Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-25

sake OF an OlT acquaintance, and what had
once been something more, between her
and me. But would Barbara take largess
from that hand? I am coward with
women; ignorance is fears mother, and.
on my life, 1 do not know how they will
take this thing or that-with scorn or tears
or shame, or what; or again, with some
surprising turn of softness and Qf I may
make bold to say it) pliability of mind to
which few IF us men lay claim and none
give honor. But the last mood was not
Barbara's, and as Hooked at her 1 dared
not tell her where lay my only hope of help
in Dover. l put my wits to work how l
could win the. aid for her and keep the
hand a secrets Such deception would sit
lightly on my conscience.
.. am thinking" I replied to her,
whether there is any ore, and how 1
might reach him if there is.
Surely there's some one who would
serve you and whom you could trust?" she
urged.
Would you trust any one whom 1
trust" l asked.
I'm truth, yes"
would?'
Am I so rich that can choose?" she
said, piteously.
i have your promise to it?"
es, she answered, with no hesitation,
nay. with readiness that made me
ashamed of my stratagem. Yet, as Bar
para SAID, peggars cannot be choosers,
ever in their stratagems, and if need WERE
l must hold her to her word
Now we were at the land, and the keel of
our boat grated on the shingle. We disem-
parked under the shadow of the cliffs at
the eastern end of the bay. All was soli-
tude save for little house standing some
way back from the sea, half way up the
cliff, on a level platform cut in the face Of
the rock. 1t seemed a fisherman's cottage.
Thence might come breakfast, and for so
much our guinea would hold good. There
vss recess in the cliffs, and here l babe
Barbara sit and rest herself, sheltered from
view en- either side. while 1 went forward
to try my luck at the cottage. She seemed
reluctant to be left, bit obeyed me, stand
ing and watching while / took my way,
which 1 chose cautiously, keeping myself
as much within the shadow as might be.
I had sooner not have ventured this much
exposure, but 1t Is i'll to face starvation Tor
safety's sake.
The cottage lay but few hundred yards
off, and soon l approached 1t. 1t was hard
on 6 o'clock now, and / looked to find the
inmates up and stirring. 1 wondered also
whether Monmouth were gone to await
Barbara and myself at the Merry Mariners
in Deal. Alas, we were too near the tryst-
ing place. Or had he heard by now that
the bird had flown from his lure and been
Gagged by that X. de Perrencourt who had
treated him SO cavalierly? l could not tell.
Here was the cottage, but I stood still sud
denly, amazed and cautious. For there In
the peaceful morning, in the suns kindly
light, lay across the threshold the body of
a man: his eyes, wide open, stared at the
sky, but seemed to see nothing OF what
they gazed at; his brown coat was stained
to q dark rusty hue on the breast, where a
cash in the stuff showed the passage OF a
sword. His hand clasped long knife. and
his face was known to me. / had seen it
daily at my uprising and lying down. The
body was that of Jonah Wall, in the flesh
my servant. in spirit the slave of Phineas
Tate, whose teaching had brought him to
this pass.
The sight bred in me swift horror and
a ,trp he n,
despatched, sorely against their Will, III
chase of this man. Was it to their hands
that he had yielded up his life, and by their
doing that he lay like carrion? 1t might
well be that he had sought refuge in tins
cottage, and, having found there death. not
&C mfort, had bsen fling forth corpse L
ptied him, although he had been party TO
"a plot which had wei! nigh caused my own
death. and taken no account OF my honor,
yet | was sorry for him. He had been
axe ut me; l griaved for him as for the cat
on my hearth, Well, now in death he
warned me; it, was some recompehSe' L
lifted my hat as. l stole by him and SUNK
round to the side Of the house. There was
window there, OF, rather, a WlndoW
frame, for glass there was none; 1t STOOD
Sc ne six feet from the ground, and |
trC L ched beneath ii, for now heard voices
Il wish the dog hadn't fought" said one
voice But he flew at me like tiger, and
l had much ado to Stop MIN. L was COM
PEELED to run him through.
Yet he might have served me allVe,
said another. ,.... :
Your grace is right. For although we
hate these foul schemes, the men had the
root of the matter in them
'They were no paplsts, at least, SAID
the second voice.
But the king will be pleased
"Oh, a curse on the king, although hes
what he is to me! Haven't you heard?
When l returned to the castle from my
search on the other side of the town, seek
ing Won or Buckingham--by the way, where
is he?"
"The lazy dog! Well, then they told me
she was gone with Louis. rode on to tell
YOU. for. said l, the king may hunt his
conspirators himself now. But who went
with them? r,
mon Dale was the man."
1.-The scoundrei! 1t was he! He has de-
luded us most handsomely. He was In
Louis pay, and Louis has use Tor MN:
I'll slit the knaves throat If l get at him
II cry your grace's leave TO be the first
man at him.
IN truth, I'm much obliged to you. my
Lord Carford," said to myself under the
window.
There's no use in going to DEAL cried
Monmouth "Oh, l wish l had the fellow
here! She's gone, Carford; Gods curse on
it, she's gone, the prettiest wench at court!
Louis has captured her. Fore heaven, IL
only l were a kng!'
Heaven has its own times SIR said
Carford insidiously. But the duke, suffer-
ing from disappointed desire, was not to be
led to affairs of state.
shes gone," he answered again. by
God sooner than lose her, I'd have married
her.
This speech made me start. She was near
him; what if she had been as near him as
and had heard those words. a pang shot
through me- and, of its own accord, my
hand moved to my sword hilt.
"She is beneath your grace's station. The
spouse of your grace may one day be"
Carford interrupted himself with laugh
and added, what God Wills
so may Anne HYDE" exclaimed the duke.
But l forget. You yourself had marked
her.
Il am your grace's humble servant al
ways" answered Carford smoothly.
Monmouth laughed. Carford had his pay,
doubt, and 1 trust it was large, for he
heard quietly laugh that called him what
King Louis had graciously proposed to
make of me. l am glad when men who
live by dirty ways are made to eat dirt.
And my father" said the duke lis hap
nv She is gone. Ouerubaille STayS. uhv