Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-15

ours must not DO tho nanu VO punlSn your father. But after today you will owo him no duty. You will part from him to- day, and he will bO n stranger to you. He deserted you when you wore a child, and if you owo rovcrCnco to any ono 1t is to y. UT uncle and not to him. lIo has him self severed tho ties between you.
 Yes" said. II will go abroad. will go back to Wilma" ."
 If i'll comes of our enterprise, as fear i'll will como, wo will both go back, If we can," hc answcrcd. If good by any chance should come of it, then you shall bo my brother. our family shall bo your family Tho duchess Is rich enough, " he added, with smile, to allow you a younger brothers portion"
 could not answer him as I dcSircd, for we passed at that moment under tho arch way and became instantly involved in tho hustle going forward in tho courtyard. Near tho principal door of tho inn stood eight or nino horses gayly caparisoned and in tho charge of three foreign looking men, who, lounging in their saddles, wcro passing jug from hand to hand. They turned as we rode in and looked at us curiously, but not with any impcrtinence. Apparently they wCro waiting for the rest of their party, who wcro inside the housc. Civilly disposed as they seemed, the fact that they wCro armed and woro rich liv- cries of black and gold caused mo, and think both of us, momentary alarm.
 Who arc thcy?'' Master Bertie asked in a low voice as ho rodc to the opposite door and dismountcd with his back to them.
 They are Spaniards, fancy" said, scanning thcm over tho shoulders of my horse as l, too, got of. "Old friends so to speak"
 They secm wonderfully subdued for them, hc answered, and on their best behavior. If half the tales wo heard thlS morning bo true they aro not wont to carry themselves like this"
 Yct they certainly werc Spanish, for overheard them speaking to one another in that language, and before wo had well diSmountCd their lcader-wbom they re CeivCd with great respect, one of them jumping down to hold his stirrup-camc out with thrcC or four moro and got to horsO again. Turning his rein to lead tho way out through the north gato, he passed near us. and as ho settled himself in his saddle took a good look at us. Tho look passed harmlcssly over mo, but reaching Master BVrtio bCcamO concentrated. Tho rider startod and smiled faintly. Hc seemed to pausC Then he raised his plumrd cap and bowed low, covcrod him
 
 lowed his example and salutcd us as they passcd Master Brrtio's face, which had flushed n fiery rrd under tho others gaze, grvw palc again He looked at me, when they had gone by, with startled eyes.
 Do you kuuw who that was!" he said, spcaking like ono who had received blow and did not yet know how much hc was hurt.
 No" said.
 It was the Count do Fcria tho Span ish cmhassadur," he answered. And ho rcCOEnizvd me met him often years ago, l knew him again aS soon aS he CamU out, but l did not think hc would by any chance rrcu2nizo mo in this drcss" "
 Arc you surv, asked in amazcment, ''that it was hr;''
 "Quitr surr," hr anSwrrcd.
 ''But why did hu not have you arrcstcd or at least detained; Tho warrants aro still out against y~'u.'
 Master Brrtir shook his head. II can not tell. " hV said darkly, "Hc Is a Span iard But come, wr have the less timo tu lose. We must join our friends and take their advice. We Sccm to bo surrounded by pitfalls"
 At this moment tho lame huStlCr came up. and s;rumbling at Us aS if ho had never sven Us in his life hCfurV, and never wished Ia svo AIS again, took our horses. We went into the kitchen, and taking the first chance of slipping up stairs to No. Ia We wrrv admitted with tho same prccau- Ann> us hrt"r,, and descending tho shaft :;Ainvd the cellar
 Hvrr We wrrr not, aS wr had looked tu lr. the fiji vu the ~cCur. smplusr a >,'u>r ut thr Insecurity ut eur meeting place had l. Il every one tO come carly, sU uS tu lr,, .,uIl.. early PrnruuduCko indeed Was not hcrr yet, hut Kingston and half a score ut uihrrS were sitting about convors- ing in low tones. It was plain that the diStruSt and suspicion which we had TO- marked on the pr,vious day had not been allaycd by the discovery of Clarence treachCry.
 Indeed 1t was clear that the distrust and despondency had today become a panic. Men glarcd at one another and at the door and talked in whispers and started at the slightest sound. l glanced round. The one sought for with eager yet shrinking eyes was not to ho sccn. turned to Mas ter BCrtic, my facc InutCly calling on him to ask the question. Where Is the priS- UnCr?" he said sharply.
 A moment hung in suspense Then ono of tho men said: He is in there He ! is safr enough!' He pointed as he spoke | to a dOur which seemed to lead to an inner cvllAr,
 Night, " said Master Bcrtie still stand Ing II have two pieces of bad news fol you nevertheless. Firstly. have just been rrcognizCd by tho Spanish cmbassador whom l met in tho courtyard above. ' | Half tn" men rose to thoir feet. What Is he doing horV:' they cried, ono boldly the others with the quavcr worry plain 1T their voices
 II do not know, but he r,cognized me | Why ho took no steps to drtain or arrrst mo cannot toll. llo rodo away by thC | north ruad.
 They gazCd at ono another and wo al them. The wolfish look which fuar bring, Into some faces grew stronger in theirs.
 What is your other bad news?" sait 1 Kingston. with an oath.
 "A person outside, a friend of the pris l oner, has { list of our names and know. our meeting place and our plans. Sh, threatens to uso tho knowledge unless thl man Clarence or Crewdson be set free. ! There was loud murmur of wrath anC dismay, amid which Kingston alone pre- served his compOsure. We might hay, been prepared for that" he said quietly "It is an old precaution of such folk. Bu how did you come to hear of itr'
 My friend hero saw the messenger anC heard the terms. Tho man must be SC freo by sunset"
 And what warranty have we that h. will not go straight with his plans and hi list to the counciR"
 Master Bcrtio could not answer that neither could l. We had no surety, an' If We set him free could take mono say his word His wordl Could even asl them to accept that: To stake the life O the meanest of them on itg
 1 l saw the difficulties of the position, ant when Master Kingston pronounced cooll. that this was waste of time, and tha the only wise course was to dispose of tn principal witness, both in the interests O justice and our own safety. and then shif ourselves before the storm broke, aC knowlodged in my heart the wisdom O tho course and felt that yesterday 1t woul have received my assent.