Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-08-24

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rho duchess and IbOrc the cold patiently.
Gil will lie in giving trouble To avoid
this VIC should show oUr strength. There
fore want the duchess to come over with
all speed. Will you fetch herr" he added
sharply, turning to me.
will Z" l cried in surprise.
Yes, you. l cannot well go myself at
this crisis. VIII you go instcadg''
"Of cuurSc 1 will" 1 answered
And tho prospect chccrcd me wonder
fully. 1t gave mo something to do and
opened my eyes to the great change of
which PenTuddockc had been the herald,
n change which was even then beginning.
As we rode down Hishgate hill that day
messengers were speeding north and south
and east and west 20 Norwich and Bristol
and Canterbury and Coventry and York
with tho tidings that the sombcr r;lle I'M
der which England had gronned for five
years and more was coming to an end. If
II dozen towns of England they rupcd
theic bells Cfrcsh; ii in every county, aj
PonruddocEc had pruphcsict, they got
their tar barrels ready; il all, s.vc few
old fashioned folk ana IA few gloomy big
OTIS and hystcrical women, ayyokc as from
an evil dream; IL even sensible men saw in
tho coming; Of Tie young queen panacca
for all their ills-a qucEching of Smith
field fires, Il Calais recovered, q cure ior
thu worthless coinage which hamDcrcd
tYdc, and ridduncc of worthless foreign
or; who piundercd it, with better roads,
purer justice, fuller oIchcqucr, IIorc IA
vcrablo seasons-if England read all this
in that news Of pcnruddockc's, was is not
something To us also?
1t was indeed. We were saved at the
last moment from the dangerous enter
prise on which we had rashly embarked.
We had now such prospects before US only
tho success OF that scheme could have or
din1rily opened. Ease and honor instead
OF the gallows and to lie warm instead of
cracking in tho wind, Thinking of this,
fell into a better franc of mind as jog
ged along toward London. For what,
after all, was my father to me, that his
existence should make ne unhappy or rob
mino of all pleasure! Lad made place
for myself in the world. 1 had earned
friends for myself. He might take away
ing pride in the one, but ho could never
rob me of tho love of the othcrs-of those
who had eaten and drunk and fought and
suffered bosido Ine and for whom I, too,
had fought and suffered!
"a strange time for tho swallows to
come back" said my lady, turning to
smile at mo as l rode on her OF side.
1t would have been strange indeed If
there had been swallows in the cir, for it
was the end of December. Tho roads
were frost bound and the trees lcaflcss.
The east wind, gathering force in its rush
across the Essex marshes. whirlcd before
it the last trophies OF Hainault forest and
seemed as it whistlcd by our cars and
shaved our faces to grudeo us the shelter
to which We were Fastening. Tho long
train behind us-fur the good times OF
which VIC had talked so often had como
were full of tho hugo fire We expected to
find at tho inn ut Barking, our last stage
Oh the road to London. And if the duch-
css and / hero the cold more patiently It
was probably because We had more food
for thought and perhaps thicker raiment.
DO not shake your head" she con-
t:nucd, glancins at me with mischief In
her eyes, and flatter yourself you will,
not go back, but will go on making your
self ard some ono else unhappy. You will
do nothing OF the Kind, Francis. Before
the spring cones you and l will ride over
the drawbridgo at Cotton End, or am a
Dutchwo.Eanr'
"Icannot SEQ that things arc changed,
I said.
Not changci:'' she replied. when
you left, you were nobody. Now you arc
somebody. If it be only in having IA sister
with dozen serving men in her train.
Leave it to me. And now, thank heaven,
we are here! am so stiff and cold you
must lit nc down. We have not to ride
far after dinner, hope
only seven miles," I answered as the
host, who had been warned by an outridcr
10 expect Us, came running out with a
tail at his heels.
What news from London, Master Land
lordf" said to him rs he led US through
the kitchen. where there was indeed n
great fire, Int no chimney, and SO to q
smaller room possessing both these lux
uries. is all quiet.''
Certainly, your worship" he replied,
bowling and rubbing his hands. "Thero
never was such an accession, nor more alc
drunk, no. powder burncd-nnd / have
at old King Harry's, but not like this.
Such fair young queen, men report, with
a look OF the stout king about her, ard
as prudent and discreet as IL she had
changed heads with Sir William Cecil
God bless hc., say /, and send her wise
husband!'
And a loving one,'' quoth my Lady
prcttily. 'Amen,'
Il ain glad all has gone off WELL"
continued, speaking to the duchess as I
turned TO the blazing hearth. IF there
had been blows, would fain have been
here TO strike one"
Nay, sir. not a finger has wagged
against her, " the landlord answered. kick
ing The logs together, Ito speak of, that
Is, your worship. l did hear today Of
little trouble down in Warwickshirc, but