The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-10-31
CHAPTER VII.


Iangilnp InTeaub'
My surprise at thla unexpected ref
'erence 10 the Lady Of tho Blended
Rose, almost prevented utterance
What could this partisan ranger know
70 the girl? How could he even have
identified her from my vague refer
senCe?
why do you say that" asked
eagerly. 81 did not mention the lady 1
name"
There was no cause for you TO dc
So" and the grim mouth smiled. INC
one else in Philadelphia would have
turned tho trick so neatly; besides the
fact that your opponent was Grant
would have revealed the identity OF
the girl"
You know them both them"
Fairly well; he was boy In these
parts. an | hive shod his riding horse
many a time, A headstronG, domineer.
ing, spoiled lad he was. and quarrel.
some"
But Mistress Mortimer" inter
Tuptcd, lis her family also from this
nelghborhood?
TO the northeast OF here. near Lo.
Gust Grove; the properties OF the two
families adloin each other. an | have
heard there IL distant kinshlp between
them, although II that be true all that
was good In the strain must have dc.
seconded to the one branch, an all the
cyi! to the other Day and night could
be no different. Colonel Mortimer is
a genial. pleasant gentleman an a
loyal friend, although we are In arms
against each other. To tell the truth
/ half believe his heart is with the
Colonies. although he cast his fortunes
with the King. lie even has son In
the Continental Army"
"On Lees STAFF" interrupted The
".aughtcr told me he was twin
,rulher."
Yes, an ms great rogue as the
girl, with the same laughing blue
eyes"
And Mistress Claire. questioned.
on which side is ghc?"
Can you ask that after having met
her as Lady of the Blended Rose?
Pshaw. man, could almost give you
Ii 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 n reputation
hcreabout with his hircllng raldcrs?"
You mean Grant,"
Certainly; they have been engaged
from childhood. though God pity the
poor girl II thoy ever marry His work
in the Jerseys has been almost as
mercilcss as that OF Red Fagin, an
t is even whispered about they ride
together at times. doubt II she
2nows the whole truth about him
Tough she can scarcely deem him IN
angel even at that. Surely you never
supposed her on our side?"
She helped me-" insisted, know.
Ing who | was. and even said she
wished my cause well"
The inconsistency OF woman;
49, N"'e thN wv hhh uiu htiilt
dcrstanding, an she was glad enough
TO outwit the fellow"
mo, I was not that, | am sure:
could read truth IN her eyes"
In Claire's eyes!" he laughed out
right. "Oh. | know the innocent blue
of them, and warn you not to trust
such blindly. Other men have thought |
the same, an found out they read |
wrongly when the end came--ay! |
many OF them. When she was but a
slip of a lass found out her eyes
played merry tricks, an yet love her
as though she were my own daughter.
An she's good girl in spite OF all
the mischief in her"
And she is truly ioyallst?"
IF not. know no better. The rebel
blood Is all In the boy SO far as | can
earn, yet | will not answer for what
Mistress Claire might do"
We ell silent, my memory with the
girl. endeayoring TO recall her exact
gorfis. the expression Of her face. II