Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-11

81 Shall Not Co."
time to time saw him pass, grim. reserv-
ed, walking meI ace. When he looked up
at the windows 1 read mastery and a Sc
cret knowledge in his eye; while the way
In which he went and came, free and I'M
questioned, was itself a monition; was 1t
to be wondered that feared this man who
while Charnock's head moldered on a spike
on Temple Bar, and Friend and Perkyns
passed to the gallows, walked the strand,
and lounged in the mall as safe in appear
ance as my lord himself.
1 knew that at any moment he might call
upon me to fulfill my word. Whether in
that case, the demand being such as to
allow me leisure to forecast the conse-
quences, should have complied, or taking
my courage in my hands have thrown my
self on my lords Indulgence, 1 cannot now
say; for in the issue a sudden and unfore-
seen shifting of scene prevented my calcu-
lations and hurried me onward whether
l would or no.
1t happened, 1 have said, suddenly. One
AFTERNOON there came great hustle in the
square; and who should 1t be but the
countess, my lords mother, come to visit
him in her coach and six, with such a
paraphernalia Of gentlewomen and negro
pages, outriders and running footmen as
drew together all the ragamuffins from the
news, and fairly brought back King
Charles days. AS the great coach, which
held six inside, swung and numbered to a
stand at the door, I saw painted face with
bold black eyes glare from the window,
cheek by jowl with parrot and three or
four spaniels; and 1 waited to see little
more, a single glance sufficing to certify me
that this was the same lady to whose
house Smith had taken me. Smith was in
attendance on her, and gentleman in a
plain black suit and wig. who was a papist
priest. If 1 ever saw one, and Monterey,
and two or three other gentIewomen, and
Is had no mind to be recognized by these,
l,1s, ,f,t. T
made haste to retire behind the flock of
servants whom Martin had marshaled in
the hall to do the honors.
My lord went out to the coach and
brought the countess in. with great show
of reverence, and for three-quarters of an
hour they were cioseted together in his
room. I took advantage of this to retire
upstairs, and had been wiser had l stayed
there, or, better still, slipped out at the
back. But a craving came on me to see
Monterey again, and with the knowledge I
now had, ascertain II she really was my
old mistress. This drew me to the hall
again, where, the crowd being great, and
the servants taken up with teasing the
countess parrot and blackamoors. 1 man.
aged to avoid observation and at the same
time see what wanted. The woman who
had once been all the world to me-and
of whom 1 could not now think without
tender regret, directed. not to her, but to
the state Of blissful dawning passion, Of
which she had been the cause. and whereof
some in a coarse fashion and when seen at
a distance. could not deny that. But II
1 desired revenge 1 had 1t, for not only
was her complexion gone, SO that her good
looks vanished when the viewer ap-
preached, but her lips had grown thin and
her face hard with the indescribable hard
ness which speaks of past sin long grown
bitter-and hourly, daily recognition
that the wage of sin is death.
Presently, while Mr.. Martin was pressing
his civilities on her. and l, from a corner.
near the door. through which I had let
Mary escape, was curiously reading her
countenance, the door of my lords room
opened and the countess came out, sup
ported on the one side by the dukes arm,
on the other by her great ebony cane. The
servants hurried to form two lines, and
suppose curiosity led me to press nearer
than was prudent, or her eyes were of pc
culiar sharpness, or perhaps she looked for
called for me. At any rate, she had not
moved three steps toward her coach before
her gaze, rowing along the line of servants,
alighted on me, and she stood.
"Tll have that rascal" she cried, in her
high, shrill voice. and she pointed at me
with her cane and stood. He looks as IL
butter would not melt In his mouth, but
If he is not a lad Of wax, call be a street
slut! Hark you, my man, you come with
me. Bid him, Shrewsbury
My lord, his face flushing, spoke low and
seemed to make demur, but she persisted.
odds life, you make me sick!' she
fancy that! The servants-go to for a fool!
In my time master was master, and If any
blsbbed, man or maid, it was strip and
whip! But now-do you quarrel with me or
The duke shrugged his shoulders and
smiled uneasily. Times are somewhat
changed. madam" he said.
'Ay, by our lord, they arer' she cried,
swearing roundly. And why? Because
there are 40 men nowadays, but mealy-
mouthed Josephs. like that trembler yon-
der. whose heart is in his boots, because 1
want him to carry a message And she
her head quivered with excitement and
age. Sort him out, sort him out and send
him with Inc. or we quarrel, my lord"
We'll, madam, your will Is law in this
house." the duke said. but
But no lies!' she cried. Dye send
him?''
Ny lord bowed reluctantly. Co." he
And bid him do as tell him." she cried.
sharply: But he had better. or-stiIl tell
him; tell him.
Price," my lord said, soberly. 1.-The
countess is good enough to wish you to do
an errand for her. Be good enough to con-
slider yourself at her disposal and so with
the coach now. Be easy" he continued,
nodding pleasantly. 1t was impossible for
me to hide my approximations. Her lady
ship needs you fer a week only"
"Ay, sure!" she cried. After that he
may go to the devil for me!'
Chapter XXXV.
Rightly has the Latin poet sung of the
dnra lila Of the Fates; who either resistless
rout all human resolations, or where the
mind has been hardened to meet the at
tack, turn the poor wretch's flank, and To-!
while he squares his shield and shortens
his spear to meet the occasion, habet-he
has II under the nth rib.
So It Is with me. While I dreamed of re-
sistance. and would harden my heart and
set fast my teeth. fate cress- buttocked me,
and I fell, not knOW1n9. The Counters;
coach bore mo GW8y unresisting. and
Smith, whom hated ~ never hated even
Ferguson. gave me the word. From my Main
clothes, to the long curled peruia, the era
vat. rufiles and fine suit in which had
once before paraded myself. was bur q
step, took u perfcrce, and being conduct
ed, when was ready, into the countesss
chamber. 10 war her pleasure, could have
faneisd ths iast saz months dream could