Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-08-02

is in the field, and Toby watches the 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 loye-a friend, belike.
Nay. There is no one. Young Mas
Ter Dowdeswell alone hath come hither
over and again. Bu he is a traitor and
hath come here spying the land. And
Jack, if he should come again he comes
as thy enemy. Was he at Naseby?"
lie was, Nan. saw the prick cared
rogue
II may be he. o, Jack, Jack!"
In another moment the sound was
heard of handle being turned, and then
the heavy tread of one who crossed the
outer vestibule aud drew near to the door
of the great hail. Anne clasped her low
er's arm.
My own love, thou must escape, she
sohbed Through the window? No,
no! He will have placed watch. In
the gallery? Alas, no shelter therel"
She looked around wildly. The foot
steps drew yet nearer. Suddenly her
eyes lighted on the clocks face.
The clock!" she cried, in a stifled
voice.
Throwing open the case and holding
aside the pendulu ii she motioned to
Qaivi to get within. He obeyed her
Instantly, and without a word She
closed the case upon him, and, as she
turned away, the door of the apartment
~ Cfn Il
manded admittance.
Before she had time either for welcome
or denial the speaker entered. He was
a tall and soldierly man, wanting yet
several years of 30--a man wlose coun-
tenance had acquired the sour expression
cultivated by the roundheads, but who
was not naturally i'll favored. He looked
suspiciously round the room as he came
in, and finally DOTTED his beaver to the
lady.
"Goodday, Mistress Anne, he said.
@Good-day, Master Dowdeswell, she
returned.
II come upon business, he announced.
II 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 l."
He paused, but she did not speak.
Il came this way, he went on, after a
moment. Il thought, madam, il might
be more agreeable that friend should
search thy house than a stranger.
"'Twas kindly done, Master Dowdes-
well.
"Nay, madam. Duty is rarely kind,
and 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 l have been minded to make
the search as little pa nful to thee as pos
sible. is the traitor John Quiyil hidden
here?" he demanded.
"There is no traitor here, returned
Anne, quickly.
Dowdeswell smiled grimly.
mistress Anne, thou know'st what /
mean, /" he said. thine is a willful mis-
apprehension. / ask again, doth the
traitor, John Quivil, lie here concealed?"
Il conceal no traitors, Master Dowdes-
we'll +"
"But dost thou conceal the body of
John Quivil?"
For moment she could not answer, and
Dowdeswell smiled again. II perceive
that thou hast lately eaten, he said,
then glancing at the clock: Half past
four! lis marvlous strange that thou
shouldst dine or sup at such an hour
"The times are strange, Master Dowdes-
well, and we do strange things in strange
times.
SAY, mistress Even to the harboring
of traitors. Who, desire thee tell me,
who hath broken bread in this place? !?
But nay. Answer me not. Cover not
thy malignancy with falsehood. Thou
hast 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. Bid
ding them search the mansion and the
outhouses, he seated himself at the table,
laying pair of pistols upon it. Anne
still stood in front Of the great clock,
whose hands pointed to 4:30.
"Wilt thou not be seated, mistress7" ?"
asked Dowdeswel presently, in a gen.
tier tone.
Il do not sit with the kings enemies, /"
she replied.
@Ah, mistress. reproach me not, he
protested. @Time was when Henry
Dowdeswell could win 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. Didst sup
pose that Henry DowdeswelPs heart
could beat for any but Mistress Anne
Fane?"
Master Dowdeswelll"s
sListen, Mistress Anne. Dost forget
all the days of youth-all the games that
we twain played together; all our inter
course, sweet and bitter by turns; all
the jealousieL and rivalries between thy
humble servant and Jack Quivil? ]