The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-05-04
frightened. her lips pressed close to m,

frightened. her lips pressed close to my
ear.
IL must get back to my place at
the table," she whispered. Surely you
know what to do: this is rear door;
there are stables hundred feet away;.
you must get horse, and ride fast
you--you will do this!"
Eyes, of course-but how can ]
thank you?"
Don't try; don't ever even think of
It again. hardly know what mad i'm.
pulse sent me here. Now l have but
one thought--to hurry you away. and
get safely back myself-you will got"
"Yes-but-"
"Not now! there is no time for ex-
PLANTATION. promises, anything. You
heard what they said: every avenue Of
escape will be blocked within an hour.
If you go at once you can outride them
please, please go!"
She held out her hand, and I
grasped 1t warmly. unable longer to
war against the pitiful appeal in her
voice.
eyes, I'll go, at once. But take
away with me a memory which will
never permit me to be satisfied until
We meet again. We have been to:
gether SO short time"
"Had 1t been longer" she interrupt
ed, you would know me better, and
care less. perhaps. / am sham; a
cheat" trifle Of bitterness in the
tone. You will learn all that some
day, and laugh at yourself. Oh. I know
you will; SO not another word, sir. I
am going; then. perhaps, you will"
There was slight pressure Of her
fingers, and she had vanished so quick
ly could only stare blfndly along the
deserted passage. Yet, an instant
later, the peril Of my predicament
flashed back upon my mind. and l
faced the immediate necessity for al.
ton. What her strange words might
mean could not be interpreted; made
no attempt to comprehend. Now
must find means Of escape. and learn
the truth later. opened the door
cautiously, and stepped without. every
nerve taut, every muscle braced for
action. 1t was star-lit night, and tho
numerous rear windows of tho man
sion cast a glare of light for some dis.
lance. The dark shadow of high
fence alone promised concealmeut,
and. holding my sword tightly, crept
in that direction, breathing again more
freely as reached it's protection un.
observed. There was guard stationed
before the stable door-a Grenadier,
from the outline Of his hat-and 9th.
ers, little group, were sitting ON tho
grass dozen feet away. II they had
not been already warned might gain
horse by holiness, but the probabil-
ity was that here was where Carter
had mounted his squad, and would
merely walk forward into a trap.
} had better chance the possibility that
some visitor had left horse tied In
front, or to one Of the stands. With
this possibility in mind turned, and
sk1rted the house, making myself as
inconspicuous as possible. There were
soldiers on the outside steps; heard
= their voices without seeing them, and
was thus driven to run swiftly across
an open space. memory guiding ma
toward the opposite pavilion. Breath.
less, with heart beating fast, l
crouched low in the shadow. endeavor.
l. Ing to make out my more immediate
Q surroundings. There were no horses
there, but ! could clearly distinguish
the stomping Of restless hoofs some.
where to the right. AS Strengthened
up, determined upon discovering an
: empty saddle IL possible, the figure of
:. a man suddenly doomed directly in
] front, advancing toward me. In
startled surprise took one step back.
. ward, but was too late. Already the
eyes Of the newcomer had perceived
9 my presence. and he sprang forward,
t Juggling at his sword.
! Hold on there! hold on" he com.
Q manded shortly. "Who are you? Whnt
the devil are you skulking about out
q here for?"
l. 1t was Grant beyond a doubt; !
would recognize the peculiar snarl of
:. that voice In a thousand He had not
/. gone upstairs then; had not rejoined
the lady in the dining-room. What
e would she think Of his absence!
:. What would she do when she realized
n its probable meaning? Someway ] was
not frightened, at thus meeting him
|. but glad-if those others would only
l. Keep away, and let us settle the affair
|. between us. Here was his tesla
coward would cry out an alarm, sum.
:. mon the guard to his assistance, but,
|. II the fellows nerve only held. or II he
hated me badly ent "gil. he'd fight II
I out alone. All this came to me In q
,. flash, and the words of challenge
a spoken before he wen Crashed the
I thought Of who was.
9 $50 have discovered you, have 1!
9 Why did you fail to keep our appoint
;. ment within?"
He drew up sharply with an oath
a peering at me through the dark he.