Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-12-23

to more than half dozen rooms In
stead of what should have been, how
ever, there was wide hall--wide as
each building would have been from
front to back, but longer than half
dozen OF them would have been
did not know then, what learned
later, that the partitions throughout
this entire row had been removed. the
material serving to fill up one of the
houses at the farthest extremity OF
the row. There was thus offered
long and narrow room, or series of
rooms. which now saw beyond pos
sibility of doubt constituted the resi-
dence- of this strange woman whom
chance had sent me to address; and
whom still stranger chance had thrown
in contact with me even before my err
rand was begunl
She stood looking at me, smile
fitting over her features. her stock
inged foot extended. toe down, serving
to balance her on her high.heeled sim
gle shoe,
Pardon, sir" she said. hesitating,
as she held the sealed epistle in her
hand. you know me-perhaps you
follow mel do not know. Tell me.
are you a spy of that man Paken-
ham?"
Her words and her tone startled
me- ! had supposed her bound to Sir
Richard by ties of certain sort. Her
bluntness and independence puzzled
me as much as her splendid beauty
enraptured me. tried to forget both.
Madam, am spy of no man. unless
lam such at order of my chief, John
Calhoun of the United States senate
perhaps, If madam pleases. soon OF
Mr.. Tyler's cabinet"
In answer, she turned hobbled to
tiny marquetry table, and tossed the
note down upon it. unopened. ] waited
patiently, looking about me meantime.
discovered that the windows were
barred with narrow stats of iron with.
in, although covered with heavy dra-
peries of amber silk. There was dou.
Bile sheet of iron covering the door by
which we had entered
. Your cage, madam" inquired.
Il do not blame England for Haking
1t so secret and strong! If so lovely
a prisoner were mine, | should double
- nc swirl --.Js
came in the flush of her cheek and her
bitten lip She caught up the key from
the table, and half motioned me to the
door But now | smiled in turn, and
pointed to the unopened note on the
table. +You will pardon me. madam,
i went on. Surely 1t is no disgrace
to represent either England or Amer
lea. They are not at war. Why
should we be?" We gazed steadily at
each other.
The old servant had disappeared
| when at length her mistress chose TO
pick up my unregarded document. De.
liberately she broke the seal and read.
An instant later, her anger gone. she
was laughing gaily.
See" said she, bubbling over with
| her mirth; q pick up stranger. who
should say good-by at my curb; my
apartments are forced; and this Is
what this stranger asks: that shall
20 with him, tonight. alone, and other
wise unattended, to see a man, per
| haps high in your government, but 9
stranger to me, at his own rooms
alone oh, la! la! Surely these
| Americans hold me hight!
| "Assuredly we do. madam" an
swered win 1t please you to go II
your own carriage, or shall return
4 with one for your
| she put her hands behind her BACK
holding in them the opened message
| from my chief Il am tired. an
bored. Your impudence amuses me
and your errand is not your fault
Come. sit down. You have been goot
to me. Before you go, shall hav'
some refreshments brought for you.
felt a sudden call upon my re
sources as found myself In this sin
gular situation. Here, indeed, NOR
easily reached than had dared hope
was the woman In the case But onl
half Of my errand. the easier half, wa
done.
cro BE cONTINUED)
4 Ia4f