The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-09-14
THE MASTER OF AA\PEPELEBY)
$-- BY Francis Lyndo. --$
BY Francis Lynde.
CHAPTER xxIx.-continued.

Dick had more of the nippings than
I, and though he kept up a running
fire Of taunts and gliding filings at the
marksmen, I could hear the gritting
oaths aside when they pinked him.
Notwithstanding, the worst of these
m~iscasts fell to my lot. A Ratchet,
sped by the clumsiest hand of all,
missed Its curving, turned, and the
helve of 1t struck me fair In the stom-
ach. Not all the parting pangs Of
death, as l fondly believe. will lay a
heavier toll on fortitude than did this
gripping stroke which l must endure
standing erect. TITS no figure Of speech
to say that l would have given the re-
version of a kingdom, and a crown to
boot, for leave to double over and groan
out the agony of it.
Happily for us, there were no women
with the band, SO we were spared the
crueler refinements of these ante-burn-
ing torments; the fiaying alive by inch
bits, and the sticking of blazing splints
or p~itch-wood in the flesh to make
death a thing to be prayed for. There
was naught Of this. and firing Of the
marksman play, the Indians made
ready to burn us. Some ran to recover
the spent weapons; others made haste
10 heap the wood in a broad circle
about our trees; and the chief, with
three or four to help, renewed the deer
thong ~lashings.
Twas in the re%binding that this
headman, a right kingly looking savage
as these ~barbarians go, thrust a bit of
paper into my hand and gave me time
10 glance its message out by the light
OF the fire. Twas a line from Mar
gerry, and this is what she said
Dear Heart:
though you must needs believe my
love is pledged to your good friend and
mine. It's yours, and yours alone, my
~l1on-hearted one. l am praying the
good God to give you dying grace, and
me the courage to follow you quickly.
Margery.
This by the hand of Tallachama.
For one brief instant a wave of Joy
caught and flung me upon it's highest
crest, and all these savage tormentors
could do to me became as naught. Then
the true meaning of this, her brave Ave
atque vale, smote me like a space-nung
meteor, and the joy-wave became an
ocean of despair to engulf me in it's
blacklist depths. The letter was never
meant for me; twas for Rich
ard Jennifer, who, as she
would think, must know the story of
her marriage to his friend and must be-
!leVe her love went with the giving Of
her hand. And h named him Lion
Heart because he was brave, and true,
and strong, like that first English Rich
ard of the kingly line.
l thrust the message back upon the
bearer of it, begging him in dumb show
to give it quickly to my companion. I
knew not at the time if he did it, be-
ing SO crushed and blinded by this
fresh misery. But when the Indians
drew off to ring us in a chanting circle
for the final act, I would not let the lad
see my face for fear he might fathom
the heart-break in me and know the
cause of it.
Twas at this crisis, when all was
ready and one had run to fetch the fire.
that | heard a smothered bath from
Dick and saw the Indian who was COM
ing up to fire the Woo heaps drop his
brand and tread Upon it.
"Ecod!" said a voice, courtier-like
and smoothly nicdcIatcd. "'Tis most
devilish lucky that 1 came, Captain
Ireton. Another moment and they
would have drilled you in the kings
Uniform rank treason, to say naught
of poo Jack Warden left without a
clout to cover him.
1t needed not the glance aside to
name mine enemy. But I would not
pleasure him with an answer. Neither
would Richard Jennifer. He stood ST
lent for a little space, smiling and nurs-
ing his chin in one hand, as his habit
was. Then he spoke again.
I came to bid you God-speed, gen.
tlemen. You tumbled bravely into my
little trap, ! made no doubt you'd fol-
low where the lady led, and so you
But you'll turn back from this,
/! do assure you, if there be any virtue
in an Indian barbecue"
At this Richard could hold in no
longer.
Curse you'll" he gritted. do you
mean that you kidnapped Mistress Stair
to draw US out of hiding?"
Truly said this arch-fiend, smiling
Most unluckily for you, you
both stood IN my way-you see, 1 am
speaking of it now as a thing past-
l CHANGED Upon this thought Of
killing two birds with the one %stone;
nay, three, 1 should say, If YOU count
lady in"
Have done!!" choked Richard, in a
voice thick with impotent rage. Give
place, you hound, and let your savages
to their work."
"A your pleasure, Mr.. Jennifer. I
no fancy for funeral baked meats.
hot or cold, though they be made, as
now, to U fish forth a marriage sup-
! bid YOU good night, gentlemen.
Ill go and make that call upon the lady
which you We're SO rude as to interrupt
a little while ago" And with that he
turned his back upon us and strobe
away, forgetting to tell his redskinned
to strip me Of that kings
uniform he was so loath to have me
in.
The Cherokees waited till the master
executioner was out Of sight among
trees. Then they set up their In
fernal bowling again, and the fire.
ran to fetch a fresh brand.
Courage. lad! twill soon be over
now" said !, hearing a groan from my
poor Dick.
His reply was a chattering curse, not
upon Falconnet or the Indians, but up
OIL his malady, the tertian fever.
Nov, by all the fiends! I'm chilling
Jack!" he gasped. IF these
cursed wood-wolYes mark 1T. they'll set
it down to woman cowardice and that
will break gc1y heart
Again i babe him be of good cour-
assuring him, notsderisiveIy, dis it
looks when It's written out, that the
would presently medicine the chill
ing. In the middle of the saying the
lighted brand was fetched and thrust
among our fagotings, and the upward
smoke wreaths made me gasp
and strange at the finish.
For a little time after the sucking inj
OF that first Observation-Disclosures
anodyne for any of her poor creatures
doomed to die by fire--I saw and heard
~ ,r. ~ ~, ~ ~ - ,l So, &c 49, - Il. ..4BE.,H,E i