Evening star., 1896-06-27

John Halliburton, as ne rOue along, Was
In high feather. He had done well at court,
better than he had hoped for, having. in
deed. had a matter intrusted to him that
required delicate handling and some couf-
age. Fer the handling though but a
novice in intrigue and in the craft that
commends a man to a minister, he was
confident he had enough to bring the affair
to a successful issue, and for courage. he
thought he had much as any man alive
of the nature of the packet he carried
m his saddle bag Halliburton knew nothing,
but that it related to matter of the deepest
import he was convinced. more from the
stern reminder of the chancellor that he
would have to answer for its safe delivery
with his life. than from the feverish, fidg-
ety anxiety displayed by the king, when
he commanded him to ''haud to it tooth
and nail
The knowledge however. of the danger
Gus character of his mission. implied by
the chancellor's words, in no way troubled
John Halliburton he rode at a canter
across the moor. He had good horse
under him. a stout sword by his side, and.
what was best of all, a thorough belief In
himself. In a word. John Halliburton was
the bearer of dispatches from the court of
James to Lord Hunsdon, the nobleman Sc
lected by Elizabeth to open communlca ton
with the king of Scots. and his orders were
neither to draw bride nor hold speech or
dealing of any kind with any man whatSo-
ever. no matter of what degree he might
be. until he had got them into Hunsdon
hands-Sir John Maitland plainly intimat-
ing to him at his departure that, notwith-
standing every precaution to keep the air
secret. he July anticipated that Halliburton
would I've intercepted, charging him again
on no account to so from mis- Instructions.
Inn To n lpttprS
commanded. tooth and nall, until he
rTaCned HunSdon, when he would be freed
from his responsibility. And faith the
chancellor had added. with smile. Il think
1 could hardly have chosen a filter man.
To which Halliburton had replied. with
great ccmplaceacy: Il think not, my
lJrd-''
Now. had John Halliburton been a man
OF the world-that is to say. more a courter
tfan he was-he might have realized that
his enterprise was not like to be SO easy
OF accomplishment he fondly supposed.
the whole world Just then was crying out
nOunS.ng vengeance upon Elizabeth. Poll
tiI+anS on every side We're seeking alliances,
Matching plots. and endeavorinS to over
I@=lCh one another. Spain was in arms.
anI bent upon invasion Elizabeth was
seeking to secure the cooperation of the
king Of Scots. and James lowering be
tween revenge and the fear of cutting him
sell OUT of the SiICL eSSlOn, whilst his CathO-
lie subjects We're almost in open rebellion
nffeT1ns- to assist Philip in his descent upon
England
To come to a satisfactory and a pecuniary
aTTIreeTnsn Mt with Eliza beth, and to safe
guard III succession was the aim of the
king and his chancellor; to prevent such an
understanding and to revenge the death of
Mary, that of the Catholics.
u was at this crisis. then that John HALL
burton was intruSted with the special mis-
son referred to- which vas intended to pre-
pore the way for a definite ard an amicable
settlement of all differences and doubtless
h-S Journey might have been accom- pliShed
without any incident event of any kind
other than what was TO he expected in a
country so unsettled as Scotland. had it
not been for the fOrtritous interview of Jane
Kennedy with the king. which happened, as
il ch@Ece'i on the very day that saw Hall
bGrt0n's departure. The effect upon James
with whom she had been cIoseted for two
hours. and to whom She rccOuntcd with
minute details the tragedy of her mistress
''GtE. was SO strCng that he refused to he
ccnforted. denounced vengeance. and swore
To have no dealings with England. This
outburst of filial affection. however. was
,Eiy temporary, but il had it's influence up
On the fortune of John Halliburton notwith-
r3,nGing, for. through some Ungua rie d
word. the nature of his mission was sus-
peCte'i by those faVCra BILE to Philip and
measures We're at once concerted to frus-
Gi.tc his embassy.
All unconscious. however of this unfor-
tUrat" contretemps. John Halliburton pur-
trolling forth he went along a rousing
lay OF love and war. his quick ear caught
between VcfScs 4 sound there was no mis-
taking. Turning in his saddle ne saw him
self pursued
Halo. there. in the kings name. halt"
But Halliburton only Hicked his bride and
urged his horse into n eallop-
In the kings name. halt or l fire.
again came dowH the wind, but the pursuit
went on.
Il have my orders" muttered the pursued
to himself but three of them and in the
kIEg name-Marry, / hope they will bear
me out, for draw the bride for 10 man
until | see HunsdoD and give over nv
charge" and with that he patted the bay
ana urged Ii with a few encouraging words
to is work.
For awhile there was neither a summons
nor a shot. The wild race swept over the
mooridnd. the turf flew from the iron hocf
and fire from the flint. The riders held their
breath. clenched tn. ir teeth and elared
steadily ahead. whilst the horses stretched
their necks. their nOStrils quivering as they
flew For mile after mile the bay held on
with never a sign of distress The birds
whnrcd up with Il scream from the bent
and the rabbits Scurried right and left but
the pace never tagged. The pursuers were
as Ear behind at the end of five miles as
when they sighted their quarry THE bay
is good for another twenty yet" reflected
H&liburt0n. Marry, in that time should
throw them Off, he muttered turning and
looking back
But at that moment the omirous ring of
loose shoe clinkeG upon his ear warming
HIM that the game was up.