Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-06-27

as thy enemy Was he at Naseby?"
''He was, Nan. I saw the prick cared
rogue.
1t may l,o he. Oh, Jack, Jackr'
In another moment the sound was
heard of handle being turned, and
then the heavy tread of one who crossed
the outer vesiibule and drew near to the
door of the great hall Anne clasped her
lovers arm.
my own love, thou must escape"
she sobbed. Through the window? No,
no! He will have placed watch. In
the gallery? Alas, no shelter there!''
She looked around wildly. The foot
steps drew yet nearer Suddenly her
eyes lighted On the clocks face.
''The clock!' she cried in stifed
voice.
Throwing open the case and holding
aside the pendulum, she motioned to
Quivil to get within. He obeyed her in
stantly and without word. She closed
the case upon him, and as she turned
away the door of the apartment opened,
and a loud and stern voice demanded
admittance.
Before she had time either for well
come or denial the speaker entered. He
was tall and soldierly man, wanting
yet several years of 30-a man whose
countenance had acquired the sour ex-
preston cultivated by the Roundheads,
but who was not naturally ill favored.
He looked suspiciously round the room
as he came in and finally doffed his
beaver to the lady.
''Good day, Mistress Anne" he said.
"Good day, Master Dowdeswell, she
returned.
81 come upon business" he an
ransack thy house. seek the body of
Master John Quivil. He is supposed to
be in hiding here or hereabouts, and
p
He paused, but she did not speak.
81 came this way" he went on after
moment. 81 thought, madam, it
might be more agreeable that friend
ger.''
"'Twas kindly done, Master Dowdes-
WELL
may, 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. I am
not kind. But have been minded to
make the search as little painful to thee
as possible. Is the traitor John Quivil
hidden here?" he demanded.
''There is no traitor here" returned
Anne quickly.
Dowdeswell smiled grimly.
Mistress Anne, thou knowest what I
mean," he said Chime is willful
misapprehension. I ask again, Doth the
traitor John Quivil lie here concealed?'
"I conceal no traitors, Master Dowdes-
well.
"But dost thou conceal the body of
John Quivil?'
For moment she could not answer,
and Dowdeswell smiled again. II per-
ceive that thou hast lately eaten,' he
said, then glancing at the clock: ''Half
past 4! IT'S marvellous strange that thou
shouldst dine or sup at such all hour. "
'The times are strange, Master
Dowdeswell, and we do strange things
in strange times. F"
"Aye, mistress, even to the harbor-
ing of traitors. Who, 1 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 I will drag
him FORTH
Then, striding to the door, he shout
ed to his underlings, who had just
reached the front entrance of the house.
Bidding them search the mansion and
the outhouses, he seated himself at the
table, laying a 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, mistress?"
asked Dowdeswell presently in gen
tier tone
"I do not sit with the kings ene-
miles,, she replied.
"Ah, mistress, reproach me not, he
protested. '"Time was when Henry
Dowdeswell could win a smile from
fair Mistress Anne Fane.''
''That, sir, was when Master Henry
Dowdeswell's heart beat true"
SIT hath beat ever true, Mistress
Anne, and never truer than now Didst
suppose that Henry Dowdenswell's heart
could beat for any but Mistress Anne
Fane?"
master Dowdeswellp'
Listen, Mistress Anne. Dost forget
all the days of youth-all the games
that we twain played together; all our
intercourse, sweet and bitter by turns;
all the jealousies and rivalries between
thy humble servant and Jack Quivi1?
l 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 DIST 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 dish of yellow plums. !"
''Aye, bear in mind thy goodness of
yOre. But Master DowdesweI was then
a loyal subject Of the king"
"Charles Stuart, lady, was then a
loyal king"
''Tut, tut, sir! His majesty can do
no wrong"
Mistress we will not argue that
Speak not we of the king Speak we
only of ourselves. Mistress Anne, once
thou vert little Nan to me-"
Hush, Master Dowdeswell! I can
not hear thee. -
because 1 serve not the king, mad
amp
"Aye, and because"-
''Not because thou lowest another?
Say not thatr'
81 must say it, Master Dowdeswell "
He looked at her gravely.
Mistress, is it all forgot?'' he said
chidingly. 81 twined many rosy gar
land for thee i'll the days of my careless
ness and my profigacy, and thou
frown'dst not always then. Wilt not
smile now, when, in my new habit of
grace, I, an elect soul, ask thy favor?"
"But l cannot love twain"
"And thou lovest-whom?'
"Master Dowdeswell, what IS that to