Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-21

they had to open Tor themselves Will open for you-only, whom you arc inside, play tho man and bo faithful"
 What would you have me do?" whis- percd hoarsoly,
 II would have you do this," he an swcrcd "Thero arc great things brow ing in tho Netherlands, boy-grcat changes, unless 1 am mistaken. I havo need of an agont thcrc man, stout, trusty, and, in particular. unknown, who will keep mo informed of events, If you will be that agent, can procure for you and not appear in the matter mysclf-a post of pay and honor in the regents guards What say you to that, Master Cluddc? A few weeks, and you will be making history, and Cotton End will seem a mean place to you Now, what do you say?'
 was longing to be away and alone with my misery, but forced myself to TO ply patiently.
 With your leavc will give you my an swer tomorrow, my lord, said as stead fly as I could, and rose, still keeping my face turned from him.
 Very well, " he replied, with apparent confidence But Inc watched me kocnly, as fancicd II know already what your answer will bc. Yet before you go I will EA new lifo you hcgin tonight will avail you moro than silver more than gold-aye more than strCl-MastCr Francis It is this: Be prompt to think, bc prompt to strike, be slow to speak! Mark it well! It is simple recipe, yet it has made mo what l am and may mako you greater Now, go!"
 He pointed to tho littlc door opening on the staircase and bowed and went out, closing it carefully behind mo On the stairs, moving hlindly in tho dark, l fell over somc one who lay sleeping thrrc and who clutchCd at my leg. l shook him of, however, with an exclamation of rage, and stumbling down the rest of tho steps gained the open mir. Excited and fCVCrish, l shrank with aversion from tho confinc- ment of my room, and hurrying over tho drawbridgc sought Ht random tho long terrace by tho fish pools, on which tho moonlight fell, sheet of silver, broken only by tho sundial and tho shadows of tho roscbushcs, Tho night air, weeping chill from tho forest, famed my checks as l paced up and down. Ono way l had be- fore mo the manor hous2-thC steep gable ends, the gateway tower the low outbuild ings and corn stacks and stablCS-and flanking these tho squat towor and navo of tho church turned. Now I saw only the water and the dark line of trees which fringcd tho farther bank. But above theso the stars wcro shining
 Yet in my mind thcro was no starlight There all was blur of wild passions and resolves. Shame and an angry resentment against those who had kept me so long in ignorancc-Cvcn against Sir Anthony wero my uppCrmoSt feelings l smartcd under the thought that had been living hiS Cho I Cl l time when had taken much on myself, and he had smiled, and the remembrance stung me l longCd to assert myself and do something to wipo off the stain. But should 1 accept tho bishops offer: It never crossed my mind to do so. He had humilkntod me, and l hated him for it. Longing to cut myself off from my old life, l could not support q patron who would know and might cast in my teeth the old shame A third reason, too, worked powerfully with me as 1 became | cooler. This was the conviction that, | apart from the glitter which the old mans craft had cast about it, the part hC would have mo play was that of n spy-an in | formCrl A creature likc-I dared not say like my father, yet l had him in my mind. And from this, from the barrst suspicion of this, l shrank as the burned puppy
  | ing of nrrNC and slncw
 Net if l would not accept his offer it was clear l must fend for myself His | threats meant aS much as that, and | smiled stcrnly as found necessity at one with inclination. 1 would lcavo Cotton End at once, and hrnccforth would fight | for my own hand. I would have no name until had made for myself n new one. l This resolve formed, l turned and went 1 back to the huusr and felt my way to my | own chamber The moonlight poured through the lattice and fell white on my | pallet l Cr,,sru t!lr ruu;H and stood still | Down the IHIdG!c uf the cuVCrl,t-or my ! eyes deceived n!,--l2y dark line. l StuuVrd mechanically tu src what this was and found my uIn sword lying there, the sword wl.ch Sir Anthony had given | me on Imy last rthdAy But how had il come thrrr> As l took ii up something soft and light brushed my hand and dropped from the hilt Then I rcmem | bcrcd. A week hrfurc had begged Pc
 tronilla to make me a sword knot of hlut | velvet for use on state occasions. No doubt she had done it and had brought the sworC l back this evening and laid it thCro iT token of peace.
 1 sat down on my bad. and softer AnC | kindlicr thoughts came to omV-thoughts o lovc and gratitude, in which the old mar | who had been a second father to me hat part, l would So as l had resolved, hut | would return to them when 1 had done [ | thing worth doing. something whicl should cffacc the brand that lny on m, | now. With gentle fingers 1 disVngagCd tn, | velvet knot and thrust it into my bosom | Then tied about the hilt the old leather | thong, and began to make my prcpara tiOns, considering this or that route whil, | l hunted for my dagger and changed my | douhlCt and hose for stOutCr raimCnt ant long, untannCd boots. l was yet in tn, midst of this whcn.a knock at tho dool startled mo,
 | "Who is thCrr;" asked, standing erect
 For answer Martin Luther slid in, clos
 ing the door behind him. Tho fool di,
 not speak, hut turning his eyes first oI one thing and then on another noddr, sagcly.
 "Wcll?" growlcd.
 You arc off, master" he said, noddinE again. II thought so.'
 Why did you think sop rctortcd i'm patiently.
 Ut is time for the young birds to fl!
 when the cuckoo begins to stir" he an swered.
 I understood him dimly and in part i"You have been listening" I said wrath fully, my cheeks burning.
 And been kicked in the face like a foo for my pains, " he answered, An, well
 it is better to be kicked by the boot yol
 love than kissed by the lips you hate, Blu
 Master Francis, Master Francisr' he con
 tinucd in a whisper.
 He said no more, and looked up I'm
 man was stooping slightly forward, hi palo face thrust out. Therc was strang
 gleam in his eyes, and his teeth grinned II
 the moonlight Thrice ho drew his finge
 across his lean knOttod throat. Shall I?'
 be missed, his hot breath reaching me
 shall If"
 recoilcd from him, shuddcring. It wa
 a ghastly pantomimc, and it seemed to m
 that saw madness in his eyes. Tn hcav
 ems name, no!' cried No! Do yol