Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-05-03
CHAPTER XxI.-(Continned.)

by inch, driving him a each new CLASH
of the steel a little deeper into the
gloom that crowded close upon the
narrow circle of candle-light He saw
my object-to push him to unfamiliar
ground where he might trip and STUN
BILE in the darkness-and he strove
furiously to defeat it. Yet he had No
choice, and presently had him among
the empty wine butts. foiling and par
rying for his life
Here the end came quickly. Being
entangIed among the troacheG butts
he had no room to play skillfuliy. SO
presently it CHANGED that he caught his
point in the chine of cask and his
blade snapped short at the hilt. He
snatched up the broken blade to fling
and stick it javenlin- wise in my shout
der; and then l saw the dull CLEAN CT
the candle-light on the barrel of a pis-
toll
Had he aimed the pistol at me,
trust | should still have given him his
gentleman's chance But when l saw
him level the weapon at my dear lady
they came in one and the
same heartbeat; the sword thrust that
found his life and took it.; the crash of
the pistol-sh echoing like a clap Of
thunder in the close vault, and pitchy
darkness to draw its curtain over all.
| know now how reached her, pull
ing the broken sword blade from ny
shoulder as l ran; nor can / tell you
how an upgushing spring of thankful
ness choked me when / found her I'M
harmed by the bullet which had snuffed
the candle out
She was in most piteous state, now
it was all over; and though 1 charged
1t all where 1 supposed it should be-
long-to the account of q natural wom-
anly passion to cling to something in
her moment ofsweakness-yet the blood
ran quick in my veins when she suf-
feTed me to lead her out of that dis
NAL, smoking death-pit, she clinging to
me the while so close that could feel
the warmth of her and the futtering of
her dear heart beneath my hand.
She said no word. nor did I. till we
were come above stairs We found the
rooms on the main floor deserted by all
save the blacks, who were clearing
away the debris of the feast of leave
taking In the hall we came upon old
Anthony. putting on the chain of the
outer door. Here my lady drew apart
from me.
rs my Lord gomez" she asked.
''Yis. Missa. He say tell yo' he gwine
TEX it mighty hawd yo' no come ter
glib hi mhe sti'up-cup."
And my father?"
Gone to de libry to wait TO Massa
Pergarbin: yis, Missa'
She turned away, shuddering at this
mention of the factor for whose coming
the master would wait long and in
vain, and heard her murmur oh, the
horror of this night" Blu: in a mo-
ment she came back to me, and was
her cool. calm self again.
For that / am here alive and well,
l thank you. Captain Ireton. Need
say more?"
l can not tell you what was in the
words to make me hot with anger. But
bleeding freely and would not let her
see l was hurt; and if aught will
stanch a wound. tbs anger.
You need not say so much" retort-
ed bowling low. You have spoken
now and then of certain duties binding
upon those who are knotted up. ever
so loosely. in the marriage bond; have
my part in these as well as you Mis-
tress Margery."
She bit her lip and was upon the edge
of tears. When she spoke again it was
to say: This is your own house, Cap
tain Ireton what win you do?"
zone question first. is Richard Jenni-
fer safe?"
"He is"
"Then, by your good leave, 1 shall do
what l came to do"
She bent her head in acquiescence.
You will find the-the person whom
you wish to see in your old room in
the Gerth gable. Shall have Anthony
light YOU up?"
No; l can find the way"
My hand was on the stair rail when
the cruel irony Of il struck me like a
blow. She had planned the loosing OF
the bond in the very room where we
had knelt to take the good fathers
blessing upon it, ! stepped back, STUN
bled. / should say. for a curious weak
ness had come upon me. and drew her
arm In mine.
I'VE will go together. If you please.
my lady. 'Tis only just to me that you
should hear what l must say to Father
Matthew"
And so, dear heart. she bore with me
to the last; and together we climbed
the stair to come into the upper cor
ridor with the room of destiny at its
farther end.
We came as far as the door: I mind
II perfectly for / remember marking
that the wooden bar my father had put
upon it was gone. and the iron brack-
cts as WE'LL But whilst / was cropping
for the latch there came taste of
blood in my mouth, and 1 heard my
dear lady's voice as IL she were calling
to me across the eternal abysses Mon
sieur John,-you are hurt" And then.
from a still remoter distance; "Oh.
Father Matthieu-Dick, come quickly.
He is dying"
CHAPTER XXI
When / awoke was lying in bed in
my Old room al Applehy Hundred. The