American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1912-08-15
CHAPTER VIII,
TanQIinq

~oaos
My surprise at this unexpected ref
Grencs to the Lady of the Blended
Rose, almost prevented ~utterance
What could this partisan ranger know
0. the girl? How could he even have
identified her from my vague refer
snce?
why do you say that?" 1 asked
eagerly. u did not mention the lady's
name"
There was no cause for you to do
90" and the grim mouth smiled. mo
one else in Philadelphia would have
turned the trick so neatly; besides the
tact that your opponent was Grant
would have revealed the identity of
the girl"
"You know them both them"
Fairly well; he was a boy in these
parts, an l have shod his riding horse
many a time. A headstrong, domineer-
ing, spoiled lad he was, and quarrel
come"
But Mistress Mortimer" I inter-
rupted, us her family also from this
neighborhood?"
T the northeast Of here, near Lo-
Gust Grove; the properties of the two
families adjoin each other. an l have
beard there is distant kinshfp between
msm. although If that be true all that
was good in the strain must have de-
scended to the one branch, an all the
sv1l to the other. Day and night could
b0 no dffPoropf Co1oro1 Mort}pnor 10
. genial. pleasant gentleman. an Q
loyal friend. although we are in armR
against each other. To tell the truth
! half believe his heart is with the
Colonies, although he cast his f~ortunea
with the King. He ven has a son in
the Continental Army"
"On Lees staff" I interrupted. "The
daughter told me he was a twin
brother"
Yes, an as great a rogue as the
girl, with the same laughing blue
eyes"
And Mistress Claire" I questioned.
on which side Is she?"
Can you ask that after having met
her as a Lady of the Blended Rose?
Pshaw, man, I could almost give you
q list Of the loyalist danes who make
sport for the British garrison, an
Mistress Claire is not least in rank
or beauty among them. What else
could you expect Of a young girl when
her father wears the green an white,
while her lover has made a reputation
nereabout with his hireling raiders?"
You mean Grant,"
Certainly; they have been engaged
nom childhood, though God pity the
poor girl If they ever marry. His work
IN the Jerseys has been almost as
merciless as that of Red Fagin, an
I Is even whispered about they ride
.oeether at times. I doubt if she
KNOWS the whole truth about him.
though she a scarcely deem him an
angel even at that. Surely you never
supposed her on our side?
She helped me-" l insisted, know
ing who | was, and even said she
wished my cause we'll"
Inc Inconsistency of a woman;
perhaps the two had had some misun-
outstanding, an she was glad enough
10 outwit the fellow"
NO. t was not that, l am sure; l
'oulo read truth in her eyes"
IN Claire's eyes!" he laughed out
.eht' oh, I know the innocent blue
them, and warn you not to trust
such blindly. Other men have thought
me same, an found out they read
"iongly when the end came-ay!
any OF them. When she was but a
snp OF a lass 1 found out her eyes
aaseu merry tricks, an yet l love her
though she were my own daughter.
49, shes a good girl in spite Of all
NE mischief in her."
ana she is TRULY a loyalist?'
not, know no better. The rebel
Ioou is all in the boy so far as can
MI yet will not answer for what
stress Claire might do"
we Tell silent, my memory with the
enl' e%ndeavoring to recall her exact
olus' the expression of her face. 1t
deceived ne.
ne Nau almost forgotten where / was,
n. wen as the presence of my COM
- when he suddenly arose to his
w;n ana. pushing aside the wooden
NV" shutter. looked out. A glance