Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-18

that have another letter to open. 1t is
very odd that this letter was never opened
before" she continued, producing that
which had lain in my hayersack 1t has
had several narrow escapes, But this time
vow will see inside it, You give me
leaye?"
"Oh, yes" said, smiling. II wash
my hands of it, Whoever the Mistress
Clarence to whom it is addressed may be,
it is enough that her name is Clarenco!
We have suffered too much ut his bands. :"
Il open it, then" my lady cried dra
matically. l nodded. She took her hus-
band s dagger and cut the green silk which
bound the packet and opened and read.
Only a few words. Then she stopped,
and looking off the paper shivered. II do
not understand this, she murmured.
what docs it mean
..No good, I'll be swornr' Master Der
tie replied, gazing at her eagerly. Read
it aloud, Katherine"
To Mistress A. B. am atiYer-
! tised by my trusty agent, Master Clarence,
that he hath benefited much by your aid
in the matter in which l have employed
him. Such service goeth always for much,
and never for naught, with me. In which
belief confirm yourself. For the present.
working with him as heretofore, be- secret
and on no account let your true senti
ments come to light. So you will be the
more valuable to me, even as it is more
easy to unfasten a barred door from within
than from without "
Here the duchess broke off abruptly and
turned on us face full of wonder. What
does 1t mean?" she asked.
sis that alp her husband said.
mot QUITE she answered, returning
to it and reading:
Those whom you have hitherto served
have too long made u mockery OF sacred
things, but their cup is full, and the bust
ness of seeing that they drink it lieth with
me, who am not won't to be slothful in
these matters. Be faithful and secret
Good speed and fare you we'll.
!" STE. WNToN.'"
Zone thing is quite clear" said Master
BERTHE slowly. THAT you and are the
persons whose cup is full. You remember
how. you once dressed up dog In rochet
and handled it before Gardiner? And it
is our matter in which Clarence is en-
ployed Then who is it who has been CO.
operating with him, and whose aid Is of
SO much value to him?"
Even as it is easier,' muttered
thoughtfuliy, "'to unfasten barred door
from within than from without. >" What
was it of which that strange sentence re-
minded me? Ha! had it. or the night
on which we had fed from Master Lind
stroms house, when Mistress Anne had
been seized with that odd fit of peryerse-
ness and had almost opened the door look
ing upon the river in spite Of all could
say or do. 1t was of that the sentence re-
minded me. ITO whom is it Addressed
asked abruptly.
N'ro Mistress Clarence my lady an
swercd.
ssNo--inside, mean. I"
.sOh! to Mistress A B. But
that gives us no clew, = she added. ut is
disguise You see, they are the two first
letters of the alphabet.
So they We're, and the initial letters OF
Anne Brandon! / wondered that the
duchess did not see it; that she did not at
once turn her suspicious toward tho right
auart-x But she was, for {, woman, sim
gulafiy truthful and confding, and she
saw nothing
looked at Master BERTHE. He seemed
puzzled, discerning, fancy, how strange
~ the illusions pointed to Mistress Anne,
but not daring at once to draw the INFER
ence. She was his wife's kinswoman by
marriage, albeit distant one, and much
indebted to her. She had been almost az
his own sister. She was young and fair,
and to associate treachery and ingratitude
such as this with her seemed almost too
horrible.
Then why was I SO clear sighted as to
read the riddle! Why was the first to
see the truth? Because had felt for days
vague and Ill defined distrust of the girl.
I had seen more of her odd hts and ca
prices than had the others. Looking back
now, could find confirmation of my
idea in dozen things which had befalien
us. remembered how Ill and stricken
she had locked on the day when had
first brought out the letter, and how
strangely she had talked to me about It,
/ remembered Clarences interview with
NOT Dymphna, as had then thought
but, as now guessed, Anne, wearing her
cloak. recalled the manner In which she
had used mo to persuade Master BERTHE to
take the Vessel instead of the Santon road.
No doubt she had told Clarence ~ follow
In that direction, If by any chance we es-
capped him on the island. And her despair
when she heard in the church porch that
had killed Clarence at the ford And
her utter abandonment to fear-poor gull
ty thing!-when she thought that all her
devices had only led her with US to a
dreadful death! These things, in the light
in which now viewed them, were cogent
evidences against her.
ut must have been written to some one
about us!' said the duchess at length.
ITO some one In our confidence. On our
side of the door, as he calls it,
Ives; that is certain" said.
"And on the wrapper he styles her Mis-
tress Clarence. Now, who"-
s.Who could it have beenp That Is the
question we have to answer" Master Ber-
tie replied dryly. Hearing his voice, l
knew he had como at last to tho same con-
clusion to which had jumped. Il think
YOU may dismiss the servants from the in
quiry," he continued. The bishop of
Winchester would scarcely write to them
in that style.
Dismiss tho servantse Then who is
left" she protested.
81 Think He lost courage, hesitated
and broke off, She looked at him won
deringly. He turned to me, and gaining
confirmation from my nod began again.
81 think ] should ask A B." he
said.
B-s" she CRIED still not see
ing ono whit.
Eyes; Ammo Brandon" he answered
sternly. !.
She repeated his words softly and stood
a moment gazing at him. In that mos
ment she saw it all. She sat down sudden
ly on tho chair beside her and shuddered
v;olentlv as If she had laid her hand I'M