Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-15

edge that she had caused her to accuse him
rather of tmidity in face of powerful
rivals than of any deliberate design to set
his love below his ambition and to use her
as his tool Had she known all | knew she
would not have listened to him. Even now
she made some preteXt for declining con-
VerSation that night and would have with
drawn at once. but he stayed her retreat
earnestly praying her for her fathers sake
and her own to hear his message and as
sorting that she was in more danger than
she was aware o. Ihus he persuaded her
TO be seated.
What is your message from my father
my lord?' she asked coldly, yet not I'M
civily.
Madame, l have nome" he answered with
bluntness not i'll calculated. Il used the
excuse to gain admission. fearing that my
own devotion to you would not suffice, well
as you know it. But although 1 have no
message, l think that you will have one
soon. Nay, you must listen.'' For she had
risen.
Il listen, my lord, but 1 will listen stand
| ing
You're hard to me. Mistress Barbara ;"
he said. But take the tidings how you
Will, only pay heed TO them" He drew
nearer to her and continued Tomorrow
d message will come from your father You
have had none for many days."
Alas, no. said she. We were both on
the road and could send no letter to one
another
Tomorrow one comes. May 1 tell you
what il will say
How can you know what it will say, my
lord?''
Il will stand by the event." said he, stur-
oily The coming Of the letter will prove
| me right or wrong. 1t will bid your moth
| er and you accompany the messenger
| My mother cannot"
or, II your mother cannot. you alone,
with some waiting woman, to Dover"
ITO Dover?' cried Barbara For what
prrpose?'' She shrank from him, as though
alarmed by the very name of the place
whence she had escaped.
He looked full in her face and answered
slowly and significantly:
Madame goes back to France, and YOU
are to go with her."
barbara caught at chair near her and
speaking quickly and urgently
You must listen," he said. land lose no
| time in acting. A French gentleman, by
Ne me Nj. de Fontelles. will be here tomor-
Tow; he carries your fathers letter and is
| sent TO bring you to Dover
My father bids me Gomez" she cried.
His letter will convey the request" an
sNered CarfO-d.
| 'InGl ! viii CO." said She ~ can't come
/ to harm with him, and when 1 have told
| him all, he won't allow me to go to France >"
For as yet my lord did not know of what
| had befallen his daughter, nor did my Iady
whose sickness made her unfit to be bur
| dened with such troublesome matters
Indeed, you would come to no harm
| with your father, If you found your faith
| Before You reach Dover my lord will have
| gene from there. AS soon as his letter to
! you was sent the king made a pretext to
dispatch him into Cornwall; he wrote again
to tell you of his journey and bid you not
| to come to Dover till he sends for you
This letter he Entrusted to a messenger of
my Lord Arlington's. who was taking the
read for London. But the. Jecretary's mes
serger knew when to hasten and Wneu to
loiter on the way. You are to have set out
before the letter arrives.
Barbara looked at him in bewiderment
ard terror; he was, to all seeming COM
posed, and spoke with an air of honest sin
| cerity.
ITO speak it plainly, it is a trick" he
said, Ito induce you to return to Dover.
This NJ. de Fontelles has orders to bring
you at all hazards, and is armed with the
kings authority, in case my lords bidding
! should not be enough
She sat for while In helpless dismay
Carford had the wisdom not to interrupt
her thoughts. He knew that she was seek
ing for plan of escape and was willing to
| let her find that there was none
when do you say that NJ. de Fontelles
will be here% she asked at last.
Late tonight or early tomorrow. He
| rested few hours in London, while
rode through. else I shouldn't have been
| here before him."
And why are you come, my lordr' she
asked
ITO serve you, madame" he answered,
simply.
she drew herself UP. saying, haughtily:
lyon were not so ready to serve me at
Dover"
carford was not disconcerted by an at