Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-08

an hour later round tho table in the par
Tor. Mistress Anne was attending to
Dymphna up stairs, and Van Tree had
not returned again, SO that we had been
unable to tell him of the mornings ad-
venture. But the rest OF us were there.
1T considerably adds to tho danger Of our
position" Berthe continued. !
''Of course 1t does" his wife said
promptly. But Master Lindstrom here
can best judge Of that and of what course
1t will be safest to take"
1T depends, I" our host answered slowly,
upon whether tho dead man bc discover
cd before night You sec, IL tho body be
not found
''Wells" said my lady impatiently as he
paused.
Then we must, some Of US, 60 after
dark and bury him." he decided. "And
perhaps, though he will DO missed at the
next roll call in the city, his death may
not be proved or traced to this neighbor-
hood. In that case the storm will blow
over and things be no worse than before"
II fear there Is no likelihood of that"
said, for I am told no had compan-
ION. One of the maids noticed them Turk.
ing about the end Of the bridge more than
once this morning"
Our hosts face fell.
iHdl ID DhL, Hc SdIu, lie III
evident CONSERVATION. who told your"
Mistress Anne. And ono of the maids
told her 1t was that which led me to fol-
low your daughter
Tho old man got up for about the for
ticth time and shook my hand, while the
tears stood In his eyes and his lip trem-
blcd. Heaven bless you, Master Cnrcyn'
he said. But for you my girl might not
have escaped"
lie could not finish. His emotion choked
him, and he sat down again. Tho event
OF the morning-his daughters danger
and my share in averting it-bad touched
him as nothing else could have touched
him. l met the duchess eyes, and they,
too, were soft and shining, wearing an OK
preston very different from that which
had greeted me on my return with Dymph-
M.
.Ah, well, she is safc!" Master Lind
strOm resumed when no had rCgained his
composurc. Thanks to heaven and your
friend, madam! Small matter now if
house ard lands go.''
still let us hope they will not" Mas.
ter BERTHE said. do you think these mis-
creants were watching the island on our
account; that some information had been
given as to our presence, and they were
sent to learn what they could?'
mo, nor the Dutcbman answered con-
fldcntly. 1t was the sight of the girl and
her gcwgaws yesterday brought them
the villains! There is nothing safe from
them and nothing sacred to them. They
saw her rs tiry passed up in the boat, you
remember"
But, Their, supposing the worst to come
to tho worst?'
Two must escape across the frontier tc
81 Il
Lindstrom in matter of fact tono, as II
no had long considered and settled the
point. THE distance is not great, and in
Vessel we may find shelter, at any rate for
n time. Even there, IL pressure be brought
to hear upon tho government to give us
up, would not trust it, yet for a timo II
may do"
And you would leave all this?" the
duchess said in wonder, her eyes travelling
round the room, so clean and warm and
comfortable, and settling ut length upon
tho great armoire of plate, which happened
to be opposite to her. You would leave
all this Mt n moments notico?'
.Ycs, madam, all We could not carry
with u.s." no answered simply. Honor
and life-thcsc como first. And I thank
heaven that I live here within reach of o
foreign soil and not in the interior, where
OSCuIpc WOulu
But II the true facts were known, II
tho duchess urged, would you still be In
danger? Would not the magistrates pro
tcct your The schout and schepen, as you
call thcm' They arc Dutchmen."
Against u Spanish governor and q
Spanish GARRISON" no replied, with EN-
phasis. Aye, they would protect me n.
one sheep protects another against the
wolves. No! dare not risk it. Were
in prison, what would become Of Dymph
na:''
Master Van Treei"
He has the will to shelter her, no doubt
and his father has influence, but such N:
minc-a brukon reed to trust to. Their
Dymphna is not all. Once in prison
whatever the charge, there would be qucs
tioning about religion perhaps" with ,
faint smile, questioning about my
guests"
II suppose you know best" said tn,
duchess, with sigh. But / hope til,
worst will not como to the worst.
amen to that!' he answered quit,
chccrfNly.
Indeed 1t was strange that We seemet
to feel moro sorrow at the prospect Of leav
ing this haven of q few weeks than ou
host Of quitting the home Of n lifetime
But the necessity had come upon us sud
denly, while no had contemplated 1t TO
years. SO much fear and humiliation hat
mingled with his enjoyment Of his choices
possessions that this long expected mo
mcnt brought with 1t q feeling akin to re
lief
For myself, had present trouble tina
outweighcd any calamity Of tomorrow
Pcrforce, since I alone knew the spo
where the man lay, must be one OF tn
burying party. Ny nerves had not re
covered from the blow which the sight o
the Spaniard lying dead mt my feet hat
dealt them 50 short time before, and
shrank with natural rcpulsion from tn
task before me. Yet there was no cscap
ing IL, no chance of escaping 1t, saw.
None tho less, throughout the silen
meal to which we four sat down together
neither the girls nor Van Tree appearing
were my thoughts taken up with the bust
ness which was to follow. / heard on
host, who was to go with me, explainin;
that there was a waterway right up to tn
dixie, and that we would go by boat, ant
heard him with apathy. What matte