The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-30

road. This is some one who has alighted
at the postern gate, and who comes
through the garden"
"Then it is some one who knows the
house well, dear love-a friend, belize"
NAY There is no one. Young Master
Dowdeswell alone hath come hither, over
and again. But he is traitor, and hath
come here spying the land. And oh, Jack,
if he should come again, he comes as thy
enemy. Was he at Naseby?"
''He was, Nan. l saw the prick-eared
rogue"
at may be he. Oh, Jack, Jack"
Whether it was Master Dowdeswell or
not, it was clear that it was some one who
was acquainted with the ways of Fame
place. For in another moment the sound
was heard OF handle being turned, and
then the heavy tread of one who crossed
the outer vestibule and drew near to the
door of the great hall. Ammo clasped her
lovers arm convulsively.
"My own love, thou must escape, bhe
sobbed. Through the window? No, no!
He will have placed watch. In the
gallery? Alas, not a mouse could shelter
there!
She looked around wildly. The foot
steps drew yet nearer. Suddenly her eyes
lighted on the clocks face.
"The clock, the clock" she cried in a
stihed voice
Throwing open the case and holding
aside the pendulum, she motioned TO
Quivil to get within. He obeyed her in
stantly and without a word. She closed
the case upon him, and, as she turned
away, the door of the apartment opened
and loud and stern voice demanded adj
mittance.
Before she had time either for welcome
or denial the speaker entered. He was
tall and soldierly man, wanting yetseveral
years of thirty-a man whose countenance
had acquired the sour expression cul-
tivated by the Roundheads. but who was
not naturally ill-favored. He looked sus-
piciousiy round tie room as he came in
and finally DOTTED his beaver to the lady.
"Good-day, Mistress Anne" he said.
"Good-day, Master Dowdeswell," she
returned.
81 come upon business" he announced.
81 have a search-warrant to ransack thy
house. / seek the body of Master John
Quivil. He is supposed to be in hiding
here or hereabouts, and -
He paused, but she did not speak.
81 came this way" he went on, after a
moment. 81 thought, madam, 1T might be
more agreeable that a friend should search
thy house than a stranger"
"'Twas kindly done, Master Dowdes-
we'll"
NAY, madam. Duty is rarely kind, and
l have strictly fulfilled my duty and have
cut off every avenue Of escape from this
house by entering myself through the
postern-gate while directing my men to
follow the public path. am not kind.
But / have been minded to make the
coaroh LITTLE rNaInfT1l n fhRn n : r1nEGIhla
Is the traitor John Quivil hidden here ?"
he demanded.
There is no traitor here" returned
Anne quickly.
DOwdeswell smiled grimly.
"AIistress Anne, thou know'st what /
mean" he said. thine is willful mis-
apprehension. I ask again: Doth the
body of the traitor John Quivil lie here
concealed?"
81 conceal no traitors, Master Dowdes-
we'll"
"But dost thou conceal the body of John
Quivil, MADAME"
For a moment she could not answer,
and Dowdeswell smiled again. 81 per-
ceive that thou hast lately eaten," he said.
Then, glancing at the clock:
"Half-past four It's marvellous strange
that thou shouldst dine or sup at such an
hour"
1.-THE times are strange, Master Dowdes-
well, and we do strange things in strange
times"
ave, mistress. Even to the harboring
of traitors. Who, desire thee tell me.
who hath broken bread in this place? But
nav. Answer me not. Cover not thy
malignancy with falsehood. Thou hast a
traitor here and will drag him forth"
Then, striding to the door, he shouted
to his underlings, who had Just reached
the front entrance OF the house. Bidding
them search the mansion and the out
houses, he seated himself at the table,
laying pair of pistols upon it. Anne
still stood, with her hands clasped, in
front of the great clock, whose hands
pointed to 4:30. 1t seemed to her that
she dared not move from this position.
She fancied that QuiviPs breathing was
audible, and she feared least Dowdeswell
should approach his hiding-place too
near.
"Wilt thou not be seated, mistress ?''
asked Dowdeswell presently, in a gentler
tone.
81 do not sit with the kings enemies"
she replied haughtily.
"Ah, mistress, reproach me not" he
protested. ''Time was when Henry
Dowdeswell could win a smile from fair
Mistress Anne Fame"
"That, sir, was when Master Henry
DowdeswelPs heart beat true"
at hath beat ever true, Mistress Anne,
and never truer than now. Did'st suppose
that Henry DowdeswelPs heart could beat
for any maid but Mistress Anne Fame?
"AIaster Dowdeswell"
Listen, Mistress Anne. Dost forget all
the days of youth-all the games that we
twain played together-all ourintercourse,
sweet and bitter by turns-all the jealou-
les and rivalries between thy humble ser
want and Jack Quivil? never liked the
lad. But forbore to cuff one upon whom
nv mistress smiled. Thou did'st not often
smile upon me, Mistress Anne. Yet there
were times when thou call'dst me Henry,
and when thy hand would clasp mine as
we crossed the rotten bridge returning
from church, and when thy thanks came
prettily if brought thee honeycomb or
a dish of yellow plums."
aye. / bear in mind the goodness of
yore But Master Henry Dowdesweli was
then loyal subject of the king"
"Charles Stuart, lady, was then a loyal
king unto his subjects"
Tut, tut, sir His most sacred majesty
can do no wrong"
Mistress, we will not argue that. Speak
not we of the king. Speak we only of our
selves. Mistress Anne, once thou vert
little Nan to me.
'sTruly, Master Dowdeswell, thou hast
fine memory