Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-01-25
= CHAPTER VIII.


Stair, or at the woman close beside
me- If 1 had f1inched or wavered. or
let an eyelid droop but by the thick
ness of hair. this een-eyed colonel
would have been upon me to cut the
ground beneath my feet and leave me
dangling by the lie.
But as 1t was. 1 faced him down;
and winning him. won all. There was
a muttered groan from Falconnet.
tremulous cry of rage from where her
father stood; and then / sought my
lady's eyes to read my sentence in
them. Her lips were pressed together
as If not all nor any should ever make
her speak again.
AT this sharp crisis when a look or
word would cost me mere than death,
1t was the colonel who, all unwittingly,
stood my friend. A breath of doubt
upon my lie and we were lost; and
once thought he would have breathed
1t. But he did not. Instead. he broke
out in laugh. with a gibe flung first
at Gilbert Stair and then at Falconnet.
Il give you joy. Mr.. Stair. and you,
Sir Francis. These two have duped
you bravely" Then he turned to Mar
gerry with bow that had no touch of
mockery, in it. Il crave your pardon.
Madam; knew not you were pleading
for your husbands life an hour ago. 1t
grieves me that 1 may not spare him
to you longer than the night, but war
is cruel at its hest"
She stood like any statue done in
cold Carrara while he spoke; and
when she made no sign he gave the
word to recommit me.
Take him away Lieutenant Tybee,
and see he has a bribe- proof man this
time to keep him company. Madam
Ireton, I'll put you on hour honor: you
may have access to him. but there
must be no messages carried in or out.
To your quarters. gentlemen. We must
ride far and hard tomorrow"
When his final word had set her free.
my frozen maiden came 10 life and ran
TO throw herself in helpless sobbings.
not upon her father as you would
think, but upon the good priest. And
1t was Father Matthew who led her,
still crying softly. out of the throng
and up the low stair; and now / mark
ed that all the rough soldiery stood
aside and made way for her with never
a mfn among them to scott or sneer or
point a gibe.
At her going, Tybee drew his sword
and cut the cord that bound me.
walked beside him to the stair. and
when / stumbled, being weak and
spent. he took my arm and steadied
me- and l did think it kindly done. At
my own door he gave me precedence.
he oil
upon the colonel's mandate. N
Il must obey my orders. Captain
Ireton. but by your good leave 1 shall
not lock you up Will any trooper: I'll
stay with you myself"
So saying. he dragged the big wicker
chair into the window-bay. planted
himself deep within 1t with his back
to all the room. and so left me to my
own devices Suddenly the shifting of
the wooden door-bar reused me. I
rose up quickly. but Tybee was before
me- There was some low-voiced con-
ference at the door; then Tybee came
to me.
"'Tis Mr.. Gilbert Stair" ne said. He
has permission from the colonel and
insists that he must you
At first l hung reluctant. wanting
little of the host who came so late to
see his guest. Then. as II a sudden
fash of lightning had revealed it. /
realized. as had not before, how had
set the feet of my dear lady in a most
hideous labyrinth of deception: how
this lie that had told to bridge a mo-
mentary gap must leave her neither
maid nor widow in the morning
- I. ~ y
burst out Il am fair crazed with
WEAKNESS. and had forgot. It's most
important l do assure you"
The thing was done at once. and be-
fore knew it was alone with the old
man who. though he was my supplant-
..r, was also Margery's father He en-
tered cautiously, shielding his bedroom
candle with his hand and peering over
1t to make me out. as IL his venturing
in were not unperilous.
"Sit down. CAPTAIN Ireton:~ sit down.
/ beg OF YOU" he said. in his thin,
rasping treble. And when l had obey
ed: II think you must know what I've
come for, Captain Ireton?'
said | could guess; and he began
again. volubly now, as II to have II
over In the shortest space.
Twas not gentlemanly thing for
YOU to do. Captain Ireton-this marry
ing of s. foolish girl out OF hand while
you were here guest: and as for the
priest that did 1t. I'm have his hang
ed before the army leaves. l promise
you. But now tits done. l hope we're
prepared to make the best of itg"
l saw at once that his daughter had
not confined In him: that he was still
entangled In my lie. SO l thought it
well 10 probe him deeper while might.
What would YOU cali the best If |
may ask" said !. growing the cooler
with some better seeing of the way
ahead.
'"rhe marriage settlements." he cried
shrilly. coming to the point at once. as
any miser would. TITS the merest
matter of form as We may say. for
your title to Appleby Hundred is we'll
burnt out I promise you. But for the
decent look OF il YOU might make over
your quitclaim to your wife"
Aye. truly; so I might"
And so you should. sir: that you
should. We miserable. spying runag''-
he choked and coughed behind his
hand and then began again without the
epithets. lis the very least We can
do for her now. when you have the
rope fair around your rebel neck. Only
for the FORMS sake. to be sure. We un
dersSand. for she'd inherit after you in
any case"
saw his drift at last. and. not car
ing to spare him. sped the shaft OF
truth and let it find the joint in his
harness.
IT'S as you say. Mr.. Stair. But as
IL chances. Mistress Margery is not uls
wife"
..wha-whass that We say" he piped
in shrillest cadence. Not married
Then you-you--
Il lied TO save her honor-that was
ALL"
For some brief time tt smote hin
speeches.. and in the depth or his as
toundment he forgot his foolish fear o.
.-., 80 fan - ,>os,iuu nm and down