The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-09-28

.ne bridge. Your eyes are younger tnan
mine, 80 you had better go. I will pull
ON and land you"
I assentcd, and, the boats course being
changed a point or two, three minutes
rowing laid her bows ON tho mud some
90 yards from the landward bend Of the
bridge and Just In the shadow Of the
oauseway. sprang ashore and olamborod
up. "Histi" he cried, warning me as ]
was about 30 start ON my errand. Go
about 1t quietly, Master Francis The
people will probably be In bed But be
secret T"
nodded and moved of as warily as he
could desire l spent minute OF two
peernR about the oauseway, but found
nothing that would serve our purpose.
There was no course left then but TO cross
the planks and seek what wanted in the
hamlet Remembering how the tlmbors
had creaked and clattercd when went
over them IN the daylight, ] stole across
on tiptoe. fancied ] had seen pile OF
stones near one of the posts at that end,
but could not find them now, and after
CROPPING about nwhile-for this part was
at the moment In darkness-I orept eau
tiously past the first hoyel, peerlng TO right
and left as / went. j did not like 20 con-
fess TO myself that was afraid 20 be alone
IN the dark, but that was nearly the truth.
l was feycrishly anxious to find what /
wanted and return to my companion.
Suddenly paused and held my breath.
A slight sound had fallen on my ears,
neryously ready TO catch the slightest.
paused and listened. Yes, there IL wns
again-a whispering of cautious voices
close by me, within IA few feet Of me.
could sec no one, but n moments thought
told Inc that the speakers were hidden by
the farther corner OF the cottage abreast OF
which I stood The sound Of human
voices, the assurance Of living companion.
ship, steadied my nerves and 70 some ex-
tent rid me Of my folly. took step TO
one side, so as TO be more completely In
the shadow cast by the reed matched
caves, and tbon softly advanced until i
commanded view Of the whisperers.
They were two-a man and woman
and the woman was Of all people Dymph-
nal She had her back to me, but she
stood In the moonlight, and l knew her
! hood In moment. The man-surely the
man was Van Tree, then, II the woman
was Dymphnai 1 stared. ! felt sure IL
must be Van Tree 1t was wonderful
enough that Dymphna should so far have
| regained nerve and composuro as to rise
and come out to meet him. But In that
case her conduct, though strange, was ex-
plicable. II not, however, II tho man were
not Van Tree
Well, he certainly was not. Stare as
might, rub my eyes as i might, could
not alter the mans figure, which was OF
the tallest, whereas i have said that the
young Dutchmnn was short. This mans
face, too, though it was obscured as he
bent over the girl by his cloak, which was
pulled high up about his throat, was
swarthy-swarthy and beardless, 1 made
out. More, his cap had q feather, and even
as he stood still | thought read the sol
der In his attitude-the soldier and the
Spaniardl
What did it meant On what strange
combination had litl Dymphna and
Spaniardl Impossiblel Yet a thousand
doubts and thoughts ran riot In my brain;
thousand njectures jostled one another
to get uppermost What was l to dor
What ought / to dor Go nearer to them,
as near as possible, and listen and learn
the truth, or steal back the way 1 had
come and fetch Master Lindstrom2 But,
first, was 1t certain that the girl was there
of her own free willY Yes the question
was answered as soon as put. The man
laid his hand gently ON her shoulder. She
did not draw back.
Confident of this, and consequently Of
Dymphna's bodily safety, hesitated and
was beginning to consider whether the
best course might not DO to withdraw and
say nothing, leaving the question Of fu-
ture proceedings to be decided after had
spoken to her on the morrow, when a
movement diverted my thoughts The
man at last raised his head. The noon
light fell cold and bright on his face, dis
playing every feature rs clearly as II 1t
had been day, and though had only once
seen his face before knew 1t again.
And knew biml In second / was back
In England, looking on far different
scene. saw the Thames, its ebb tide rip
pling in the sunshine as 1t ripples past
Green witch, and small boat gliding over
it, and man In the bow OF the boat, a
man with a grim lip and sinister eye.
Yes, the tall soldier talking to Dymphna
in the moonlight, his cap the cap of a
Spanish guard, was Master Clarence. the
duchess chief enemy
staid my foot. With strange settling
Into resolve Of all my doubts, felt II my
sword, which happily had brought with
me, was loose In its sheath and leaned
forward scanning him So he had tracked
us! He was herel With wonderful vivid
ness pictured all the dangers which men
aced the duchess, Master BERTHE, the Lind
stroms, myself, through his discovery Of
us, all the evils which would befall us II
the villain went away with his tale. For
getting Dymphna's presence, / set my
teeth hard together. He should not escape
me this time.
But man can only propose. As l took
a step forward trod on round piece Of
wood, which turned under my foot, and
stumbled My eye left the pair for SEQ