Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-29
CHAPTER XVIII.

| LOU were Dllnu DaU, OF you Wouiu
have found it out for yourself, she con-
tinued scornfully. "a babe would have
guessed it. knowing as much of your ia
Their as you did
Does he know HIMSELF" muttered
hoarsely, looking anywhere but at her
now The shock had left mo dull and con-
| fused. did not doubt her word, rather
! wondered with her that had not found
this out for myself. But the possibility of
meeting my father in that wide world
into which had plunged to escape from
the knowledge Of his existence had never
occurred to me. Had l thought Of 1t, 1t
| would have seemed too unlikely, and
though might have seen in Gardiner a
| link between us, and SO have identified him,
! the greatness of the chancellor's transac-
tions, and certain things about Clarence
which had seemed, or would have seemed
| had / ever taken the point into considera-
ton, at variance with my ideas of my ia
Their, had prevented me getting upon the
| track.
docs he know that you are his son, do
| you mean" she said No; he does not. !"
"You have not told himf'
"No," she answered, with slight
SILVER.
Understood. comprehended that even
| to her the eagerness with which. being ia
| ther and son, we had sought ono another's
lives during those days on the Rhine had
seemed SO dreadful that she had concealed
the truth from him.
when did you learn it9" asked,
trembling too.
II knew his right name before I ever
saw you, she answered. Yours lenrned
on the day ! left you at Santon." Looking
back, remembered the strange horror,
then ine1plicabls, which she had betrayed,
and understood it. Soft was that knowl-
edge which had driven her from us! what
will you do nowf" she said. You Will
save him? You must save himl He is your
father. !"
Save him, Ishuddered at the Thought
that had destroyed him; that I, his son,
had denounced himl Save him! The per-
spiration spranR out in beads on my fore
head. II could not save him, should
live pitied by my friends and loathed by
my enemiesi
IF it be possible, muttered, twill
save him."
"You swear TT" she DRIED. Before I
could answer she seized my arm and drag
ged mo up the dim aisle until we stood to-
gether before the figure and the CROSS. The
chimes above US rang II. A shaft OF cold
sunshine pierced dusty window and. full
Of dancing notes, shot athwart the pillars.
Swear, she repeated, with trembling
eaRerness, turning her eyes on mine and
raising her hand solemnly toward the fig
ure. Swear by the cross!'
II swear, said.
She dropped her hand. Her form seemed
to shrink and grow less. Making sign
to me to 60, she fell on her knees on tho
step and drew her hood over her face. !
walked away on tiptoo down the aisle;
but, glancing back from the door Of the
church, saw the small, solitary figure
still kneeling in prayer. The sunshine
had died away. The dusty window was
colorless. Only the red lamp glowed duly
above her head. seemed to see what the
end would be. Then / pushed aside the
curtain and slipped out into the keen air.
It was hers to pray. 1t was mine to act.
lost no time, but on my return could
not find Master BERTHE either in the public
room or In tho inn yard, SO sought him
in his bedroom, where found him placid
" reading book, his patient waiting in
striking contrast with the feverish anxiety
which had taken hold Of me. What is
It, lads" no said, closing the volume and
laying IL down on my entrance. "You
look disturbed. I"
II have seen Mistress Anne" I an
swered. He whistled softly, staring at
me without word. sShe knows all, -
continued.
How much is alli" he asked after a
pause.
"Our namcs-all our names-Penrud-
docke's, Kingston's Q, the others-our meet
ing place, aud that wo hold Clarence z
prisoner. She was that old woman whom
we saw at the Gatehouse tavern last
night
He nodded, appearing neither greatly
surprised nsr greatly alarmed. "Does she
intend to uso her knowledge9" he said. ~
suppoes she does.
"Unless wc let him go safe and unhurt
before sunset. /"
.They will never consent to 1t, J" ts an
swersd, shaking his head.
Then they will hang! cried.
He looked hard at me moment. dis,
corning something strange in the bitter
ness Of my last words Come, lad, !" he
said, 'you have not told me all. What
else have you learned"
"How can tell your" cried wildly,
waving him OF and going to the lattice
that my face might be hidden from him.
"Heaysn has cursed me!'' added, my
voice breaking.
He game and laid his hand on my shout
der. Heaven curses no one, = he said.
Most Of our curses we make for our
selves. What is 1t, lads"
covered my face with my hands. "He
The is my father" muttered. do you
understand Do you see what have donef
He is my fathsr!"
"Hal1 Master BERTHE uttered that one
exclamation In intense establishment.
Then no said no more. But tho pressure
Of his hand told me that he understood;
that no felt with me; that he would help
me. And that silent comprehension, that
silent assurance, gave the sweetest COM
fort. "Ho must be allowed to 60, then,
for this time he resumed gravciy, after
pause, In which I had had time to re-
cover myself. I'VE will see to 1t. But
there Will be difficulties. You must be
strong and brave. The truth must be
told. 1t is the only way.
saw that 1t was, though shrank ex-
cesdingly from the ordeal before me-
Master BERTHE Advised, whom grew moro
calm, that we should be the first ut the
rendezvous, lest by some chance Penrud-
docke's orders should be anticipated, and
accordingly, soon after o'clock, We
mounted and set forth. ! remarked that
my companion looked very carefully to his
arms, and taking the hint followed his
example.
It was . silent, melancholy, anxious
ride. However successful We might be In