Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-30
AUTHOR OF THE MANlM BLACK,
a GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE. EwE".
ep0yRenT eAssELpusllsANc RIGHTS nEseHvE1

w. > ~ ~
INC CO. ALL RIGHTS nEseREO
HE says, too, that the water is out on
the road, !" continued the Dutchman.
..Nonsanse! Double the price!" cried
my lady impatiently.
/ suppose that this turned the scale.
The landlord finally promised that in IN
hour four saddle horses for Master BERTHE
and the duchess. Anne and myself should
be ready, with a couple of pack horses and
guide. Master Lindstrom, his daughter
and Van Tree would start q little later for
Cleves, five miles ON the road to Santon,
Ii conveyance could be got. And if not,
our late host added sS VIC said something
about our ufiw ilingnsss to leave him in
danger, / STALL BIO safe enough in the
town. but hope to sleep in Cleycs. =
1t was all settled very hastily. We felt
and In particular, since my plan had
been ndopted-an unreasonable impa-
thence to bc off. AS We stood ON the bank
by tho inn door we had u straight reach oil
river milo long in full view below Us.
and now we were no longer moving our
selves, but standing Still, expected encb
minute to set the Spanish boat, with its
crew of desperadocs, sweep round the cor
ucr before Our eyes. Master Lindstrom
assured us that ii we were once out of
sight our pursuers would yet no informa-
ton us to the rerd we Lad taken, either
from the innkeeper or his neighbors.
There is no love lost between them and
tho Spaninrds, he said sIrcwdly, land I
know the people here, and they know me.
The burEhers may not be very keen to
come to blows with the Spaniards or to re-
sent their foray, but the latter, on their
part, will be careful not to go too far or to
make themselves obnoxious"
We took the opportunity OF supping
then, not knowing when we might got
food again. happened to finish first,
and hearng the horses hoofs went out
and watched tho lads who were to be our
guides fastening the bageaaeon the sunp-
ter beasts gave them % hand-not with
out vince or two, for the wound In my
chestw painful-and while doing SO had
flash of remembrance. ] went to the un-
glazed window of the kitchen in which
tho others sat and leaned my elbows on
the sill. II sayln said, full of my dis
coyery, there is something we have for
gotten!"
What" asked the duchess, rising and
coming toward me- while the others paused
In their meal to listen.
"The letter to Mistress Clarence, an
swered., Il was going to get it when I
was stabbed. you remember, and after
ward we forgot nil about 1t. Now 1t Is too
late. 1t has been left behind. i"
She did not answer then, but came out
to me and turned with me to look at the
horses. This comes of your foolish scrn-
pies Master Francis!' she said severely.
Where was 1t"
Il slipped 1t between the feathers OF the
old haversack you gave me, / answered,
which used to have for a pillow. Van
Tree brought my things down, but over
looked the hayersack, suppose At any
cato, it is not here"
well, 1t is no good crying over split
milk, /" she said.
She called the others out then, and there
was no installing Mistress Anne's pleas
ure at escaping the Snnton road. She was
radiant and vouchsafed me n very pretty
glance of thanks, In which her relief as
well as her gratitude shone clearly. By
hulf past ! We had got, wearied ns We
were, to horse, ard with three hours OF
daylight before us hoped to reach Wesel
without mishap. hut for most OF Us the
start was saddenod by the parting though
we hoped it would be only for time
from our Dutch friends. We remembered
how good and stanch they had been to us.
Wo fenred-though Master Lindstrom
would not hear of it-that wo had brought
misfortune upon them, and neither the
duchess brave eyes nor Dymphna's blue
ones were free from tears as they en-
braced. Iwrnng Van Trees hand as II !
had known him for months instead OF
days, for a common danger is awondrous
knitter of hearts, and he only smiled
though Dymphna blushed-when kissed
her check. A few broken words, last
cry Of farewell, and we four, with our two
guides behind us, moved down the Vessel
road, the last 1 heard of our good friends
being Master Lindstrom s charge, shouted
after us, ito beware of the water II it was
outl
On, to feel that wo were moving was o
relief, though our march was very slow
Master Berthe carried the child slung in B,
cloak before him, and thus burdened could
not we'll go beyond smooth amble, while
the guides, who were on foot, and the
pack horses found this pace US much as
they could manage. A little while, and
the exhilaration Of the start died away.
The fine morning was followed by wet
evening, and before we had left Emmerich
three miles behind us Master Berthe and i
had come to look at one another meaning
ly. We wore moving in q dreary, silent
procession through heavy rain, with the
of the night closing In early.
The road, too, grew more heavy with each
furlong and presently began to DO covered
with pools of water. We tried to avoid
this Inconvenience by resorting to the hill
slopes on our left, but found the attempt
a waste OF time, us q deep stream or back
water, bordered by marshes, interviewed.
The narrow road, raised but little above
the level of the swiftly flowing river on our
right, turned out to be our only possible
path. and when Master Berthe discerned
this his fnce grew more and more grave.
We soon found indeed as we plodded
along that sheet Of water, which palely
reflected the evening light, was taking the
place of the road, and through this we
had to plash and plash at o snail's pace,
one of the guides on pack horse leading
the way and Master Bortie in charge of
his wife coming next; then, at some dis
lance, for her horse did not take kindly to
the water, tho younger woman followed in
my care The other guido brought up the
rear. In this way, stopped constantly by
the fears of the horses, which were scared
by the expanse Of flood before them, we
crept YEARLY on until tho moon rose. 1t
brought, alas! an access of light, but no
comfort. The water seemed continually
to grow deeper, the current on our right