The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-01-05

coming at longer intervals served but
to intensity the gloom they lit up for
the instant.
1t was a minced oath from Richard
that first broke the spell that bound
us. M
Twas too much for Madge." said
he. "she has tainted. Swing the door
and light another candle"
did both as quickly as might be, and
we bedded her on the floor, stripping
our coats to soften the stone tagging
for her and trying by all the means
to bring her to.
"Water!" said Dick; but when we
had iaved her face with that. and with
wine as we'll, without effect, we were
we'll disnlased. l do assure you. For all
u efforts she lay as one dead: and
neither of us could be cold enough to
pry her lips apart to play the drenching
doctor with the Wine.
"Lord!" cried Dick. the sweat stand
ing out upon his face in great drops:
this is terrible! What shall we do?"
Jeanne will know what to do," l as
serted. w must get her out of this
and up to her chamber"
Richard started to his feet and
STOPPED to gather the dear body in his
arms. But In the act he paused and
Strengthened himself to look fixedly at
me.
DC you take her, Jack; she is-she is
your wife,
Nay" said 1. drawing back. you
IRE her own true lover: and could she
choose her bearer"
"A murrain on your tinickings!" he
burst out. She may die whilst we are
haggling over he right to help her.
Take her up quick. man, and begone!!"
but bethinlt you. Dick" I urged; eff
@ are taken, you have one chance in
ten of faring as an officer and a prison.
er of a For me tits a spy's death as
swift as they cal drag me to it."
Now you will know, my dears, how
much l loved these two men when 1
could twist a cord OF such mean fiber
to bind them closer together. Richards
eyes flashed and his lip curled.
Overlook it In me, If you can" he
said. with fine scorn. Il had not thought
upon the peril Of It," And with tina he
took her in his arms as she had
been a child to be carried. and 1 swung
the door for i'm. But on the threshold
he gave me back my sorry little subter-
fuge. Once more, your forgiveness,
Jack. l knew Well you were but lying
to give me precedence? Can you trust
me with her?"
AYE, dear lad; now and ever" said
l; and SO pushed him out.
After he was gone l made shift to
lSdu Tie noISGE through Tile udEIOWI
passage and out by q rear door, giving
them q friendly slap to point them to-
ward the stables.
This done I Went back to my i'm
murement, and I knOw not how long 1t
was that l paced a weary sentry beat
up and down the narrow limits of the
wine cellar, lone with such thoughts
MS so to make the sum of that despair
which follows hard upon the heels OF
some climaXing catastrophe. But I do
know that, as the hours dragged on
leaden-shod, Il slow fever of Impotence
came to dry the blood in my veins; to
make me hunger and thirst for leave to
say the inal word to Father Matthew,
and 50 to be set ut liberty to find the
bottom Of the pitsinto which a knocking
fate had plunged me.
Twas all over now. My dear lad
was told, and he had forgiven me: the
prosecuting, plotting factor was efraced.
and he could trouble my sweet
lady more. Between the two 1 loved
there stood only the shadow of the
marriage, and this the good priest
And after thai, l dared. not
look beyond. There is Il way beset
with lions, and any man who bears the
name Of man in honor may draw his
sword and fix his eye upon the goal and
hew his path to it, joying in h con-
flict. But there is also another way, n
desert trail owning no peril more at
frighting than It's own dread waste and
limitless m%onotony; and when his eyes
behold the dismal prospect, and his FEET
have pressed the hitherward sands of
this desert Of despair, u man many well
pause to grid his loins, to- cross him.
self and patter such q prayer for
strength and fOrtitude as hts creed
hath taught him.
Et r. "a, ,. - Fo,t,1r~ +lAn,,~l,l T ,1l a.
days and nights of this grim desert of
a future these lonely hours In the wine
vault We're q fitting vigil, as l con-
iceived; and when I had Rugged my
misery close, and a sort OF. monstrous
self had come to make a seem
ing virtue of the hard necessity, I was
best pleased to be alone. In sr-h a
frame OF mind the sound Of footsteps
in the out-cellar, warning me that more
company was coming. sent q wave Of
sullen anger to submerge me-. and l do
think TWAS in me to turn my back up
on O friend who should come to tell me
I al free to go at large.
Since I had led forth the good horses
the great oaken door had stood ajar,
So I wondered why my visitor made so
much ado about rafting the key in the
lock. Then 1t came to me suddenly
that the noise and delay were meant
to give me timely warning: and at the
scent of threatening peril-a peril I
might cope with and grapple soldier
Wise-I became a man again. "A sweep
of my hat sent the suffering candle
flying from It's barrel head to the far
corner of the vault, and I dropped
quickly behind a row OF empty wine
butts TO wai WHAT should berall.
Had h seen q ghost, Mistress Mar
gerry would scarce have startled me-
more when h swung the dooristo let
me zee her. She was gowned in her
best: there was e heightened color in
3hersScheek; her yes We're like stars.
Truly. do think I never saw her so
beautiful As h appeared at that mos
ment. standing under the massive arch
OF the doorway with her candle held
high I o light the inner gloom.
This way. Scipio,n she said tripping
ahead of the mulatto tospoint out the
MADEIRA hin. w shall give my lord,
and his gentlemen the best the Ap-
pleby cellar holds to speed his parting. e
sWherewith she stood aside to wait.
whilst he filled his baskets with the
straw-cased bottles.
Lord Cornwallis and his gentlemen.
We're about TO take the road, and the,
wine Was wanted for the sttrrup cup
Trusting my fate TO nOthandaleAssl oyaly
than hsrSSsoHn. she IN come herself
with cirlO TO stand betwixr me and
gPossibies discovery. And her WORD. to.
the servant ma also asVHUfu to me
toilet me know my prisonment u
an end.
thought 4 . most generous thing in
Az -. -