If Hearts "-ess?" J
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CHAPTER VII.
"rTTXD you will not stay?"
I A I "I cannot, mademoiselle."
I r\ I They Btood a little way from
Lj the Inn porch between low
i>ov rows, nu<l the young Frenchman's
eyes looked back the stenciled moon
light.
"Yet," Anne continued, "last time we
met, monsieur, I should not have dcem
?d it too much to ask of you. There
tire those of your sex who would not
scorn the tedium of an evening with
inc. Would I had spa red my Invita
tion and my blushes!"
"Cruel! When you know I would
.give so much?anything?for an hour
?with you."
She touched his sleeve lightly. "We
shall sit before the lire," she said, "and
.you shall tell us tales of France and
?of the life in your own country. 'Til
?chill here."
"Mademoiselle, I cannot. I have a
tryst tonight."
"With beauty? Then will I not de
day so gnllant a cavalier."
She left him and walked toward the
porch, but her steps lagged. Turning,
she saw him staudlng still, looking
after her, then came back, lucing her
fingers together.
"You will not stay?"
He shook his head.
"I know why you go," she said after
a moment's puuse. "I heard It?I saw
it"
"Y'on saw"?
"The quarrel in the parlor. I was In
rthe courtyard by the window. I know
vwbat you would do."
He looked at her uncertainly, his
?eyes dark and bright
" 'Twns a craven thing," she went on,
"a dastardly sneer at a brave, true
hearted gentleman. My lord Fairfax
Is old, and the cowards, the pitiful
cowards who knew him an* have eaten
at his table, they sat and heard and tit
tered behind their hands. But you
must not light! You must not!"
"And why not?" he asked. "An old ,
man, a noble halted by a swine! Should
?ot such be resented by gentlemen?
And shall 1, who have struck that
tacoundrel, refuse to meet him?"
"He has killed before!" she cried, f
""He has the quickest rapier in Vir
ginia. It would lie murder."
"Mademoiselle, I ask you?would you
have me fear?"
iis no quesuon or courage, sne
went on hurriedly. "Most not I, who ,
saw It, know that? Only you of them |
all dared to resent it. Monsieur, you
are brave."
"Mademoiselle!"
"But It wns in my lord's cause, and I ,
ask it for his sake. If?If you full, he
would sorrow for it till his death. And
?aud"?
"And yon7" He hud bent forward
eagerly. "Would you sorrow, made
moiselle?"
"My lord's grief would be mine."
*J"be young Frenchman drew a deep
toreath. "That is all?" he said sadly.
""I am nothing but a shadow?jj. passing
?stranger, whose coining or going can
not make your heart beat one bit faster
or more slow? Because our ways have
crossed but onee, shall you tell me I
?cannot know your henrt? We are like
/ ?stunt mademoiselle, we human ones?
lllttle stars wandering in a vault of
Pjlue. When one star has found Its
imate, about which God has made it
?revolve, shall the star refuse to obey
ibecause it has never known that star
Before? Have 1 found the one woman
In the world for me. aud she does not
see the divine in it?"
Somewhere fur away a whippoorwill
Began to call, a liquid gurgle through
the clasping dark. There came the
stamping of horses and u whinny from
the stables.
"Tell me, am 1 no more to you than
<hat stranger passing by?"
? Anne's voice held a tremor, but she
spoke earnestly and softly: "You are
more than that. You are one who once
guarded me from danger?one whom I
have this evening seen do n gentle
'deed that I shall remember always."
"Ah. it was nothing," he answered.
"Was it more than any gentleman
might do? They were not gentlemen
there. But I would lie so proud of it,
mademoiselle. If it made you care ever
so slightly, ns 1 have said. If It made
you think of me not as a stranger, but
as suddenly a little nearer, a little clos
er than all else besides. Do you re
member what I told you that day ns we ,
rode In the wood? That a man lias a
want for two things?a cause to fight
for and some one to wait for him? It ,
Is near the time now, and I must go, ,
mademoiselle, out Into the moonlight.
I should go Joyful If you but told me
that last want was mine. You?you
cannot give me that?"
Anne did not answer, but she was
trembling with a new sense of intoxi
cation.
"I ask you to give me a token, some
thing to carry with me as I ride to
keep the memory of always, to"?
"Monsieur!" I
"I love you!" I
"No, no!" she cried. "I cannot listen! ]
I"- i
"I love you"' 1
"Btop!" ,
"Once to touch your Hps"?
Ht was leaning near Upr. go near (fee j
could feci bis breath warm upon het
check. Ill a sudden surge of revolt slu
thrust out her arm us if to further tin
distance between them.
"No!" she cried. "No! How dart
you ask me that? How dare you?"
"Ah, mademoiselle!"
"Count you ute so cheap?" she asked
turning half way. hut she did uol
hasten. He dropped on one knee and
lifted the hem of Iter skirt to his lips.
She let her hand f ill upon his heud
with a fluttering gesture. Then, as hi
started up with a joyful exclamation
she ran back toward the porch.
Standing with bared heud in tin
moonlight, he saw her pause on the
threshold- saw the heavy door close be
hind her.
"You clod!" bubbled a furious voice
behind him.
The young man turned composedly
us the figure came out of the darkness
of the highroad behind him.
"Ah, my Jarrat," he said, "is It you,
then?"
"Look you!" Jarrat's voice was
hoarse with passion. There are some
things that are denied you. This is one.
lie warned!"
"Warned? And by you?" laughed
the other. "You luy a law for me?
Where Ion?"
"Our compact"?
"And do I not hold to It, monsieur?
Did you not tell me to search out the
bright eyes and red lips? Did you not
say to me that love was fuir In the
middle plantation? Did you not whis
per of proud ladles waiting to be kiss
ed?"
Jarrat burst into a laugh.
"You! Why, you pitiful fool! 80
this is the why of such brave daring!
Insults, forsooth, and duels with gen
tiemen: a nnc 11<>i>i<'111n11 it is, to do
sure! Thin;; you tho toast of Virginia
Is to ho charmed by your tinsel swash
buckling? Think you that Mistress
Tiliotson would lower her eyes to you?"
"She has already lowered her eyes to
me, monsieur."
"1 tell you 1 will have you keep your
clerk's face elsewhere!"
"Clerk7" repeated the young man,
"No, no. Not a clerk; a nobleman, a
marquis-one of the high blood?a title
guaranteed me this morning by my
lord the Earl of Punmore."
"So that is it," Jeered the other fierce
ly. "You think to wed a lady by this
brave masquerade. You dream"?
"Not by this masquerade?no," said
the Frenchman, a brightening stain
coming to his face. "By only my heart.
By up!y what it holds, monsieur. I
sad she lie.d already lowered her eyes
to me. Y'es. the fairest lady in Vir
ginia, and still she does not guess of
rtr ? ' i and of my bargain tills morn
ing with his excellency! Ah. sueh hup
piness* I did not even dream it would
It ? so?tint she would regard ine, me
i s' us | am. When his e:;ee!lene.v has
re trail- when 1 tun a nobleman?I
s mil have-tlis to remember? til at it
v as so. That when she first gave ine
Ivr hand .to k si it was to me. Just to
M. A'ana nil l.ot to the marquis which
I shall become."
"A title." promoted .larnit. "good
only so long as 1 please."
"You will not tell her otherwise. No.
Been use you wish me to carry out this
purpose this pretty play the plan of
which lias so iayeil tho noble earl In
tiie fort yonder and made him smile
upon you and swear yon were tit for a
cardinal. You would not cloud this
beaming favor of his with early fail
ure. No, you will tell no one. A mnn
serves either love or ambition, and your
nmhition is master. And 1? 1 aui not
worthy to kiss her hand. No one on
earth, rich or proud as he may be,
could think himself that. Hut 1 could
offer her more than you. for if I hud
the whole world I would give it all
wealth, name, nmhition?Just to be but
u vagabond on the street with her! No,
you will not tell her, monsieur, that I
?in not what I may come to seem. You
will not tell her."
Jarrat's face purpled.
"Beware, you spawn!" he said In a
rhoked voice. "On other points you ure
free while you serve in tlds. But go
not far along the way you have chosen
?with her. She is not for such as you."
"She is for whom she loves," answer
ed the young Frenchman.
The clatter of horses sounded, and
the lank figure of Henry came from
the stable yard leading two mounts.
As the pair took saddle and rode
away Jarrat stood looking after them
down the highroad.
"So the lady has lowered her eyes
to you?" he scoffed, with a dark smile
on his arrogant lips. "And I dare not
spoil your gay masquerade? 1 wouldn't
give a pistole for your chances with
Foy. He will end you as he would
undo nn oyster. Y'ou made u mistake,
my new laid marquis, in soaring so
high, and a worse one in bragging of
It. Hut for that touching scene in the
yard 1 had stopped that blundering
Idiot, but now lie may spit you and
welcome!"
The rattle of departing hoofs had
scarce died awny when Anne crept
softly down the stair of the inn. She
had donned u long cloak, and from un
der the edge of its hood, drawn over
her hair, her blue eyes looked out with
i feverish brightness.
The hall was lighted with a great
lantern, whose yellow flood added to
i V
,, ' the flower white poller ot her coil]iie
1 ounce. The clock was striking 10. 1 lie
J soldiers had sought the fort to gain
t early rest, an ! the townfolk were gone
! home. The long parlor was still and
f dark. Through the open door Anne
I could sw the Utter of tankards and
? pi|iea and a lean dog. stretched with
J black uiuzzle laid to the threshold.
? asleep.
| She slipped through the door aud to
? the highroad, aud then, with tremu
II lous tits of fear at the shadows, ran at
? her best pace toward the fort. It was
k a go.nl half mile, and she reached it
Pi out of hreath. A sentry at the gate
k stopped her, aud to him she suid she
11 wished to see the governor on lni|>or
: tant business.
s "I know not if he will see you," he
i objected doubtfully. "It is lute, and
the march Is to begin at sunup."
"But he must see me," she told him.
"Tell him he must!"
He left her for a moment, then, re
turning, led her across u court of hard
t beaten earth Into a log building con
1 taming a single room. At the far end
was a table strewn with papers and
| maps. A sword rack was nailed to the
? wail.
In an armchair before the table, his
plumed hat and sword tossed across It,
? | sat the governor, heavy, coarse featur
i ed, with reddish, muddy skinned com
. plexion under a black curled wig. lie
was pig necked and his eyes were
! bloodshot.
She came Into the center of the room
and courtesied slowly, while the earl
rose clumsily, his red eyes flaming over
her lithe young beauty, and sat down
ugaiu, tilting back his chair.
"your excellency," she began, "will
pardon this intrusion and my haste.
A duel Is to be fought this night on
Loudon Held, and I?I appeal to you to
prevent it."
"A duel?" The earl bent his bulky
neck. "I* faith, this is not the court
at Williamsburg. I have weightier red
skin matters nt present to All my time.
But 'tis truly a desperate encounter to
cause such a pretty interest from Mis
tress Tillotson. And what tight they
over, pruy? I warrant me they have
seen your eyes?eh?"
"At the King's Arms tonight," she
said, flushing, "an affront was offered
to a gentleman who was absent."
"Who was this gentleman?"
"Colonel Washington."
"The Mount Vernon fanner whom
the rebels bespeak to drill their hinds.
Humph! And whose was the affront,
eh?"
"Your excellency's nld. Captain Foy."
The governor slapped the table, high
ly amused.
"'Twas Foy? 'Od's fish, but he has
a high stomach. He carries a pretty
point.'though, and litis used it too. He
can take care of himself. And why
?liink you I should trouble myself over
such playful bloodletting, mistress?
Soldiering makes one not so squeamish.
Haith, but I have had affaire In my
day. When I was a braw young blade
?aye, und there were pretty eyes went
red then, too," he added, with a boister
ous laugh. sr
Anne's fingers quivered with resent
ment, and storm came to her eyes.
"Your excellency," she cried, "the
thing was but a trick to wound and
flout a loyal hearted gentleman!" ?
"Ah, indeed! And who this time?"
"My Lord Fuirfax."
The earl chuckled in his chair. "So
the baron took up for his farmer friend,
eh?" he asked, shaking his sides. "I
scarce assume that Foy is going to
fight the old man."
Anne had drawn herself up, her face
pale with this added humiliation. She
replied with dignity:
"No, your excellency. The affront
was answered by a French gentleman
named Armand."
At the name the governor dropped his
feet shuttling, and a quick gleam darted
across his florid face.
"Armand!" he cried. "The devil, eh?
Foy to fight him?" He struck the bell
for the orderly as he spoke.
"It shall be stopped," he went on.
"An affront to Lord Fairfax, you say?
a king's man, aye, and a loyal. Lou
don field. Is it? Foy shall be disci
plined, the rascal! I thank you, mis
tress, for this information. I shull send
at once and put a stop to the meeting."
lie was leading her to the door as he
spoke, not waiting her thanks, and as
she went out she heard him rumbling
angry instructions to his orderly.
Before she bad gone from view of
tbe fort gate four mounted men pour
ed out and clattered down the high
road at a planter's puce.
Later, in her own chamber, Anne
opened her window and, leaning far
out on the ledge, gazed into the night.
"'Like little stars,'" she murmured,
" 'wandering in the blue.' " Then, after
a pause, " 'A little nearer, a little closer
than all else besides.' "
CHAPTER VIII.
mHE spot selected for the mooting
wus not near by, since Virgin
ia's earl governor had forbid
den encounters within u ten
mile of a military camp. Key rode thith
er with his seconds, Holph and a lieu
tenant in the royal forces.
"I like not these night affairs," spoke
the lieutenant "Dew is slippery, and
the light disvlves. I have known of
accidents."
Koy cut In with a laugh of contempt
" 'Twill 1*> an accident 1' faith," he
said, "If I s?-nd not his soul a-scurry to
hell for that glass!"
"I mind me that fight at Mlnden,"
said the lieutenant musingly. '"Tvvas
no white night such as this, hut black
as the Eurl of Hell's riding boots.
Roots and slimy grass and"?
Koy cursed him, with his hand shak
ing on Ids rein. "Let that alone for
now!" he snarled. "They lied an they
said be slipped. They lied! 'Twos ralr,
I tell you!"
"Aye," said the other, surprised.
"'Twas a fair thrust. None doubt
ed It."
"Where are your wits?" said Itolph.
reining close. "Kuow you no better
to|)ie? When you have triced the youug
upstart. Foy, we siiall have a toddy to
night. This air has au ague."
A lantern had been set at the liyroad
and at this Henry and Arniaud turned
into the <>[M'u space. The curving road
on the higher Blue Hidgc slope had liecn
delicately grayed with u gossamer uiist
creeping up from the lute downs. Here
it had riseu thicker, curdling more
deeply against !'?" ground and sopping
the air with the smell of wet beech
bar!;. With the sailing moon above, it
was like going in some murky, dull
toned world where near things were |
shadowy and far vanished into opaque
whiteness.
The other party was in waiting, the
horses. In charge of a groom, tethered
near by under clusters of black scarred,
white stemmed birches, which stirred
diniiy as if afraid. Through their
moving branches fitful flashes of fog
mixed moonlight Altered whltely on
Fo.v, striding up and down, slashing oft
goldenrod heads with his sword and
listening to the rustle of late rabbits,
?currying.
"Gentlemen," said Henry gravely. |
"know you no means by which this
meeting may be avoided?"
"The young cock's crowing less iou !
ly. eh?" Foy turned to his seconds
with a rolling laugh.
A quick word of anger was on Ar
mand's lips as he faced Henry, which
died as Burnnby spoke:
"Let him to his knees and ask Cap
tain Foy to use his riding whip instead
of his sword."
The Frenchman's laugh rang out
clearly and loud. "I have seen M. le
Capitalne ride. If he uses his sword
as poorly as his whip"?
"Damnation!" said Foy. "Measure
those swords, Kolph, and be quick
about it."
Henry held Armand's ooat and waist
eont after he had stripped them off and
stood. slight and young, in his shirt.
He looked at him with rising pity. All
Virginia knew of Foy's sword skill.
He had a black record in the army of
Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick, and
these tales had been whispered wide
in Williamsburg. There he had come I
to no open quarrel as yet and was
made a boon companion by such pot,
tipsters as Burnaby Rolph and lesser j
toad eaters like young Brooke. But the
better class gave him a cold shoulder
as unworthy to mix with gentlemen ol
character and would have needed little
to have named him to his face for a
sneaking whelp that smelled strong of
the hangman.
The young Frenchman took Henry's j
hand between both his own. "I have;
been so occupied these last three
hours." he protested contritely. "Have ,
I said to you that yov are generous and ,
kind to assist thus in the affair of a ,
stranger? Have I said that 1 was
grateful?" (
"Colonel Washington," said Henry, ,
"is my best friend. An I had been in ,
the inn parlor, sir, 1 had drunk that
toast with you."
The night was very still. Scarce a
leaf stirred in the vagrant breeze or
thivered in the haze. Only a dull bum
ming chirr of night insects from the
thicket and drifting across this?a gold '
snake on a sad carpet?the rich, plain
tive bubble of a whippoorwill.
"Gentlemen," cried Uolph, "is all
ready?"
"Have you no command, monsieur?"
Henry asked.
The young man's eyes were soft as
he shook his pead. "How sweet it
sings!" he said. "Listen!"
It died, and the tapping of a bell,
very faint and. far and tenuous, came
over the still valley. Henry knew the
sound. Away to the eastward on a
high knoll, stood a long, low structure
of limestone, with a wide veranda,
l'erched upon its roof were two wooden
belfries with alarm bells, which had
been bung twenty years before, after
Braddock's defeat, when the Indians
turned their tomahawks against the
white chief that dwelt there. The In
dians had been driven westward long
ago. but the bells still rang whenever
the master, with yelping hounds or by
flaring torches, came back to his lodge.
At this moment, while Armand stood
in tin1 moonlight with a naked sword
in his hand, my Lord Fairfax, for
whose affront he stood, was come again
saddened to Greenway Court.
Foy's voice broke in, sneeringly
wrathful. "Are we come to string
?Mils"?
T.ii garde!" cried Armand, turning
sharply, and the two blades rang to
gether with a clash.
Foy's attack was wonderfully strong.
He had the trick of carrying the head
well back and resting the whole weight
of his lfody upon the left leg, a sign of
one whose learning had been without
masks. The other's method was as
different from that of his antagonist
as night from day. He fought far for
ward, engaging much with the point.
A maitre d'escrlme might have seen
in his action some of the freedom and
directness which later gave Itertrand,
the greatest fencing master of Europe,
the surname of the "Terrible." But to
the watchers it seemed to be utterly
without method?barren of rule?to bo
loose, uncontainod. He possessed the
appearance of a child at cureless play
with a serpent, not conscious of its
sinister Intention.
A pain came into Henry's dark eyes
and a paler tinge to his cheeks. He
groaned inwardly as Foy suddenly
came nt Armund, pressing him back
in a furious ehasse-croisse, first the
right foot forward, then the left.
The lieutenant stood close to Henry,
his lips parted, watching. "They say
Foy was taught of Angelo," he wlils
perisl. "and that fhe pupil could best
his master. Your friend is in evil
case."
So indeed It seemed. Foy was a
brute, and he fought like one. with face
distorted and breath rattling with rage.
He came on with the lunge of a hunt
er at a tioar. nis blade Uate neavy, auu
the very fury of his rush sent the young
Frenchman huek to the verge of the
bushes.
Armand returned with a atop thrust,
parried a lunge nud answered l>.v a
ri|?oate. Then for u moment there was
nothing but the du-tac-au-tae of sliui
ateel. cutting wayward blue white
flashes where the milky light caught
its edge.
"End the cub. Foy." cried Itolph with
an oith. "and let us to town! You
ocuhl have spitted him forty times!"
"l',y heaven!" suddenly burst out
lleury. "Bravo!"
The Frenchman's blade, beating up a
flaneouuade, had nicked a crimson
gash on Foy's shoulder.
The latter, smarting from the prick
and enraged beyond measure, came on
again cursing, his chin set forward
from his neck and a fleck of foam on
his lips.
Armand had changed his tactics. He
still had the appearance of looseness
and lack of close defense; but, strange
ly enough, Foy's point, though wielded
by the redoubtable swordsman that he
was, had not so much as slit a rutlle of
his shirt, lie was untouched, immacu
late. cureless and debonair.
Now he became of a sudden winged.
He turned, circled, was here and there
with the rapidity of an insect. The
fight turned this way nnd that, crushed
the bushes, was all over the gruund.
There was a maze of pricking, whirl
ing arrows of suiphur colored flame in
the moonlight. Foy's breath was com
ing hoarsely in his throat like that of a
strangled dog. Armand began to laugh
outright as he thrust nnd parried.
The lieutenant wedged an exclama
tion amid the flick nnd scrape of steel. 1
Foy's face was become a welter of
sweat and rage. This was a sort of !
fighting new to him. He tried every
attack, every feint, double engage,
coupe?each ineffectual. Armand, nim
ble, laughing, begun to hum a tune as
he ran.
Nothing could have been better cal
culated to goad his adversary to point
of impotency. Already Foy had be- [
gun to cut and lunge in utter, whirling
madness. Itolph no longer called to
biin to end the matter. All alike saw
that such ending was fast coming into
Armand's power alone.
Again and again Foy laid his guard
open to Armand's thrust, taking no
thought, but still the Frenchman with
held it. Instead his leaping point slash
ed the other's coat to flapping ribbons,
pricked him on the thigh, in the arm- j
pit, in the hand?wasp stings that drew
blood and rage, but harmed not.
At the first spurt of crimson Itolph
leaped forward, crying that it was
enough, at which Armand jiolitely low
ered his blade, but Foy reviled bis sec
ond with such curses that be went back
lo his station gritting his teeth.
The lieutenant raised his hand, with
drawing his eyes an instant from the !
combatants. Henry listened, and his j
car caught the tattoo of hoof beats fling
ing over the road, mixed with the fall
ing of a lash upon horse's flanks?a
frenzy of impatience In the sound. As
it came nearer Kolph turned his head
with a quick gleam of relief.
At the same instant Armand, swerv- j
ing fnr forward, wounded his antagonist
in the right wrist, and, Foy's hngers
relaxing on the hilt, with a sweeping
twist sent his sword rattling a good
ten feet away.
Foy was after it to snatch it up, with
a snarl more like a wild beast than a
man, when an officer, at a gallop, lead
ing three soldiers, broke into the clear
ing and spurred fairly between.
"Stop!" he shouted, out of breath.
"Stop! In the governor's name!"
Armand tossed his sword to the
ground.
"Hell and fury!" foamed Foy as he
sprang back, slashing at the horse's
legs. "Out of the way, curse you!"
The nrime.l plunged aside, and. Foy .
c.,me at Armand like the madman lie
was.
The officer threw himself off the
linrso ton isle as Henrv rushed for
ward. Armand stood perfectly still,
his hand pressed to his side, where u
stain was spreading crlmsonly among
the white rutiles.
"Hear witness," Itolph said with cool
ii"ss, turning to the soldiers, "that Cap
tain Coy is not himself for liquor."
"There has been no liquor drunk late
ly. You meant murder!" Henry turn
ed fiercely upon Coy, who, his rage sul
lenly sobered, stood biting his nails.
"Enough, gentlemen," interrupted the
officer. "There will be time for that.
I have itis excellency's orders to bring
all here in his command to the fort.
Captain Coy. Mr. Kolpli, lieutenant, 1
call on you to accompany me without
delay to town!"
"You are hurt, monsieur," cried Hen
ry, throwing an arm about the young
Frenchman, who staggered slightly.
"Sir, you will not leave him so, bleed
iug, here by the roadside? Greenway
Court is not fur distant, in the name
of humanity I ask you to assist me to
take him whore he can have proper
uttention for his wound."
"I have imperative orders, sir. Mount,
gentlemen."
"Well to louve him to the dogs!"
burst forth Coy in a sudden simmer of
white fury us he turned in his snddle.
"And you, you upstart rebel, Virginia
would long bave been the easier for
your gibbeting!"
Their hoof heats grew fulutes, then
were gone in blnnkness and echo, and
Henry, feeling the young man'i form
grow suddenly limp, laid him gently
down upon the turf.
The baron had driven from Winches
ter that night with u hurt in his gal
lant old breast. When he settled back
in his seat his hands trembled greatly,
clasped utop his sword. The huge
chariot, drawn by four wild ponies
that would go at any gait except trot
together, swung swaying from its
leathern springs, and the road seemed
very long.
"A,re we almost there, Joe?" he ask
1 J
ea more tnau once. (I 1 *
And the old negro : ? ?) , .. J L ?
would reply stoutly. "Alu. s' il.'i '
Turin; a linos' dar
The fog. fold ou fold, it.ut ?
baauty of the way. 1 >wer in
wooded valley the shad , s lay \
thick, like dead inen stree n . Oat'.
Held. Hiding, he heard t t leaves fa
like the Illusions of yoi 11 tike 1.
piuess, like glory, like pom
"Almost there, Joe?"
"Alums' dar, Mars' '.onu. sIl
dar."
Lp the craggy way a fl
stabbed down through *bi d ab-Is
tree traceries, and the ch it, rum:
In to the clearing annd clr u .ro i . dog
woke the cloistral silence if Ore uwa
Court. A negro came out be- t
the dogs and let down the -t p :.
the old man descended, leaning >n J
arm.
Joe brought my lord h > si - per
venison and bordeaux, sta ii. - ml
his chair till his mutter wt d. 11
was not long touigkt.
My lord took up a book,
down ugain. Then he lit ?
sat long silent till the tire < rat I l u
eniug. Joe came in, pilet i i a k j ?
on it and went shuffling ? > v.
The hounds yawned about 1' he
or whimpered softly in the ? . c s.
Crackling steps roused tie ao
they scrambled ou; to bay a sniU
and yelp, wlieu thenegro club! them
back. .> ?
A heavy tread stumbled i t: .if,*
An aged mastiff, curled un 1 m Id
man's chair, hunched slioul rs growi
ing, and the baroa, sitting y t p den?;
hearth, with the ashes fall a t un hia
pipe, turned his head.
Henry stood on the threshold, carry
ing Armund in his arms.
As his bearer stood, rocking, the
roung man stirred, opened his eyes
wide on the baron and thrust down his
legs. "My lord," he cried gayly, but
with weakness and husking breath, "I
tome early to--keep ?my?appoint
ment." He took a step and lurched for
ward on to the floor.
Lord Fairfax stood up like a blasted
tree with two dead boughs left swing
ing. "Great heaven! The la J: Has
Foy killed him?"
"Not yet" Henry answered. "No
fault of his, my lord."
The baron shouted for his rrvants
and for cloths, hot water and Uy vine
gar. "He must have a leech," he said.
"I will ride no self for the doctor at
Ashhy's Gap," Henry answerei, "But
I will dress th wound first.' With
Joe's help sklne were spread 01 one of
the couches anil Armnnd laid jiereon.
Then, with a woodsman's knowledge
of wounds, Henry drew his kiife and
cut away the clothing.
"It is not mortal?" asked theold man
anxiously.
"No. But 'twas a foul lunge. Think
not he was the poorest swordsman.
Never was such a skill seen in the Vir
ginias as he showed this night"
"Is it so?"
"Sir, be held that rat's life on the
point of his steel. I swear tc you he
could have run him through a score
of times an he would. They stopped
the duel?soldiers from the fwt? and
that red devil of Dunmore's ittacked
him when he had thrown his weapon
by and was empty handed."
"Ah!" cried the baron.
At length Ijienry stood up. 'I am off
to the Gapf >?ow. I shall noi return
with the doctpr, since I must b on to
Williamsburg tomorrow. But lor safe
ty's sak6 I shall pray him speel."
A struggle showed in the baron's
face. No one had ever gone uncheered
from his door. He kept open table at
the Winchester courts, fed th? poorer
settlers with his own prodlte nnd
would have filled the ragged tat of a
beggar with guineas. One pjisionate
hatred he had?hatred agains the en
emios or nit? King, g\n were mine 11/
hlru, high or low. Thi; times, growing
beyoml him. had put forward patriots.
But. all alike, he deemed tlnm vipers
that bit the hand that fed then.
As Henry approached the door my
lord was fidgeting In his clnir. The
hand was upon the latch whet. be could
restrain himself 110 longer.
"Joe," he thundered, "fetch u stirrup
cup! Ytu may be a rebel, sir, but.
blast my whips and spurs, fou shall
drink before you go! I could wish you
were not an enemy <f the ktrg."
"Not of the king," said Htnry, and
smiled. "Sot of th< king, Ipt of the
king's rue."
A gleam of fierceness, of the uncom
promising principle of his life, shot
from under the old man's brows. "I
hold with no disloyalty."
"1 holt," said H> ry in n low voice,
"with toy friend onel Washington."
"I ablt no treus is," tlamcd the old
man.
Henry's eyes bid a sudden gleam of
satiric 'minor. He stretched out the
gluss tie negro lunl brought him and
proffered it to his host
"I imst decline," he said, "to accept
hospitality front any man on earth who
has nuglit to say against the character
of Colonel Wnshli, ;ton."
The baron stood for a moment with
his Jnw dropped, 'ben coughed. "God
knows"?be suid, i.ia voice shaking like
a child's?"God knows I"?
But he got no further. "My dear
Lord Fairfax!" exclaimed Henry, and
drank tb? glass at n draft.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
3y the Tonic Route.
Tbepllh that net as a tonl< ?nd not
as a drnsti' purge, are DetVin I.title
Knrl.v Itls.'rs. Tltey euro Headache,
Constipation. Biliousness, Knrly
Klsers areunall. easy to t.ilo md easy
to act?a safe pill. Mack Hsiih ton. ho
tel clerk nl Vftllev Cft.v. V safe
"Two bottles cured mc o' rlucni con.
stipotion.'' Hold b.v lloo l Br o itornou
Drtifr Co.. J. It. Ledliett.'i
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