The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-03-15

She did recall, and her pale cheek was
flushed with bright pink as he spoke But
she did not reply. Instead, she averted her
eyes, aud after moment ne continued speaking
"Igave thee once rose,n he said. "Dost
remembers Twas June a June so long ago
that it seems like dream. We walked together
in the se-garder. l mind we had escaped
from Henry Dowdeswell, and left him sulking
And plucked rose and said, Take it, Nan;
take it as apledge from the uniformed boy that
the gallant man shall return to WOO thee.' And
thou took it. sweetheart, with tear glistening
in thy pretty eyes, and thou didst promise to
dry its petals and fold them among thy raiment,
and keep them till came back to prove my gal
lantry aud to win thee. Alas, Nan, have
come back. But my galantry is improved,
can l hope that thou wilt smile upon me now ?n
He caught her hand and kissed it.
"Ah, Master Quivil--"
"Wilt not call me Jack, sweet love? Dear
heart, come to thee SCARED and luckless /
dare not offer thee my empty hand. But send
me not away comfortless.h
"Dear Jack" ste murmured, blushing,
"thou hast ever been in my heart.n
He caught her to him.
And If happier days should come, Nan,
sweet Nan, when my hand holds triumphant
sword, and when the King marches proudly to
London, and when the gay court gathers again,
gayer and statelier than before say, Nan, wilt
thou take my happy hand and suffer me to lead
thee to that bright court which thou wilt
brighten and adorn as diamond brightens and
adorns the crowns"
"Oh, Jack, thou speakest too kindly"
NAY, mistress, | am thy humble servant.
But wouldst thou thus glorify my poor life ?''
''Oh, Jack; dear Jack.n
But even as he pressed her to his breast
something passing the window outside for a
moment oDscured the one ray of light which
c-f fna lcr1 eh,,tt tl,aA hol
left aiar. The girl started violently and with
drew from her lovers embrace.
''What was that?" she whispered fearfully.
Nothing, my QUEEN" he said reassuringly
Nay, nay, Jack; some one passed. Didst
not see the shadow?"
Toby"
mo, no." she said in terror. sDiggon is in
the field. and Toby watches from 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 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 be should
come again, he comes as thy enemy. Was he at
Naseby?"
''He was, Nan. 1 saw the prickeared rogue"
s'It may be he. Oh Jack, Jack ~
Whether it was Master Dowdeswell or not, it
was clear that it was some one who was ac-
quainted with the ways of Fame Place. For in
another moment the sound was heard as of a
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. Anne
clasped her lovers arm convulsively.
"My own love, thou must escape,n she
sohbed Through the window? No, no
He will have placed watch. In the gallery
Alas, not mouse could shelter there p'
She looked around wildly. The footsteps
drew yet nearer. Suddenly her eyes lighted on
the clocks face.
"The clock, the clock /" she cried in stified
voice.
Throwing open the case and holding aside
the pendulum, she motioned to Quivil to get
within. He obeyed her instantly and without
word. She closed the case upon him, and, as
she turned away, the door of the apartment
opened and o loud and stern voice demanded
admittance.
Before she had time either for welcome or de-
nial the speaker entered. He was tall and SOL
a man whose countenance had acquired the
sour expression cultivated by the Roundheads,
but was not naturally ill-favored. He looked
suspiciously round the room as he came in, and
finally doffed his beaver to lady.
''Good-day, Mistress Anne,n he said.
"Good-day, Master Dowdeswell," she re-
turned.
=" / come upon business" he announced. "I
have search-warrant to ransack thy house.
seek the body of Master John Quivl. He is
supposed to be in hiding here or hereabouts
and III -"
He paused, but she did not speak.
81 came this way" he went on, after a
moment. 81 thought, madam, it might be
more agreeable that friend should search the
house than stranger"
""Twas kindly done, Master Dowdeswell."
"Nay, madam. Duty is rarely kind and I
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 1 have been reminded to
make the search as little painful to thee as DOS
sible. Is the traitor John Quivil hidden here ?''
he demanded.
"There is no traitor here" returned Anne
| quickly
Dowdeswell smiled grimly
'Mistress Anne, thou knoW'st what I mean -
he said. ''Thine is a wilful misapprehension.
ask again: Doth the body of the traitor John
| Quivil lie here concealed?"
81 conceal no traitors, Master Dowdeswell -
"But dost thou conceal the body of John
Quivil, madame?'
For a moment she could not answer, and
thou hast lately eaten," he said Then, CLAN
| cling at the clock:-
| ''Half-past four IT'S marvellous strange
that thou should'st dine or sup at such an
| hour"
''The times are strange, Master DowdeswelI,
and we do strange things in strange times''
"Aye mistress. Even to the harboring of
! traitors Who, l desire thee to 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
! l will drag him forth.'
Then, striding to the door, he shouted to his
| nd xUhn ha6 met 1.o1{ {I,cf