The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-02-20
CHAPTER VIII.
Tanullno Threads.

My surprise at this unexpected ref.
erence to the Lady OF the Blended
Rose, almost prevented utterance.
What could this partisan ranger know
o, 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
So and the grim mouth smiled. mo
one else in Philadelphia would have
turned the trick so neatly; besides the
fact that you 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.
rupted, is her family also from this
neighborhood?"
ITO the northeast OF here, near To-
Gust Grove; the properties OF the two
families adjoin each other, an | have
heard there Is distant kinship between
them, although IL that be true all that
was good In the strain must have de-
seconded to the one branch, an all the
evil 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 erms
against each other. To tell the truth
A half believe his heart is with the
Colonies. although he cast his fortunes
with the King. He even has a son In
the Continental Army"
"0n Lees staff," l 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" questioned.
ION which side is she?"
"Can you ask that after having rect
her as a Lady of the Blended Rohe?
Pshaw. man, could almost give you
. list of the loyalist danes who make
sport for the British garrison, on
Mistress Claire is not least in rank
or beauty among them. What eiae
could you expect Of a young girl shon
her father wears the green an white.
while her lover has made a reputation
h%ereabout with his hireling raideis?"
you e 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 es
amerciless as that Of Red Fagin. an
ts even whispered about they ride
together at times. / doubt II 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 slider"
She helped me-" | insisted, know
ang who | was and even said she
wished my cause we'll"
The inconsistency Of a woman;
perhaps the two had had some misun-
d~srstaHding. an she was glad enough
20 outwit the fellow"
mo. Z a not that, / am sure; I
could read truth In her eyes"
In Ciaire'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
sip OF a lass I found out her y e
played merry tricks. an yet l love her
though she were my W daughter.
An she's . god girl In spite OF all
the mischief in her"
And she II truly o loyalistf"
III not. ! Il know no better. The rebel
blood 10 al in the boy so far az | can
yet I VIII not answer for what
Mattress Claire might do"
We fell silent. my memory with the
M. s1deay0rizx~ 10 seeaH -Ao7- saSes
lsrts. ths 4-xsrssaina - Asr faoA ~