The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-10-14

daughterl Keep them dallyinr here
while. Remember tomorrow It Bal
j lam bridge by nightfallr'
The panel fell back and the Lad!
Gertrude sat down to her books ant
made much pretense Of mumbling Il
herself as the old doorkeeper, scare
stricken and painting, tumbled into IN,
room with an officer Of the kings ser
. vice o1 his heels. Soldiers" said he.
:, "And, good Oliver, what is theil
+ will?' said she, not deigning to raist
: her eyes from her book.
! mo harm to so fair a hostessw ex
claimed the intruder.
: Whereupon the Lady Gertrude slow
ly lifted her pretty head and scanned
the uncomely countenance and fat pro
. portions Of the officer with much de
liberation.
"Should fairness diminish harm, sir
'twere pity there were no more Of the
quality among his Majesty's servants
"a truce, fair one, to a war Of words
1 am here to crave your hospitality
whilst waiting for the presence Of one
who, am Informed, purposes to visit
his daughter between the time Of noon
and midnight. You start! 'Tis now
hardly noon. We demand to know in
the kings name at what precise hour
that interview Is to take place."
"Sirw
"'Twere well, madam, to save that
pretty head; for those who wilfully
harbor the treacherous Monmouth's
followers can receive no clemency from
his most gracious Majesty, King
James. Their life is forfeit, man or
woman"
"Sir," said Lady Gertrude, after some
moments of seeming fearful delibera-
ton, II await my lord, my father, here
within an hour from now; and may
God curse you for a cowardv'
The fat soldier grinned. The lady's
bark was not loud enough, but her bite
was, indeed, most easily averted with
a threatening whip, as was the way
with women; so he sat his broad person
down and did all that which he thought
would beguile so pretty a shrew from
her fretful humor.
Full three-quarters of an hour thus
passed, when news was brought by
breathless soldier that the Earl of
W had boarded frigate not fifteen
minutes since, and-as was related In
all seriousness-had doffed his hat in
acknowledgment of the fiery salute
from shore.
Whereupon the fat soldier got up in
| fearful rage, and kicked and swore,
| as only gentleman soldier knows well
how to do, and snarled aloud that moth
ing should save the cunning jade from
the lively fate of Mistress Gaunt, who.
indeed, was burned to death for lesser
misdemeanor.
But the Lady Gertrude lifted up her
proud head and said:
Even so, I shall deem my fathers
life most cheaply bought, sir"
And she walked out between the file
of armed men, who, indeed, were sorry
for so brave and fair a creature, taken
thus roughly prisoner.
The poor tutor sat over his bc ,ks in
the upper room Of small dwelling
house, and V estled with his thoughts
till he knew not which was conscience
and which the devil, most plaguing
him; for the Lady Gertrude had said
that love was wealth, yet his rooms be-
trayed no signs thereof
He had little piece Of land not very
far away, from which he acquired
small income; yet withal these things
could in nowise be counted ric es.
Indeed, no, thought he, --hen hurried
footsteps upon the stair became con-
fused with his wandering fancies, and
ere he had time to weigh the matter,
Lady Gertrude stood before him.
And then something of a sweet shy
ness came over her, so that al in a |
great hurry she set to explaining how
she had been taken prisoncr by the
irate colonel, and how, indeed, she had
escaped through the help of cousin
among the officers, who, 81 e avOwed,
had once cared greatly for her.
Then the boy and the girl, for they
were not much else, looked into one an
others eyes, as they had looked these
past days during the lessons he had set
out to teach her; and now there was no
table between them, so that he knelt
down and, taking both her little white
hands in his, he covered them with
humble kisses, which the lady seemed
to have no desire to resent.
$50, after all, Master Humphrey, you
must needs take care Of your pupil still
a little while longer. Tomorrow at
Ballam bridge at nightfall there will
be those waiting to conduct me to Hol-
land, where I think, sir, you told me
you had mind to follow in search of
further learning. Yet till then 1 must
remain a prisoner here, for fear of my
very life," she laughed.
Now, hardly had she spoke than a
clamOr without sent the blood from his
cheek, and fear at last into the daunt-
less eyes of the Lady Gertrude.
Quick! Within" said he, and thrust
open the door Of the narrow chamber
and closed it upon her. Then the steady
tramp Of mems feet echoed upon the
stair.
''In the kings namew said tall Off
Ger as he entered the room, followed
by several men at arms. There was
strange look in his eyes as he met the
tors gaze, and he faltered in his
speech while repeating the common
formula.
There is no one here" answered the
student deliberately.
ut is necessary the place should be
searched" replied the officer, "and
must warn you that if the prisoner be
found your life will be fc-feited with
put trial, as a traitor harboring those
IN conspiracy against his Majesty's
crown"
''There is no one here" repeated the
tutor.