Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-22
AUTHOR or. THE MAfl IN BLACK,
"a. GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE: ErE~
esssfllpvslIsnMc CO. Al, a,enrs nrsemrr

but closed round us We discovered that he
had been throughout in Gardeners pay"
ABR l said viciousIy. THE oldest
thing to me is the way he has twice escaped
me when had him at the swords pointr'
THE third time may bring other for
tune, Master Francis" she answered,
smiling. Yet be wary with him. He is
a good swordsnan. Is my husband, who
sometimes fenced with him, will tell you.
He can be no common man." I said.
HE is not. He 10 well bred and has
seen service He is at once bold and cum
ming. He has tongue that would win
most women and hardihood that would
chain them to him. Women love bold
men," my lady added naively. And sho
smiled on me, yet humorously, SO that
blushed.
There was silence for q moment. The
sail Tapped, then filed again. How de-
licious this morning after that night, this
bright expanse after the dark, sluggish
channels! Far away in front a great
barge, high laden with mighty stack Of
rushcs, crcpt along beside tho bank, tho
horse that drew it covered by kind Of
knitted rug When my lady spoke next,
it was abruptly. lis it Annc?" she asked.
/ knew quito well what shc meant and
blushcd again. shook my head.
Il think it was going to be-" she said
sagely, "only Mistress Dymphna came
upon tho sccnc You have heard the story
of the donkey halting between two bun
dies of hay. Master Franciss And in tho
multitude Of swecthcarts there is safety"
I do not think that was my casc,"
said. Instinctively my hand went to my
breast, in which Petronilla's velvet sword
knot lay safe and warm. The duchess saw
the gesture and instantly bent forward
and mimicked It, "Ha! hal" she cried,
leaning back, with her hands claspcd
about her knees and her eyes shining with
fun and amusement Now understand.
You have left her at home Now, do not
deny it, or l will tell the others Be frank,
and Will keep your secret, on my honor.
''She is my cousin" said, my checks
hot.
And her namo?"
"Potronilla.
"Potronilla?" my lady repeated shrowd-
iy. THAT was tho name Of your Spanish
grandmother, then?"
''Ycs, madam"
"Petronilla? Pctronilla?" she repeated,
stroking her check with her hand. ''Sho
would BIO before my time, would she not?
Yet there used to be several Petronillas
about tho court in Queen Catherine of
Aragon's days, l remember. There was
Petronilla do Vargas for one. But, there,
guess at random. Why do you not tell
me moro about yourself, Master Franciss
DO you not know me we'll enough now"
"Thcro is nothing to tell, madam"
said in q low voice. ae
Your family? You come, I am sure,
Of good house."
IL did, but 1t Is nothing to mo now.
am cut OF from it. I am building my
house afresh. And" I added bitterly, II
have not made much way with it yet"
She broke, greatly to my surprise, into
long peal of laughter. ooh, you vain
boy!' she cried You valiant castle build
erl How long have you been about the
work? Three months: Do you think a
house is to be built in a day? Three
months, indccd9 Quite lifotime!''
Was it three months? 1t seemed to me
to be fully three years. seemed to have
grown more than three years older since
| that February morning when had crossed
Arden forest with tho first light and looked
down on Wootton Wawen sleeping in its
vale and reused the herons fishing in tho
bottoms.
Come, tell me all about it?' she said
abruptly. what did you do to be cut Off"
| II cannot tell you," answered.
a shade of annoyance clouded her coun-
tenanco. But it passed away almost on
the instant VERY WE'LL" she said, with
a little nod Of disdain and q pretty gri-
mace. $50 be It. Have your own way. but
prophesy you will come to me with your
tale some day"
Invent then and took Master Bcrtie's
place at the tillcr, and, he lying down,
had the boat TO myself until noon and
drew no little pleasure from tho placid
picture which the moving banks and the
wide river presented. About noon there
was general uprising, and coming i'm
mediately afterward to little island ~
ing close to one bank We all landed to
stretch our legs and refresh ourselves aft
er the confinement on board.
I'VE arc over tho border now and close
to Emmerich," said Master Lindstrom,
Though the mere line Of frontier will
avail us little il the Spanish soldiers can
by hook or crook lay hands on us! There
fore we must lose no time in getting with
in the walls of some town. We should be
fairly secure for few days either in We
sci or Santon."
II thought Wcscl was the point VIC
were making for" Master BERTHE said in
some surprise.
1t was Vessel I mentioned the Other
day." tho Dutchman admitted frankly
And it is the bigger town and the stron
ger. But have more friends in Santon
To Vessel the road from Eiumerich runs
along the right bank. To Santon we e
by q cross country road, starting from th'
left bank opposite Emmcrich, road Ion
ger and more tedious But We arc muci
!. less likely TO be followed that way thai
} along the Wesel road, and, on secon'
thoughts, incline to Santon."
But why adopt either roads Why no
10 by rivor,'' asked
J Because we should be overtaken. TIL
J wind is falling, and the boat" our lat
lost explained moro truly than politely
with the women in it, is heavy"
Il understand" said. And you fec
sure we shall be pursued.'
; For answer he pointed with a smile {
, his plate chest. Quite sure" he added
with that before them they will thin
nothing of the frontier. fancy that IL
J you, II the English governments be Il
earnest, there will be no absolutely SAT
place short of tho FREQ city of Frankfort
| unlcss indeed YOU have interest with tn