Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-06-18
CHAPTER XIV.

The graduate of Edinburgh found his
patient rapidly improving in health, and
entirely free from fever. His sister, with
cheek thar was, if possible, paler than
ON her arrival, watched around his couch
with tender care, and the ladies of the
cottage had not, in the 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 magma
ton, and she felt, with the romantic ar
dor of a 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 ayocations of
the inhabitants of the cottage, or the par
ty at the Four Corners. The former
were supporting their fortitude with the
certainty of Henry's innocence, and a
strong reliance on Dunwoodie's exertions
in his behalf, and the latter, waiting with
impotence the intelligence of a conflict,
and their orders to depart. Captain Law
ton. however, waited for both these events
in vain. Letters from the major announe-
ed that the enemy, finding that the party
which was to cooperate with them had
been defeated and was withdrawn, had
retired also behind the works of Fort
Washington, where they continued mac
tive. The trooper was enjoined to vigil
lance. and the letter concluded with
compliment to his honor, zeal and I'M
doubted bravery.
Extremely fiattering. Major Dunwoo-
die" muttered the dragon, as he stalked
across the floor to quiet his impatience.
"A proper guard have you selected for
this service; let ME see-I have to watch
over the interests of 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, talkative
housekeeper and poor George Singleton.
Well, comrade in suffering has claim
on man-so I'll make the best of it,
As he concluded this soliloquy, the
trooper took seat and began to whistle.
to convince himself how little he cared
about the matter, when, by throwing his
booted leg careless round, be upset the
canteen. The accident was soon repaired.
but in replacing the wooden vessel, he OBJ
served e billet lying on the bench. 1t
was soon opened. and be read: "The
moon will not rise till after midnight
fit time for deeds of darkness" There
was no installing the hand: it was clear
ly the same which had given him the time
ly warning against assassination, and the
g.
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 a spy of the enemy Lawtos
knew; for the fact of his conveying in
telligenee to the English commander-in-
chief. of a party of Americans that were
exposed 70 the enemy, was proved most
clearly against him on the trial for his
life The consequences of his treason
had been avoided. il is true. by lucky
order from Washington. which withdrew
the regiment short time before the Brit
ish appeared TO cut it of. but still the
crime was the same.
Whether the danger, intimated In the
present note. threatened the cottage or his
own party, the captain WIS 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