yc
think of others now. when-whe
death-oh, Monsieur John! what ca
1 do for you? Say quick! The man
- coming to the door,"
~ Nov, l have told you this, there
"a but one other thing, Margery. dea'
one little thing that will not let n
die in peace. If 1 might have ten wore
IN with Richard Jennifer-'
ia She left me in a fever-fiutter of e!
II element, whipped to the door, and hf
" a word with him who stood withor
~ I heard the clink of coin, and then 81
W fastened back to me, all eagerness al
tremulous Impotence.
=, Tell me-tell me instantly
:, must do. 1 am not afraid. Shall l Ri
: down to Jennifer House and fetch Di'
~ here%
He is q prisoner, and
- he were not, they wou
~ not let him see me. Besides, l won
~ not let you go on such an errand. Al
yet-God hep me. Margery! there
" many an innocent life hanging on thi
~, the lives of helpless women and lit
81 children. Have you ever a messeng
to send, a man who will risk his II
20 and can be trusted fully?"
ra Yes, yes!" she cried. Write 1t doy
cd for me and Dick shall nave it. Quic
", for Dur Lady's sake. be quick abo
nj it! o Sancta Maria, mater Del"
= The low impassioned chant of t
ne Roman litany was ringing in my ca
as | sat down to the table to write r
a message to Richard Jennifer. The
We're quilts and an ink-pot at hand. b
nd not paper. l felt in my pocket a
he found, not some old. letter, as I hope
nd but the crumpled parchment m
snatched and hidden when 'Capts
nd Stuart a WINGED and dropped 1t
&c. the bidding of the whistling sWc