Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-02-22

time pressed. So we were rid of the
lawyer in bodily presence, though I
could hear his sna4ings and spittings
as the big Darmstadter ran him out at
the bayonets point.
During this tilt between his factor
and me. Mr.. Gilbert Stair had stood
apart, watchful but trembling. When
we were alone I said:
Now, Mr.. Stair, l shall trouble you
to billet me somewhere in your house,
as member of my Lords family. Lead
on, If you please. and I'll follow"
He went before me without a word,
out of the little den and up the broad
stair. doddering like man grown ten
years older in breath. and catching
at the balustrade to steady himself as
we assembled. The room he gave me
was at an angle in one of the crookings
of the corridor. and pointing me to the
door he went pottering away, still
without a word or a look behind him.
The door was on the latch, but 1t
gave reluctantly, letting me in sudden
ly when l set my shoulder to 1t. There
was a quick little cry half of anger,
half of alright, from within. / drew
back hastily, and in the act my spur
caught the door and slammed it shut
behind me- Gilbert Stair had shown
me to my lady's chamber | warrant
you my Iady's flashing eyes would have
crisped me to a cinder where l stood
fumbling with one hand behind me for
the latch of the slammed door. Scorn.
Indignation, outraged maiden modesty,
81,
daggers; and it need not her, File, for
shame, Captain Ireton!-and you
would call yourself a gentleman" to
set me afire with prinklings of abash-
ment.
What could l saw or do? The door
latch would not find itself to let me
fly; and as for excusings, l could not
tell her that her own father had t rust
me thus upon her. Yet, had she let
me be. l hope l should have had the
wit to find the door fastening and the
grace to run away; in truth, l had the
latch in hand when she dashed out at
me again.
How are you better than the man
you warned me Off" she cried. And
then, in a tempest of grief: oh! you
would not leave me the respect l bore
YOU; you must even rob me OF that to
fling it down and trample 1t under
foot"
1 stumbled from the room, thinking
only how l should quickest rid me of
myself. Fastening to my garnet sleep
ing-place l buckled on my sword,
found my shake, and went straight to
my Lords bed-chamber. My rap al
the door went unanswered and a
broad shouldered young fellow in a
lieutenant's uniform. lounging on a set
tie in the clock landing of the stair,
told me Lord CORVALLIS was gone out
l was face to face with this young
lieutenant before / recognized him; be-
ing so bent upon haste l should have
passed him on the landing without a
second glance had he not risen to grip
me by the shoulders.
"Why!" he cried, is 1t thus you pass
an old friend without a word. Captain
Ireton?"
Twas my good death watch: that
Lieutenant Tybee of the light horse
who had sunk the British officer in the
man in that trying night at Appleby
Hundred l returned his hearty greet
ing as we'll as l might. and would have
explained my present state and stand
ing but that l was loath to lie to him
But as to this, he saved me the shame
of IT.
II knew you were no rebel, Captain
Ireton: indeed / made bold to say as
much to our colonel, after it was all
over. | told him a soft word or two
would have won you back to your old
service. You see 1 knew better than
the others what lay beneath all your
madnesses that night"
You knew somewhat but not ALL" 1
said; and thereupon, lest he should in
volve me deeper and detain me longer
when l was athirst to be gone. has
tened to ask where l might hope to
find his Lordship and Colonel Tarle-
ton.
TITS the hour for parade; you will
find them at the camp" he replied. And
then. out OF the honest English heart
of him: Have you made your peace
Captain? Do you need friend to go
with you?"
1 said / had been granted a hearing
by Lord CORVALLIS but a little while
before; that by my Lords appointment
l was now sort of honorary aide de-
camp.
Good" said the lieutenant. grip
ping my hand in a way to make me
vince for the lie-in- effect hidden in
the simple statement of fact Then he
roared at the soldier standing guard at
the house door below: "A mount for
Captain Ireton-and be swift about it,"
1 rode slowly across the common,
skirting the commissary's quarters and
making entail notes of all l sa this
from soldier habit solely. for at the
time had little thought of living on to
make spy's use of them. need not
drag you back and forth with me on
the search l made TO find Lord Corn
wallis. It's enough to say that after
missing him here and there, ran him
10 earth at the court house. where, 1t
was told me, my Lord was sitting in
council with his staff officers.
The old court house of our greater
Mecklenburg was stout wooden build
ing raised upon brick pillars to leave
a story underneath. In the time of the
British occupstion this lower story
served as market house, and the pub
lie entrance TO the court room above
was reached by steps on the outside.
In my boyhood days this outer stair
was the only one; but now in wander
ing aimlessly through the market place
beneath found another flight in a cor
ner; the Jury STAIR" they called it.
since it provided the means of egress
from the jury box above.
The sight of this inner stair set me
plotting. Could 1 make use Of 1t TO
come unseen into the council chamber
OF Lord CORVALLIS and his oficerse
Happily for the success OF the ad-
venture there was an angle in the mar
row stair TO hide me whilst lifted the
trap door In the court room floor
scant half-inch and got my bearings
As had hoped. the trap opened behind
the jury box. and was able to raise
1t cautiously and so to draw myself
up into the room above. unseen and
unheard
A peep around the corner OF the high
s,,rv stalls showad me nv Lord and