The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-18

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later, slowly thrusting in his head
again. "Alack, would that had never
fetched her thence. Had you but seen
her when I woOed ard won her, Tom.
A country flower, all innocence; wild
rose. And now, deceitful, double
facedv
"'Tis the way Of the wild rose," said
Stafford philosophically. Let you but
transplant it from the native hedge
row, and before next season it grows
double"
Here the speaker, who was always
ready with a generous appreciation Of
his own conceits, threw his head back
and laughed consumedly, while Sir
Jasper uttered some sounds between a
growl and groan.
The volatile second in waiting wiped
his eyes.
go to, man." cried he, turning with
sudden Feasibility upon his friend,
''for PHYS sake take that lugubrious
countenance of lnine out of my sight.
What the devil 1 ever saw in thee,
Jasper, to make a friend of, passes my
comprehension, for of all things I love
n fellow with a spark of wit And
thou, lad, lackest the saving grace of
humor so woefully that, in truth, fear
well, thou art in parlOus state; l
fear damnation waits thee, for it's in
durable. What! In Gods name can
not a man lose throw in the game of
happiness and yet laugh? Cannot a
husbandman detect a poacher on his
land and not laugh as he sets the gin?
Why" cried Mr.. Stafford, warming to
his thesis, and clambering lightly out
of the window to seat himself on the
outer sill, strike me ugly, shall not n
gentleman be ever ready to meet his
fate with smile? 1 vow I've never
yet seen Deaths head grin at me but
I've given him the grin back-split
me.'
"Hark, harkw cried Sir Jasper, prick
ing his strained ear. "D'ye hear?'
"Pooh!" said Mr. Stafford. "Only the
wind in the tree"
NAY" cried Sir Jasper "Hush. man;
listen"
An unmistakable rumbling grew
upon the still night air, confused
medley OF sounds which gradually I'M
raveled themselves upon their listen
ing ears. 1t was the rhythmical strik-
ing of many hoofs, the roll of wheels,
the crack Of a merciless whip.
Faith and faith" cried Stafford.
exhilarated, Il believe
you're right, Jasper. Here they Conner
The moonlight swan blood red be-
fore Sir Jasper's flaming eye. pistols
or swords?" queried he again of him.
self, and grasped his hilt as the near
est relief. pending the decisive mo-
ment
Out slouched couple of sleepy hos
Tiers as Master Lawrence, mine host,
rang the stable bell.
Mistress Kitty, peering out of the
carriage window. her shoulder still
turned upon the unhappy and unfor-
given swain. hailed the twinkling
lights of the Bear inn with lively eyes.
While the chaise described an ire
curve round the yard her
quick glance had embraced every ele-
ment of the scene. Sir Jasper's bulky !
figure, with folded arms. was leaning
against the post of the inn door await |
ing her approach-retributio personi-
led - capriciously illumined by the
orange rays of the landlords lantern. |
Out in the moonlight, shining in his |
pearl gray satin and powdered head, |
all silver from crest to shoe buckle. |
ike the prince of fairy lore, sat Stat |
ford on his window ledge, as gallant a |
picture to woman's eye, the widow |
had time to think, as one could wish to |
see on such a night
"Oh," she thought, 'how we are go
ng to enjoy ourselves at last.'
And, being too true an artist to. con-
slider her mere personal convenience
lpon question Of effect, she resolved /
% defer the crisis to the ripe moment, |
10 matter at what cost. Accordingly, |
wen as O'Hara cried out in tones of |
surprise and disgust, Thunder and |
urf. my darling, il there isn't now
hat blethering. OK. Sir Jasper!" Mis- |