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


days of youth-all the games that we twain
played together-all our intercourse sweet and
bitter by turns-al the jealousies and rivalries
between your humble servant and Jack Quivil?
1 never liked the lad. But forbore to cuff one
upon whom my mistress smiled. Thou didst
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 il / brought
thee honeycomb or a dish of yellow plums."
"Aye. 1 bear in mind the goodness of yore
But Master Henry Dowdeswell was then loyal
subject of the King"
"Charles Stuart, lady, was then 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-"
"Truly, Master Dowdeswell, thou hast fine
memory"
AYE. have never forgotten one moment
of time passed in thy fair presence
"Hush, Master Dowdeswell l cannot hear
thee.n
because serve not the King, madam P''
"Aye. And because"
mot because thou lov'st anotherP Say not
that r'
81 must say it, Master Dowdeswell"
He looked at her gravely.
Mistress, is 1t all forgot?' he said child
ingly. 81 twined many rosy garland for thee
GAS thou dreadest the fires of hell mistress.
l coniure thee to speak the TRUTH
II do speak the truth, sir.n
without quibbling, mistress, bid thee in
form me if one lie hid here in rome secret cham
ber whom account rebel.n
"There is no secret chamber here, Master
Dowdeswell.n
Mistress Anne, is John Quivil here p?
"Master Dowdeswell thou hast sought
throughout the house and thou hast not found
him. and L tell thee there is no secret chamber
here"
Then to whom appertaineth the wearied nag
in the stable?"
"How can say Our stable door hath no
key, and he who will may place his beast
there.n
''Mistress, fear the Lord and speak the truth
To whom appertaineth the kerchief embroidered
with the letters j. Q. ?'
"Master Dowdeswell thou hurriest to con-
clusions May no man own the initials j. Q.
save one"
"Parley not with me- madam 1 love thee,
Mistress Anne, but my conscience condemns
me even while handy words with thee. Tell
me-lest drag thee to the seat Of Justice
where hidest thou the person of John
Quivil ?"
She was almost at her wits end. But she held
firm.
"How knowest thou that Master Quivil was
at the ill-fated field of Naseby ?'' she asked.
''How knew l? Because saw him. madam
Stuart, whom thou callest King. l saw him,
and know that he fled in this direction. Madam,
the evidence of his presence here is circumstan-
tial. Here is hls wearied steed and his kerchief
Yield him up"
"Were it in my power, Master Dowdeswell
never would yield him up! The Kings leal
servants are my true friends, and l deliver no
faithful friend to cruel foe.'
"Because thou lowest him, mistress %
"Not SO. Because love the King"
DoWdesWell gave q short laugh,
''Tis woman's vile, ,"he said. "The traitor
is here, madam; thou hast as good as admitted
his presence. l must away with thee to the
seat of judgment. We will see if more
powerful hand than mine can force confession
from thee"
But he did not order her to prepare herself to
depart. He stood looking at her with blazing
eyes.
"Vain and trifing woman % he burst forth at
length. ''Thinkest thou to dissemble with me |?
Thinkest thou to deceive the Lords elect ?
Know that see thy wicked endeavor-that
perceive thy bold .purrpose-and that l despis.e
here. Madam, he is here, and forbid thee to
conceal him longer. Acquaint me, 1 command
thee, where he is ~
He paused for moment. Then he pro-
"Woman, If thou hast aconscience, confess
thy sin,' he said. fThou lowest; tits pity, for
thou lowest an Ill man. But let not thy love
destroy thy conscience. 'Tis truth that II bid
Cnee speak. Oo Iuou bny uuIy anu Cell me LnlS
thing"
Master Dowdeswell. thou saidst but now
that thou lovedst me-" said Anne. ''If thou
hast ever loved me, ask no more, but depart in
peace"
81 said loved thee % he cried impetuously.
'sYea, and do love thee Even as Jacob loved
Rachel love thee Even as the heart desireth
the ater-brooks-even so do / desire thee
My sole desire In life is to content thee, and if
needful | would shed my blood for thee. Dear
Nan, wilt not return my love, and come into
my arms-confessng thy great fault of to-day
and telling me where John Quivil lies hid ?''
| "No, Master Dowdeswell," said Anne, with
dignity. "Take me away and immure me in
the vilest of dungeons. But for my loves
sake and for my conscience sake, will reveal
| naught."
"But wilt not love me, Nan 9'
sNo."
He was deeply mortified The perspiration
stood upon his brow, and his heart was hot
within him. He looked at her again. Then,
with an unprecedented gesture he raised his
eyes to the clock-face above her head. Some
thing in its aspect struck him strangely
"Half-past four !'' he exclaimed. "Half past
four! Is it always half-past four here, mis-
! tress ?"
"The clock hath stopped" faltered she.
"Strange that 1T should stop even as / en-
| tered the chamber said he. "Let me set il
! going for thee, madam
"Nay," she said quickly 'Why set it going
for naught, since thou are going to take me to
| jail % 'Let the clock be-"
"That would be indeed an unkind measure, u
said he. "Eyen if thou be taken bence, should
not the members of thy household know the
! time ?''
| 81 have no servants - said she.
| IT, lr,a IL