The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-08-30
CHAPTER VIII.
handling Threads.

TanglIne Threads.
NY surprise at this unexpectep rel.
,rence to the Lady Of the BLENDED
Rose, almost prevented ~utterance.
what could this partisan ranger know
4, the girl? How could he even have
Identified her from my vague refer
ence? -,
"Why do you say that?" asked
eagerly. 81 did not mention the lady's
name."
"There was no cause for you to do
40" and the grim mouth smiled. mo
one else In Philadelphia would have
tnrued the trick SO neatly; besides the
fact that your opponent was Grant
would have revealed the identity OF
the girl"
"You know them both then?"
"FaIrly we'll; he was a boy in these
parts. an I have shod his riding horse
many a time. A headstrong, domineer-
Ing. spoiled lad he was, and quarrel
some"
"But Mistress Mortimer" inter
upted, is her family also from this
neighborhood"
ITO the northeast Of here, near Lo-
Gust Grove; the properties of the two
families adjoin each other, an ] have
heard there is distant kinship between
them, although If that be true all that
was good in the strain must have de-
scended to the one branch, an all the
evil to the other. Day and night could
be no different. Colonel Mortimer 10
O 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. He ven has a son in
the Continental Army"
"On Lees STAFF" ! interrupted, 1.-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" l questioned.
ION 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
a 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 q young girl when
her father wears the green an white,
while her lover has made a reputation
hereabout with his hireling raiders?"
"You mean Grant,"
Certainly; they have been engaged
from childhood. though God pity the
poor girl IL they ever marry. His work
in the Jerseys has been almost as
merciless as that Of Red Fagin. an
7 Is yer whispered about they ride
together at times. l doubt IL she
knows the whole truth about him,
though she can 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"
The inconsistency OF a woman;
perhaps the two had had some misun-
Outstanding, an she was glad enough
to outwit the fellow"
mo, t was not that, ! am sure; l
could read truth In her eyes,"
In Claire's eyes!" he laughed out
right. "oh, | know the innocent blue
OF them. and 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 my own daughter.
An she's a good girl in spite of all
the mischief in her"
And she Is truly a loyalist?"
If not, know no better. The rebel
blood is all in the boy so far as | can
learn, yet | will not answer for what
Mistress Claire might do"
We fell silent, my memory with the
girl, e~ndeavoring to recall her exact
words, the expression Of her face. 1t
was not In my heart to believe she had
deceived me.
had almost forgotten where | was,
as well as the presence Of my com
panion, when he suddenly arose to his
ieet, and, pushing aside the wooden
window shutter, looked out, A glance
Oh his keen eyes was sufficient.
Get back into your box. Major" he
exclaimed quickly. pull the papers
over you"
! was upon my feet, conscious OF the
Instant sound Of horses hoofs.
What Is It? The enemy?"
hangers; fifty Of them, | Judge, an
,neyH never pass here without rum.
masing around. Quick now, under GOV.