Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-18

I TO every NOISE Wl4nOub ana praying III
wardly that my alarm might not be JUST
| fed.
Whom the morrow came, I went down
stairs as anxious to see Van Tree In the
flesh as had been yesterday disappointed
by his appearance But no Van Tree was
there to be seen. Nothing had been heard
of him. Dymphna moved restlessly about,
her checks pale, hor eyes downcast, and II
had ever fattercd myself that Twas any
! thing to the girl was undeceiyed now
The duchess shot angry glances at me
from time to time. Master BERTHE kept
looking anxiously at the door. Every one
seemed to fear and to expect something
but mono of them feared and expected it us
Ibid.
s.He must have gone home He must
have gone to Arnheiln, /" snld our host,
trying to hide his vexation He will be
back in day OF two. Young men will be
young men,
But I found that the duchess did not
share the belief that Van Tree had gone
home. for in the course Of the morning
she took occasion, when We were alone, to
charge me to be careful not to come into
collision with him.
How can /, now he has gomez" I said
meckly, feeling was in disgrace.
"He has not gone far, replied the
duchess meaningly. Depend upon 1t, he
will not go far out OF sight unleA there Is
more harm done than think or he is
very different from English lovers. But
II you como across him pray you to keep
clear of him, Master Francis.
nodded assent.
But Of what weight are resolutions,
with fate in tho other scales 1twas some
hours after this, toward 9 o'clock indeed,
when Mistress Anne came TO me, looking
furried and vexed. Have you seen
Dymphnain she asked abruptly.
ssNo," I answered. "Whyf"
Because she Is not in the house." the
girl answered, speaking quickly, NOR in
the garden, and the last time I saw her
she was crossing the island toward the
footbridge. think she has gone that way
to be on the lookout-you can guess for
whom, with q amilo, ssbut am fearful
lest she shall meet some one else, Master
Francis. She Is wearing her gold chain,
and one of the maids says that she saw
two Of the Spanish garrison on the road
near the end Of the footbridge this morn
ing. That Is the way by land to Arnheims
you know.
"That is bad, u said. what Is TO be
donei"
You must 60 and look for her, !" Anne
suggested. She should not DO alone. !"
slIet her father 60 or Master Bertie, I
answered.
sHer father has gone down the river
to Arnheim, expect, and Master BERTHE
Is fishing In q boat somewhere. 1t Will
take time to find him. Why cannot you
eos II che has crossed the footbridge, che
will not be far away"
She seemed go anxious as she spoke for
the Dutch girls safety that she infected
me with her fears, and / let self be per
suaded After all, there might be danger,
and did not see what else was to be
done Indeed Mistress Ammo did not leave
me until she had seen me clear OF the
orchard and half across the meadows to-
ward the footbridgc Mind you bring
her back, !" she cried after me. Do not
let her come aloneln And those were her
last words
After we had separated I did not think
for moment that 1t wns pity had not
asked her to come with mo. But the
thought occurred too late, and strobe on
toward the head of the bridge, resolving
would keep away from her and content
myself with watching over her from dis
lance AS I passed by the little cluster OF
cottages on the landward side Of the Island
glanced sharply about me, for thought
It not unlikely that Master Van Tree
might be lurking In the neigh borhood
But saw nothing either Of her or him.
All was quiet, the air full OF spring sun
al =, 4 bCv,A tbs h1Oc.
SONS of fruit trees, and with an indsAn-
able pleasure, feeling Of escape from
control and restraint, crossed the long
footbridge and set foot almost for the first
time since our arrival-for at Master
Lindstrom's desire we l,ud kept very close
on the river bank.
To the right fair road or causeway
along the waterside led to Arnheiin. At
the point whore stood this road on Its
way from tho city took u turn at right am
giles, running straight away from the river
to avoid wide track of swamp and mere
which lay on my left, quaking marsh
many miles round, overgrown with tall
rushes and sedges, which formed the head
Of the bay in which our island lay.
looked up tho long, straight road to Arm
helm and saw only group of travellers
moving slowly along 1t, their backs to-
word me. The road before me was bare
Of passengers. Where, then, was Dymph-
ma, II she had crossed the bridget In the
last resort scanned the green expanse of
rushes and willows which strctohed, with
intervals of open water, as far as the eye
could reach ON my left. 1t was all rustling
and shimmering In tho light breeze but
my eye picked cut one or two raised
dikes which penetrated 1t here and there
and served at once as pathway s to islets In
the mere and as breastworks against
further entertainments of tho river. Pres
emily on one Of these, Of which the course
was fairly defined by line of Willows,
made out the futter Of aswoman's hood,
and remembered that the day before
had heard Dymphna express wish to go
to tho marsh for some herb which grew
there.
sRight!"I said, seating myself with
much satisfaction on tho lust post OF the
bridge She ia safe enough there! And
/ will 10 no nearer 1t Is only on the
road sho Is likely to be in danger from our
Spanish gallants!"
NV eyes released from duty, wandered
idly over the landscape for awhile, but
prosent ly returned to the dixie across the,
mere. could not now SEQ Dymphna. The
willows hid her, and / waited for her to
areappear. She did not, but Some one clse:
did. for b. and ", On the same path ana