The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-08
How He Won Her.



girl hastened to the easement window
and looked quickly out.
There are armed men," she said.
They have traced you here"
Wary hounds" he murmured, with
a look of grim humor-"to the hole.
but not within. Twenty minutes and
shall be beyond the most cunning fer
ret's scent. God be with you, little
daughter Keep them dallying here
awhile. Remember tomorrow at Bal
lam bridge by nightfallw
The panel fell back and the Lady
Gertrude sat down to her books and
made much pretence of mumbling to
herself as the old doorkeeper, scare
stricken and painting, tumbled into the
room with an officer of the kings SER
vice on his heels. Soldiers" said he.
And, good oliver, what iB their
wili?" said she, not deigning to raise
her eyes from her book.
mo harm to so fair hostess" 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 a pity there were no more of
the quality among his majesty's serv-
ants"
"A truce fair one, to a war or words.
/ 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.
Sir"
"'Twere well. madam, to save that
pretty head; for those who wilfully
harbor the treapherous 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 deliberar
ton, Il await my lord, my father. here
within an hour from now; and may
God curse you for a coward"
The fat soldier grinned. The lady's
| bark was not loud enough, but her
| bite was, indeed, most easily averted
| with 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 n
shrew from her fretful humor.
Full three-uuarters os an hour thus
| passed, when news was brought by 4
breathless soldier that the Earl of w
had boarded a frigate rot fifteen min
utes since, and-as was related in all
| seriousness-had DOTTED his hat in the
acknowledgment of the fiery salute
from shore.
Whereupon the fat soldier got up in
a fearful rage, and kicked and swore,
as Only a gentleman soldier knows well
how to do. and snarled aloud that
| nothing should saVre tho cunning jade
from the the lively fate of Mistress
! Gaunt, who. indeed, was burned to
| death for n 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 creature, taken
thus roughly a prisoner
|
| L ne UOOT IulOT sat ONFI MS DOphS III
| the upper room Of a small dwelling
house, and wrestled 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 a little piece OF land not very
far away, from which he acquired a
small income, yet withal these things
could in nowise be conuted riches.
Indeed, no, thought he, when hurried
footsteps upon the stair became con-
fused with his wandering f9ncies, and
ere he had time to weigh the matter
Lady Gertrude stood before him.
And ther something of a sweet shy
ness came over her, SO that all in Il
great hurry she set to explaining how
she had been taken prisoner by the
irate colonel, and how. indeed she had
escaped through the help Cf a cousin
among the officers. who. she avowed
had once cared greatly for her.
| Then the boy and girl. for they wera
not much else, looked into one anoth-
er's ewes, as they had looked these
MANY past days during the lessons HI
had set out to teach her; and now ther;
was no table between them. so thai
he knelt down. and taking both hel
little white hands in his, he covered
them with humble kisses, the which tn,
lady seemed 20 have no desire to re-
sent.
80, after all, Master Humphrey, you
must needs take care Of your pupil still
little while longer. Tomorrow at Bal
lam bridge at nightfall there will b.
those waiting OF conduct me to Hol
land, where l think, sir, you told IN,
you had a mind TO follow in search o
further learning. Yet till then ] mus
remain a prisoner here for fear of IN,
very life" laughed She.
Now, hardly had she spoke than
clamor without sent the blood from hi
cheeks, and fear at last into the daunt
less eyes of the Lady Gertrude
"Quick! Within!" said he, and thrus
open the door of the narrow chambe
and closed it upon her. Then the stead,
tramp of mems feet echoed upon tn
winding stair
"In the Kings name!" said a tai
officer, as he entered the room, fol
lowed by several men at arms. Their
was a strange look in his eyes as h
met the tutors gaze, and he faltered II
! his speech whilst repeating the com
mon formula.
There is no one here" answered tn
student, deliberately.
"It 10 necessary the place should
searched" replied the officer; land
must warn you that If the prisoner b
found, your life will be forfeited with
out trial. as a traitor harboring thos
in conspiracy, against his majesty
y crown"
e There is no one here" repeated tn
r tutor.
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