The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-01-26
THE MASTER OF APPLEBY||
I----= BY FrAncis Lynds. --]
BY Fr.nei. Lynds.


DO you remember how you used to
make a comrade of me In the old days,
Monsieur John. telling me things my
elder brother might have told me. had
\ L had one?"
1 said I remembered; that I was not
likely to forget.
Are you strong enough to stand in
that elder brothers place again to-
night?"
TRY me and see. lear lady" Z
mot whilst you say dear LADY,"
she pouted. "'Twas 'Margery' and
Monsieur John a yea agone."
Have 1t as you will; l will even call
you 'Madge' If it pleases you better"
No" she said: that is Dicks name
for me; 1t is Of Dick that I
would speak. You love him we'll, do
you not. Monsieur John?"
I said l could never make her, or any
woman. fully understand the bond there
was between us.
"Truly?" There was the merest 1avor
of playful sarcasm in the uptilt Of the
word, but 1t was gone when she went
Being so good q friend to Dick.
then, you a advise me the better.
Tell me, II YOU please, must I marry
him-when--"
When o are free to do it?" I fin
ished for her. why hould you not.
my dear?"
She was pulling the threads from the
lace edging OF her kerchief and would
not for a kings ransom let her eyes
meet mine.
You used to say-in that other
TN rr,ah s ,I love so, should na1l 60 g, be before y rs a
member badly?" .
"You remember well. I said 1t then.
and I say it again at this present. But
Dick loves you Well and truly. sweet
heart, and you"
She looked up quickly with the little
children at play. d,
And I--now you will read a wom-
ans heart for me, Monsieur John. Tell
me. do I love him as his mistress
should?" y
Nay. surely" said I. gravely. for
surely h a is for you to say. But
you have said 1t. long since"
Have II" she queried, with an arch
lifting OF the penciled brows that came
straight from her French mother.
"Mayhap you overhead me say 1t,
Monsieur EavesdropperT
God help me. little one-so I did"
said I.
All in a fash her laughing mood was
gone and she stood before me ! X an
accusing goddess.
You told me once the past was like
" 0AN1AA w S001 W. "a ANS
you said a little while ago that I had
not failed in any wifely duty!"
The time and circumstance were
their own best excuse. Sure I am far
from blaming ou, my dear. But let
1t pass; tits enough that 1 know you
love him as he loves you"
Again her mood changed in the
twinkling of an eye. She sank down
upon the hassock. laughing merrily.
c, wise Monsieur John! how we'll
you read a wolnan's heart! Ills you
should be the lover. instead of Dick.
He rides accounting as he would charge
a legion on a battlefield. But nothing
would ever tempt you to be SO master
full rough, would 1T, Monsieur John?
You would look deep into you sweet
hearts eyes and say-TelI MI what you
would say, mon ami?"
All, my dears, I hope nc one of you
will ever be tempted as I was tempted
then. 1 forgot my dear lad. forgot hon
or, forgot everything save that I had
from the first; how l should go on
loving her to the end. So for a
I hung trmeblfng on the brink; and
then she pushed me over.
rs this how o would do. Monsieur
Monsieur Ogre?-stt stock still and
between two minds as to loving her
or eating herr?
I bent quickly, took her face between
my hands and Kissed he1 twice-thrfce.
This is h I should dc Now that
you have made me what I was not be-
fore. are you satfsf1ed?"
Twas long before she. gave me a.
word. And when she spoke it was only
to say: "Are you not most monstrous
ashamed, Monsieur John?" ~,
MOI said I. II am but a man, and
you have reused that part of me that
krnNS naifhep Sh9ma NM, raroroa r
love you, Mistress Margery; do you
hear? I have loved you since tina day
in June when I came back from deaths
door to find you sitting here to Deal
me company"
She locked her fingers across her
knee and would not look at me.
But by your own showing you.
should be ashamed, SIR she insisted.
What of the dear friend you would
give up even the love of your mis-
tress?'
You may tiay me as you will; I
shall neither finch nor go back from
my word. You are mime, and 1 shall
give you up to no man. L know I have
not your love-sTall never have it. Also
l know that l have gained am enemy
Richard Jennifer may kill me if he
please-he shall have the chance to do
it; but o are mime and shall be whilst
I live to claim and hold YOU"
There was something less han an,
ger in the blue-gray eyes when she let
there was a fash of playful mockery
in them when she said: Dear heart!
how masterful rough have grown,
all in a moment. my lord" And then
the beautiful eyes filed Inc she said:
Poor Dick!- in a way to make me suf-
fer all the torments of that Did myth
king h could quaff the water
that was ever rising to his lips.