Evening star., 1924-01-24
The Lighter of Flames
By William S. Hart
4 Story Filled With Romance and Advent,r.
Copyright. 1923. BY Thomas cowei Co.

smile. or his covert threat concern
ing that awful ride. She seemed to
see again and again a bundle bounc-
ing at a horses heels-and this time
fringes in the dust, a blond head
rolled Imply. She shuddered, as If
with little chill. and drew her ker-
chief close to her white throat.
Then the coach door slammed, the
black driver mounted the box, the
young horses sprang away, other
coaches started down the street and
the pick of Jamestown was on it's
way to save the day for King George
| Ill.
And in a windowless room under
ground: scarce hundred PAGES
from the window where she stood.
Patrick Henry sat on a rude bed with
| his head In his hands and black de-
spair in his heart. Be 1t said to his
honor that no thought Of his sorrow
pain that racked him had it's source
! in his country's peril and his own
failure to aid her in her dark hour.
He covered his face with his hands
trembling fingers. They were bitter
drops, vital as blood from the patriot
heart beneath. 4 soldier in the
kings colors paced the stone tagged
passageway without the door, his
steps regular as the swinging of a
pendulum. And Patrick Henry wept
as slowly and drearily as the weep
ling caves outside.
All through the long night Mistress
Penelope Dunmore walked in her
about her shoulders. her hair still
coifed and powdered. her bodice laced
and her wide skirt swinging as she
walked. There was piteous ex-
preston in her soft sweet eyes, a
trembling in her lips
| Patience Conwell stood quietly by
the closed door or replenished the
fire on the hearth, seeing to all for
her mistress comfort, and from time
| to time came and walked beside her.
her arm about the more delicate
shoulders in that passionate adora-
tfon which characterized all her
service. Once she touched the white
fingers that played ceaselessly with
the kerchief,s ruffie, and they were
cold as death.
When the gray dawn came creep
J ing under the grayer clouds the girl
lay down in her high bed. dressed as
she was, and slept, though Patience
entreated to be allowed to undress
her.
/ 1t seems ! can take no peace. ever
again, said Penelope. duly. what
with the darkness of the year-and
the loss of Sheila and Euphenie-and
She did not finish for the catching
In her throat. but fell into weary slum-
Der with the tremble still in her lips
and the white fingers twitching in
their sleep. 1t was almost night again
when she awoke. Patience Conwell
bent above her with cup of steam
ing broth.
Drink, mistress" she begged. "Jt
Will break my heart an you do not.
There are dark rings beneath your
eyes"
But Penelope pushed it away, and
at the shaking of her head the long
curl bobbed wiStfully on her shoulder.
II cannot she said.
Then it was that the serving maid
showed the quality of her mind and
rosy lips at her mistress ear, whis-
pered:
There is, as sentry in the stone
passa geway below. big soldier with
Of bounding blood. l think-if one
offered him, perhaps, a kiss-some
one ltke-like me, you know, mistress,
he might be persuaded to Sir
Buckskins hath a pretty way in bat
tie, as none knows better than l.
coin to pay for the great debt I owe
him. Will you drink now. mistress?"
An; what magic was in the subtle
words.
Mistress Penelope reached for the
cup and drained 1t eagerly.
How near is the night" she whis-
pered, looking toward the window
And Patience whispered back, "'Tis
almost here"
Pace-pace-pace. turn and pace.
Pace-pace-turn again.
The soldier in the passage went to
the far end, where a door led out
beyond flight of stairs. and, turning
methodically, came back along the
narrow way. his gun upon his shoul-
der. He was a handsome youth, of a
hn IL ~ H~,,1y
set on powerful shoulders, and bold
blue eyes that wandered His tall cap
lowered above him and his gay coat
was bright with it's crossed straps
and buttons. His boots shone in the
dim light Of the lanthorn that swung
from the rafters.
Continued in TomorroW's StarN