Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-27

ate and sometimes awoko to wonder where | I was But tho meals and the vague at- tcmpts at thought made scarcely more i'm prcssiun on my mind than the sleep. Yet all the while was gaining strength rapid | ly, my youth and health standing me in | good stead The wound ill my head, l which had caused great loss of blood, heal | ed all ono way, as We say in Warwick | shirc and about noon on tho second day sitter leaving Durt l was well enough to reach tho deck unaSsistct and sit in the sunshine on a pil0 of rugs which Mistress Anne, my constant nurse, had laid for mo in corner sheltered from tho wind
 
 Fortunately tho weather was mild and warm, and the sunshine fell brightly on the wide river and the wider plain of pasture which stretched away on either side of tho horizon, dotted here and there only by windmill, n farmhouse, the steeple of a church, the brown sails of a barge or at most broken by a low dike or u line of sand dunes. All was open, free; all was largencss, space and distance gazcd as tonishcd. Tho husband and wifc, who were pacing tho deck forward, camo to me He noticed tho wondering looks cast round. This is new to you!' ho said smiling.
 I never imagined anything so flat and yet in its way so beautiful" "
 You do not know LincolnshireF"
 No"
 "Ah, that is my native county" he answered. It is much liko this. But you are better, and you can talk again. Now, and my wife have been discussing whether we shall tell you moro about our selves. And, since there is no timo like tho present, may say that we have de- cidcd to trust you"
 tram added brightly.
 Imurmurcd my thanks
 Then, first, to tell you who we arc. For myself, am plain Richard Bertic of Lin colnshirc, at your service My wife Is something moro than appears from this, or''-with n smilc-"from her present not too graceful dress. Shc is''-
 Stop, Richard! This is not sufficiently formal" my lady cried prcttily. Il havo the honor to present to you, young gentle man" she went on, laughing mcrrily and making very grand courtesy before mo, "Katherine, duchess of Suffolk '
 made shift to get to my feet and bowed respectfully, but sho forced me to i sit down again. Enough of that" sho said lightly, until We go back to Eng land. Hero and for the future VIC arc Mas ter Bcrtram and his wife. And this young lady, my distant kinswoman, Anne Bran don, must pass as Mistress Anno. You wonder how we Camo to be straying in tho streets alono and unattended when you found us?'
 did wonder, for tho nano of tho gay and brilliant Duchess of Suffolk was well | known even to mo, n country lad. Her former husband, Charles Brandon, dukc of Suffolk, had been not only tho ono trusted and constant friend of King Henry VIII, but tho kings brothCr-in- law, his first wife having been Mary, princess of England and queen dowa2cr of France Late in his splendid and prosperous career the duko had married Katherine, tho hcirrss uf Lord Willouglhy de ErcSby, and she it was who stood before mo, still young and handsome. After her husbands death shC had made England ring with her name, first, hy a love match with n Lin rolnshirc squire, and, secondly, by her fear less and outspokcn defense of the reform CTS. did wonder indeed how she had come to be wandering in tho streets at daybrcak, an object of u chance passcr $ chivalry and pity.
 Ut is simplu enough" she said dryly
 II am rich, am prutvstant, and havo , m enemy. When do not liko n person, l speak out. Do not, Richard!" You do indeed, my dear, he answered, smiling.
 And oncu I spoke out to Bishop Gard Inrr. What! Do you know stephen Gard incrt"
 For had started at tho namC, after , which l could scarcely have concealed my knowledge if Iwould. So Unanswered sim ply, Yes; l have sron him." was think , ing how wonderful this was. These people f had boon utter strangers to mo until day , or two before, yet now we were all looking out together from the deck of Dutch boat on the low Dutch landscape, united 2 by one tic, the cnmity of the samo man He is man to be dreaded" tho duoh ess continued, her eyes resting on her ba
 by which lay asleep on my bundlo of rugs and 1 guessed what fear it was had tanned g her pride to flight His power in Eng ! land is absolute. We learned that it wa: his purpose to arrest mo and determined to leave England. But our very house hold was full of spies, and though w' chose a time when Clarence, our steward whom we had long suspected of hrins Gardincr's chief tool, was away, Philip Q his deputy, gained c!cw to our dosigI Q and watched us. We gave him the sliI D with difficulty. leaving our luggage, bu = he dogGcd and overlook us, and the res
 you know"
 bowed. As Gnzcd at her my admira
 tion, l know, shonc in my eyes. Sh
 looked, as she stood on the deck, an CXil
 and fugitive, gay, su bright, so indom
 itable, that in herself she was at onCo
 warranty and an omen of better times
 Tho brcrzc had heightened her color an'
 loosencd hero and thrrr trcss of her au burn hair. No wonder Master Bcrtio lookC proudly on his duchess
 Sud1pplC thinp l ! aI ,.l,.,n fbrUott tp
 flashed into my mind, and thrust III
 hand into my pocket. The action Was \
 abrupt that it attracted their attention
 and when pulled out q paCkVt-two pack
 cts-thvro were three pairs of eyes upo
 me. Tho sral danglcd from ono missivt
 ''What have you thcrr?' the duchess aSkC
 briskly, for sh" Was a woman and curiuu,
 "DO you carry the deeds of your prOpcrt . about with yuu|'
 t "NO,' 1 said, not unwilling tO makV ,1 small sensation. This touches you :. grace.
 S 'Hush!' she cried, raising ono imper d ous finger. "Transgressing already FroI d this timo forth 1 am Mistress Bertran a remember. But comc," sho went on, Q, o ing the packet with the seal inquisitivCl, "how does it touch mc?' ,s put it silently into her hands, and st "a opened it and read few lines her hu , band peeplng over her shoulder. As sI , read her brow darkencd, her eyes gre "a hard. Master Bortio's face changed wit II hers, and they both pceped suddenly
 me over the edge of the parchment, su :, picion and hostility in their glance n How camo you by this, young sir?' l r. said slowly, after n long pause. Have " n escaped Peter to fall into tho hands ,o Paul"'
 = "No, no!' cried hurriedly. saw thi