Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-01-04
CHAPTER w

SIlAI 4 Nv.
When / came back to some clearer
sensing of things, l found myself abed
in room which was strange and yet
strangely familiar l tried to remem-
Der what had befallen. In the deep
bay of the window was great chair
of Indian wickerwork, and a woman
sat in it.
Now of truth / had seen this wom-
ans face but twice; and once 1t wore
smile of teasing mockery and once
was full of terror; but I thought l
should live long and suffer much be-
fore the winsome challenging beauty
of it would let me be as l had been be-
fore / had looked upon it. l stirred and
she came quickly to my side.
You have slept long and well, Cap
tain Ireton." she said: may 1 fetch
you anything?"
II fear the madness of the moment
must still have been upon me, for l
said: Since you are here yourself.
dear lady, 1 need naught else"
AS a flash 1 had my whipping in
low dipped curtsy and knocking smile
like that she had flung to Falconnet
.Merci mon Capitaine," she said.
and for all my wincings under the
sharp lash of her sarcasm was moved
to wonder how she had the French of
it. And then she added: rs it the Gus
tom for her Apostolic Majesty's officers
to come out of death-swound only to
pay pretty compliments
Twas no compliment" / denied
and, indeed. 1 meant it. Then 1 asked
I ~ vyhn irIa
though l had long since guessed the
answer to both questions.
"You are at Appleby Hundred, sir.
Twas here they fetched you because
there was no other house so near, and
you were sorely hurt. Richard Jenni-
fer and my black boy made a litter OF
the saddle cloths. and with Sir Francis
and Mr.. Tybee to help"
l think she must have seen that this
thrust was sharper than that of the
German long sword for she stopped In
mid-sentence and looked away from
me. And surely, l thought 1t was the
very irony of fate that l should thus
be brought half dead to the house that
was my fathers with my enemy and
his second to share the burden of me.
But your father?" l queried. when
the silence had grown overriding.
My father is away at Queensbor-
ough. so you must cen trust yourself
to my tender mercies. Captain Ireton.
How came you to go about picking
quarrel with Sir Francis?"
Twas not of my seeking" 1 re-
turned They say 1 struck him with
out sufficient cause. l am content to
let it stand So"
Nay, but you should not be con-
tent. Is there not strife enough in this
unhappy land without these causeless
bickerings?"
Il knew Sir Francis Falconnet in
England" said l. hoping by this TO turn
her safe aside.
"Ah; then there was cause. Tell
it me-"
Nay, that l may not"
Ills most ungallant to deny a lady.
sir But 1 shall know without the tell
ing; twas about a woman"
Afser this 1 saw her no more for six
fun Greetings of the clock-hands. and
grew fair famished for a sight of her
sweet face. But to atone. she. or some
messenger of Richard Jennifer's.
brought me my faithful Darius. and he
II was who fetched me my food and
drink and dressed my wound. From
him / CLEANED that the master of APP
pleby Hundred had returned from
| Queensborough. and that there were
officers in red coats continually going
back and forth. always with hearty
welcome from Gilbert Stair
Now, though the master of my stolen
heritage had little cause TO love me.
thought he had still less 10 fear me-
so it seemed passing strange that he
| came not once 20 my bedch2mher to
pass the time OF day with his unbidden
guest. or TO ask how he Jared. Bat in
/ this. as in many other things. I reck-
oned without my enemy. though
mfght have known that Sir Francis
would be oftenest among the red-coat-
ed officers coming and going.
But stranger than this. or than my
| Iady's continued avoidance OF me. was
the lack Of visit from Richard Sen-
infer knowing well MY dear lads 10y
atty TO the patriot cause. I could only
conjecture that he had finally broker
Margery's enforced truce re 80 and
| Join Mr.. Rutherford's militia. which. a
Darius told me. was rallying to II