Evening star., 1897-09-25

| from me in fresh excitement and as IL my
touch burned her. 81 will give you
time. You have had a lifetime, and to
what purpose? I will give you no time.
Do you give me your word?'
"Yes''
/ was a-shake from head TO foot, aud
groaned aloud. In truth Il 1 had known
the gallows to be the certain and inevitable
end of the road on which 1 was asked to
enter, 1 could not have been more sorely
beset between rage and fear and shame of
her and desire for her. But while l hung
in that misery, she continuing to stand
over me. looked. as 1t happened, in her
face, ard / saw that il was no longer hot
with anger. but sad and drawn as by a
sharp pain. And l gave her my word,
trembling and shaking.
Now" said she. "are you brave man.
and perhaps the bravest?"
Chapter KILL
That the arrest of Sir John Fenwick, re-
ported in London on the 18th of June, was
regarded by all parties as an event of the
first magnitude, scarce exceeded in i'm
portance by victory in Flanders or a de-
feat in the Mediterranean. is thing not
to be denied at this time of day, when men
still in their prime can recall the commo-
ton occasioned by 1t. The private ami
mostly, which was believed to exist be-
tween Sir John and the king, and which
dated, if the gossip of Wills and Cara
| ways went for anything, not from the
slight which he had put upon the late queen.
but from much earlier period, when he had
served under William in Flanders aroused
mems curiosity, and in sense their pity;
as if they were TO see here the end Of
Greek drama.
Nor. apart from the public and general
interest which Sir Johns birth and family
connections no less than his share in the
plot, considerably augmented, was there
any faction which could view his arrest
with indifference. He had been so deep
| IN the confidence of st. Germans that were
he to make discovery, not tories and
jacobites OILY lay at his mercy but all
that large class among the wings who had
stopped to palter with James These as
they were the more culpable. had also more
to fear. Trembling at the prospect of dis
closure which must convict them of prac-
tfces at variance W tn their most o emn pre-
fessions, they were supported by none of
those sentiments of loyalty, honorable if
mistaken, which excused the others; W while
| as each fondly thought his perfidy un-
known to his neighbor, and dreading Moth
ing so much as detection by the rank and
file of the party, he found the burden of
apprehension weigh the more heavily, be-
cause he had none to share it with him.
The absence OF the king, who was cam
paigning in Flanders. aggravated the 'sus-
pense wEich prevailed SO widely, for the
reasons above, and others, that it is not
too much to say that barely four politicians
could be found of the first and second rank
VINO were not nearly concerned in the ques-
tioii VI OH JOHI FenWlck silence. Of
these, however, l make bold to say that my
lord was one; and though the news that
Sir John, who lay in the tower had sent
for the Duke of Devonshire may have ex-
cited passing feeling of Jealousy in his
mind-since he and not the other duke was
the person to whom Sir John might more
fifty unbosom himself-I am confident and
indeed had it from his own lips, that at this
time he had no notion of any danger
threatening himself.
His eyes were first opened by the Earl of
Marlborough, who, calling upon him one
day. ostensibly on business connected with
the Pr1ncesS Anne Ito whom the king had
been reconciled before his departure) pres
emily named Sir John. From this to the
statement made to the Duke of Devon
shire, and the rumors of its contents which
filled the coffee houses was but a stem
The earl seemed concerned; my lord in
his innocence, skeptical.
Al length the latter spoke out what was
IN his mind. TO tell you the truth. nv
lord, he said frankly 81 think il is a
mares nest. don't believe that any state
ment has been made"
The earl looked astonished ''May T ask
why not?'' he said.
Because. unless / am much mistaken"
my lord answered, smiling. the duke would
have brought it straight to me. And l
have heard nothing of it."
You have not asked the duke?"
"Of course not"
"But-he was with Sir john" the earl
persisted steadily. There is no doubt of
| that. is there?'
"Oh, no."
We'll. then, is not that in itself stranger
think not; there have always been
friendly relations my lord continued be
tween the duke and Sir John"
Just So" Lord Marlborough answered,
taking pinch of snuff. 'Still-do those
rel ltions warrant the lord steward in Wis
iting him now?
The secretary looked little startled.
Well, l don't know he said. But the
Duke of Devor shires patriotism is SO well
established
That he may steal the horse while we
look over the WALL Lord Marlborough
answered. taking him up with smile. BE
that as it may" he continued, land am
sure that the same may be said of the
Duke of Shrewsbury''-here the two noble
| men bowed to one another-"I think your
grace's information is somewhat faulty
on this point. l happen to know that inn
| mediately after the interview a special
messenger left Devonshire house for Loo
and'that the matters he carried were re-
duced into writing by his grace's own
hand. That being so, duke you are better
qualified to draw the inference than L am
My lord at that looked grave, and nod
ded. being convinced; and 1 do not doubt
that he felt the slight which the other
dukes silence implied. But though, of all
the men have ever met, he was the most
sensitive. he was the last. also, 10 wear
| his hear: on his sleeve! and not only did
! he refrain from complaint of his col
leagues conduct, but he hastened to dispeI
by word or two, the effect of his mo-
| mentary gravity. "Ah. then 1 can guess
what happened" he said, nodding Ills COM
prehensioIi. II have no doubt that Sir
John made it a term that his discovery
should be delivered to the king at first
hand--and to no one else"
Lord Marlborough rose. Duke" he
said. firmly. Il think it is fair that 1
should be more frank with you. The rea-
son you give is not the reason they are
| giving in the coffee house for the lord
stewards reticence."
Nor said my lord, with faint note of
Scorn in his voice.
No said the earl. "On the contrary.
| they say at Wills-and. for that matter
at the st. James. too-that the statement is
Kept close because it touched men in
| power
In power?' SAID my lord with the same
| mean?'
Yes; three men,
do they name them?'
Certainly" said my Lori Marlborough.
smiling. And they join with the three one
| who is not in power
"Ah"
Myself"
Nothing couli exceed the placid indif-
ference, as natural it was Tree from