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

By times when / awoke it was the
bluff Doctor Carew bending over me to
dress my wound; at other times it was
Margery come to tempt me with a bowl
of broth or some other kickshaw from
the kitchen. Now and again awoke to
find Scipio or old Anthony standing
watch at my bedside; and once-but
that was after l was up and in my
clothes and able to sit and browse in
the great chair-I opened my eyes to
find that my company was the master
of the house.
He was sitting as l had seen him SIT
once before, behind a lighted candle st
the little table with a parchment spread
out under his bony hands He was
mumbling over the written words of it
when / looked, but at my stirring re
gave over and sat back in his chair to
cross his thin legs and match his long
fingers by the ends. and wink and
blink at me as though he had but now
discovered that he was not alone.
Il give we good even, Captain Ire-
| ton" he said. finally. rasping the greet
ing out at me as it had been curse
Il hope we've slept we'll"
/ said l had, and thanked him, once
for the wish, and again for his coming
to see me. I know not how it was, but
if there had been rancor in my former
thoughts of him twas something abat-
ed now.
we've had a nearhand escape this
time, sir" he said, after longish
pause.
One more or less of a good many
since we were last met together in this
room, Mr.. Stair" 1 would say.
That is as it may be: but my being
here this second time a pens!oner on
your bounty is by no good will of mine
l do assure you, sir"
He sat nodding at me as if had said
a thing to be most heartily agreed to-
But his spoken word belied the mods.
1.-The ways of Providence are inscra-
table-something inscrutable, Captain
Ireton. l make no doubt we are sutfl-
GENTLY thankful for all your mercies"
why, as co that. there may be two
ways of looking at it. AS q soldier.
may justly repine at a fate which ties
me here when 1 should be in the field"
We'll said. sir; brawly said; tbs the
part of good soldier TO be ay wanting
to be in the thick o. the fight But
now that we're a man of substance.
Captain Ireton, We viii be owing other
debts to our country than the one We
can pay with hantle o. STEEL
-" our country did you say, Mr..
Starr" 1 asked. feigning surprise
which no one knowing him could feel In
very truth.
And what for no? 'Tis the birth
land of some-yours, for example. and
the leal land of adoption for others
your humble servant. to wit. I've taken
the solemn oath of allegiance to the
Congress, I'd have We to know"
Have you take it one more time
than you have forsworn it, Mr. Starr"
Laugh and We WILL" he said. quite
placably: we shall never laugh the
peetriotism out O. me. 'Tis little enough
an old man can do but the precious
cause o. liberty will never have to ask
that little twice. Captain Ireton."
Since he would ever be on the win
ming side. this foresha9owed good it'd
ings, indeed. So | would ask him
straight what news there was.
Have they not told We. Ills Draw
news" lIe chuckled. Whilst We were
on your back, General Greene led Lord
CORVALLIS fine dance all across the
prov-the state. mean crooking his
finger at him and saying. Come on. re
led-captain of a tyrant king. and when
I'm ready I'll turn and rend ye.' And
by the same token, that is Just what
he did the other day at Guilford Court
House"
"A victory" I would ask.
Well. not precisely that's mayh@;
they're calling il a drawn battle. But
I'm thinking its Lord CORVALLIS that's
drawn. He's OFF to Wilmington. they
say. and I'm fain to hope we've seen
the last O. him and his reaving red
coats in these parts"
His words set me in a muse. l could
never make out what he would be st.
telling me all this. But he had an OBJ
ject. WELL defined. and presently it
showed its head.
''Ye're the laird O. the manor, now.
Captain Ireton. with none 10 gainsay
ye," he went on. SO I've come TO give
me an account O. my stewardship. I
made no doubt. all along. ye'd come
back to your own when ye'd had your
fling wi. the old woridies. and so I've
kept tab o. the poor Bit land for We
oh. you haves~ said I being so far
out hrazened as TO be incapable OF say
ing more.
4 have that-every plack aud haw-
bee. lis zen years come Michaelmas
since | took over the charge o Apple