Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-02-08

my friends friend thought of an ex-
pedient and wrote note for me whilst
waited. half in hiding. in the outer
hail.
IT'S a desperate chance but these
are desperate times" said my would
be helper. Il am sending you to the
town house of one of our plantation
seigneurs-a man who is fish. flesh or
fowl, as his interest demands. 1 hear
he came in to-day to take protection.
and there is a chance that he will shell
ter you for the sake of your red coat
and gold piece or two. But l warn
you, you must be what you appear to
be-a soldier of the king-and not
what this note of Colonel Davies says
you are"
Seeing a wide field of danger chances
in this haphazarding. I would have
asked more about this trimming gen.
tleman to whom l was to be handed
on; but at that moment there came
laundering at the door, and my anx-
through the kitchen as he could, catch
ing up black boy on the way to be
my guide.
Twas but little distance we had to
go, and we soon reached the door
stone of familiar mansion but one
remove from the corner of the court
house green. lost no time in run
ming no the steps and hammering
peal with the heavy knocker. Through
the side-lights I could see that the
wide entrance hall was for the moment
unoccupied; but at the knocker-lifing
had a fitting glimpse of some one-a
little man all In sober black-coning
down the stair There was no imme-
date answer to my peal. but when
would have knocked again the door
was swung back and l stepped quickly
within to find myself face to face with
-Margery.
1 know not which of the two of us
was the more dumfounded; but this
do know; that 1 was still speeches.
and fair witless when she swept ne a
low dipped curtsy and gave me my
greeting.
II bid you good evening, Captain
Ireton." said said, coldly; and then
with still more of the frost of unwel-
come in her voice: ITO what may we
be indebted for this honor?"
Now, chilling as these words were.
they thrilled me to my finger-t tips
They Were blankly unanswerable, and
had the door been open 1 should doubt
less have vanished as l had come OF
all the houses in the town this was
surely the last should have run to for
refuge had l known the name of its
master; and 1t was some upfiashing of
this thought that helped me find my
tongue.
Il never guessed this was your faith
ers house." l stammered, bowling low
to match her curtsy. II beg you will
pardon me. and let me go as l came"
She laid a hand on the door knob.
Isis there any one here whom you
would see?" she asked; and now her
eyes did not meet mine, and l would
think the chill had melted little.
mo. 1 was begging nights lodg-
Ing of friend whose house is full. He
sent we here with a note to-ah-to
your father, as l suppose, though in
his haste he did not mention the
name"
She held out her hand. GIVE me
the letter"
Nay" said L; that would be but
thankless work Knowing me, your
father must need conceive it his duty
10 denounce me-"
GIVE it mel" she insisted: this with
an impatient little stamp of the foot
and an upglance of the compelling
eyes that would have constrained me
to do a far foolisher thing, had she
asked 1t.
So 1 gave her the letter and stood
aside, hat In hand, while she read it.
There were candles in their sconces
over the mantei and she moved nearer
to have the better light The soft
glow of the candles fell upon her shin
ing hair, and upon cheek and brow;
and l could see her pulse throbbing
in her fair white neck.
Twas a most practical little thing
she did that saved me from falling
headlong into this last ditch of dis
honor. Twisting the letter into a spill
she stood on tiptoe to light it at one
of the candles, saying: Twas a fool
ish thing to put on paper and might
well hang the writer in such times as
these. He says you are a kings man
and well known to him. and you are
neither" But when the letter was Il
crisp of blackened paper-ash she turn
ed upon me, and once again the
rhangeful eyes were cold and her
ords were stranger formal
What is 1t you would have me do.
Captain Ireton?"
Nothing l made haste to say;
nothing save to believe that I came
here unwittingly-and to let me go"
Where will YOU go? The town is
alive with those who would-who
would"
Who would show me scsnt mercy.
you would say. True: and yet came
hitherto the town. mean-of my
own free will"
Her mood changed in the pivoting
fraction OF an instant. and now the
beautiful eyes were alight and warm
and pleading eloquent.
"Oh. why did you come? Are you
are you what they said you were?"
a spy? II am. you would scarce
expect me to confess it. even to you"
TITS Observation-Disclosures dishonora-
ble." she cried Il could respect a
brave soldier enemy: but a spy
There was a gathering of hoofs in
the street and a jingle OF sword cab-
bards on the door-stone. l wheeled to
face the newcomers. determined now
10 front 1t boldly as desperate man
at bay. But before the fumbling hands
without could find the door knob Mar
gery was beside me. all a-fiutter In q
tremb,ing-fit OF excitement.
~, L.
pered; and we were at the clock land
ing when the great door opened and
some half-dozen kings officers came
In. We crouched together behind the
bahIstrade till they should pass beyond
the sight of US. and In the group l
marked q man stout and heavily built
walking fun solidly for his two-and-
forty years. He wore his own hair
dressed high in front in the fashion.
and as he passed under the candles
saw that II was CRAVING slightly. His
face. high browed. Ions -nosed. double
chinned. with the eyes womanish for