Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-13

We're my uppermost feelings. 1 smarte"
under the thought that had been living
on his charity. l remembered many a
| time when had taken much on myself
and he had smiled, and the remembrance
stung me. l lonsed to assert myself and
do something to wipe off the stain.
| But should / accept the bishops offer?
1t never crossed my mind to do so. He
| had Inundated HE, and l hated him for
| it, Longing to cat myself off from my old
! life, I could not support a patron who
would know and might cast in my teeth
| the old shame. A third reason, too,
worked powerfully with me as l became
cooler. This was the conviction that,
| apart from the glitter which the old mans
| craft had cast about it, the part he would
| have me play was that of a spy-an in
| former! 4 creature LIKE dared not say
| like my father. yet had him in my mind.
| And from this, from the barest suspicion
| of this, shrank the burned puppy
| from the ilre-shrank with fierce twitch-
| ing of nerve and sinew.
Yet If would not accept his offer it
was clear must fend for myself. His
| threats meant as much as that and 1
| smiled sternly rs found necessity at one
with inclination. / would leave Cotton
| End at once. and henceforth Iwould fight
| for my own hand. l would have no rame
until had made for my self n new one.
This resolve formed. turned and went
! back to the house and felt my way to my
| own chamber. The moonlight poured
through the lattice and fell white on my
| pallet. 1 crossed the room and stood still.
Down the middle of the coverlet-or my
| eyes deceived mc-lay a dark line.
stopped mechanically to see what this
1 4
| the sword which Sir Anthony had given
| me on my last birthday. But how had it
come there. AS I took il up something
soft and light brushed my hand and
dropped from the hilt. Then I remem-
bered. A week before l had begged Pc
| tronilla TO make me n sword knot of blue
| velvet for use on state occasions. No doubt
| she had done it and had brought the sword
| back this evening and laid it there in
| token of peace.
| / sat down on my bed and softer and
| kindlier thoughts came to me-thoushts of
| love and gratitude, in which the old man
| who had been a second father to me had
| part. would go as had resolved, but 1
| would return to them when l had done a
] thing worth doing, something which
should efface the brand that lay on me
| now With gentle fingers disengaged tho
/
| Then tied about the hilt the old leather
thong, and began to make my prepara-
tons, considering this or that route while
hunted for my dagger and changed my
| doublet and hose for stouter Iaiment and
long, Unframed boots. i was yet in the
| midst of this when a knock at the door
| startled me.
| ''Who is theres" asked standing erect
For answer Martin Luther slid in clos
| ing the door behind him The fool did
not speak, but turning his eyes first on
one thing and then on another nodded
sagely.
| "Weils" growled
You are off. master, - he said, nodding
| ,.gain. Il thought so.''
| Why did you think so?' I retorted i'm
patiently.
1T is time for the young birds to fly
| when the cuckoo begins to STIR, he an
| swered.
| l understood him dimly and in part.
l"You have been listening" l said wrath
| fully, my cheeks burning.
And been kicked in the face like a fool
| for my palms." ne answered. All well,
it is better to be kicked by the boot you
love than kissedby the lips you hate. But
| Master Francis, Master Trancisl' he con-
| tinued in whisper.
He said no more, and l looked up. The
man was STOPPING slightly forward, his
| pale face thrust out. There was q strange
| CLEAN ir his eyes, and his teeth grinncd in
the moonlight Thrice he drew his finger
across his lean knottCd throat. shall I!'
| he Missed, his hot breath reaching me,
shall I?''
l rccoiled from him, shuddering. 1t was
a ghastly pantomime, and it seemed to me
that l saw madness in his eyes. In hcav-
ems name, MOI" / cried. No! Do you
| hear, Martin: Mop
| He stood back on the instant, as n dog
might have done being Teproved. But
could hardly finish in comfort after that
with him standing there, although when
next turned to him he seemed half asleep
and his eyes were dull and fishy as ever.
| lone thing you can do, - l said brlsque-
ly. Then hesitated, looking round me.
wished to send something to Potronilla.
some word, some keepsake. But 1 had
nothing that would serve n maids pur-
pose and could think of nothing until my
| eye lit on house martins nest, lying
where had cast il on the window sill.
had taken it down that morning because
the droppingS during the last SKINNER had
fallen On tic lcG:u work and would not
| have IL used when the swallows returned.
1t was but bit of clay, and yet it would
serve. She would guess its meaning.
gave it into his hands. Take this, -
I said, land give it privately to Mistress
Petronilla. Privately, you understand
And say nothing to any one, or the bishop
will flay your back, Martin"
(To be continued,
MY Sweetheart.