The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-12-19
CHATTER Nv

a cheek that was, II possible, paler than
on her arrival, watched around his couch
with tender care, and the ladies of the
cottage had not, in tk1 midst of their
sorrows and varied emotions, forgotten to
discharge the duties of hospitality. Fran
ces felt herself impelled toward their dis
consulate guest, with an interest for
which she could not account, and with a
force that she could not control. She
had unconsciously connected the ,fates of
Dunwoodie and Isabella in her iinagina-
tion, and she felt, with the romantic ar
! dor of generous mind, that she was
serving her former lover most by exhibit
ing kindness to her he loved best
| Several days now passed without any
Interruption OF the usual avocations of
| the inhabitants Of the cottage, or the par
| ty ut the -Four Corners. The former
were supporting their fortitude with the
certainty of He1ry's innocence, and a
| strong reliance on DunWooiie's exertions
in his behalf, and the latter, waiting with
| impatience the intelligence of a conflict,
and their orders TO depart. Captain Law
ton, however, waited for both these events
| in vGiH. Letters from the major announc-
ed bat TIE enemy, finding that the party
which was to cooperate with them had
t"en defeated and was withdrawn, had
! retired also behind the works OF Fort
WASHINGTON, where they continued mac
tive. TIE trooper WIS enjoined to vigi-
lance, and the letter concluded with a
Compliment to his honor, zeal and un-
dcIu.aI bravery.
"ESrremely fattering, Major Dunwoo-
dc. IACttered the drag0on, as he stalked
across the floor TO quiet his impatience.
~ proper guard have you selected for
this service: let me see-I have to watch
over the interests Of q crazy, irreSolute
old man, who does not know whether he
belongs to us or to the enemy; four wom-
en-, some two or three blacks, a talkative
housekeeper and poor George Singleton.
Well. comrade In suffering has a claim
on man-so III make the best of it."
As he concluded this soliloquy, the
trooper took a seat and began to whistle,
to convince himself how little he cared
about the matter. when, by throwing his
booted leg careless round, he upset the
"anteen. The accident was soon repaired,
but in replacing the wooden vessel, he OBJ
served billet living on the bench. It
was soon opened, and he read: "The
moon will not rise till after midnight
a fit time Cor deeds of darkness" There
was no mistaking the hand; it was clear
ly the same which had given him the time
ly warning against assassination, and the
trooper continued, for long time, mus
ing on the nature of these two notices,
and the motives that could induce the
peddler TO favor an implacable enemy in
the manner that he had latterly done |
That he was spy of the enemy Lawton |
knew; for the fact of his conveying in. |
telliSence to the English commander-in. |
chief, of party of Americans that were
exposed to the enemy, was proved most
clearly against him on the trial for his
life. The consequences Of his treason
had been avoided, it is true, by lucky
order from Washington, which withdrew
the regiment short time before the Brit
ish appeared to cut il off, but still the
crime was the same.
Whether the danger, intimated in the
present note, threatened the cottage or his
own party, the captain was uncertain,
but he inclined to the latter opinion, and
determined to beware how he rode abroad
in the dark. The arrival of the surgeon
interrupted his meditations Sitgreaves
brought an invitation from the mistress
of the mansion to Captain Lawton, desir-
ing that the cottage might be honored
with his presence at an early hour that
evening.
"Ha;' cried the trooper; then they
have received letter also"
Il think nothing more probable said
the surgeon; there is chaplain at the
cottage from the royal army, who has
come TO exchange the British wounded,
and who has an order from Colonel Sim
gleton for their delivery.
And does he stay the night?"
Certainly, he waits for his cartel
but hasten, John, we have but little time
to waste"
The gala suit of Captain Lawton was
easily adjusted to his huge frame, and
his companion being ready, they once
more took their route toward the cottage.
Miss Peyton accosted them with a smil-
in. welcome. Frances gIiGed about tear
ful and agitated, while Mr.. Wharton
stood ready to receive them, decked in a
suit of velvet. Colonel Wellmere was in
the uniform OF an officer of the House
hold troops of his prince, and Isabella
Singleton sat in the parlor, while her
brother looked ike anything but an in
valid. AS it was the third day that he
had LEFT his room, Dr. Sitgreaves forgot
to reprove his patient for imprudence.
Into this scene Captain Lawton moved
with ell the composure and gravity of a
man whose nerves were not easily discon-
posed by novelties.
"Joha," whispered the surgeon, with
awakened curiosity, what means this
festival Observe, here comes the army
chaplain in full robes. What can it
mran:"
An c@cE2aSa," said the trooper; the
wounded CT Cupid are to meet and settle
their accounts with the god, in the way
Oh piightiug faith to suffer from his arch
| ery no more Is II not a CRYING shame.