Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-23
e0YsaHr sAssEltpusLsalNc RIGHTS RESERVES
AUrAoR OF THE MaNiN sLaerl',,
"A GENTLEMAN. OF FRANCE, Enc EM

re1o1nCd, .1Or II IL was luueeu tuat talcii
scoundrel we ure undone.
Imagination plays us queer tricks
sometimes, Master Lindstrom said, with
u smile of much meaning, but come,
lad, / will ask Dynlphna, though think
it useless to do SO, for whether you arc
right or wrong as to your friend will an
swer for it you are wrong as to my daugh.
ter
He was rising to go from them for the
purpose when Mistress Ammo opened the
door and came in. She looked somewhat
startled ut finding US all in conclave.
thought heard your voices, she ex-
planned tinidly, standing between us and
tho door. = | could not sleep.
She looked indeed rs If that were 30
Her eyes were very bright, and there was
a bright spot Of crimson in each cheek
What is iti" she went on abruptly, look
ing hard at mo and shutting her lips tigh;
ly. There WINS SO much to explain that nc
ono hud taken it in hand to begin.
1T is just this, the duchess said, open.
ing her mouth, with snap. Have you
been with Dymphna all tho tines''
.'Yes, of course, was the prompt an
swer.
What Is sho doing!
.sDoinga" Mistress Anne repeated in
surprise. She is asleep. -
Has she been out since nightfalls' the
duchess continued. 81 Out of her room? Oh
out of the house'''
"Ont1 Certainly not Before she fell
asleep she was in no state to go out, ms
you know, though / hope she will bo all
right when she awakes. Who says she has
been outi,' Anne added sharply. She
looked at lne with challenge in her eyes,
as much rs to say, Is it yon'''
81 anl satisfied" / said, chat was
mistaken as to Mistress Dymphna. But
am Just as sure as before that SAT- Chr.
ence."
"Clarences" Mistress Ammo repeated,
starting violently and the color for an in.
slant fleeing from her checks. She sat
down on the nearest sent.
You need not be afraid, Anne, !" my
lady said, smiling. She had wonderfully
high courage herself. think Master
Francis was mistaken, thou& he is &C
certain about 1t. -
But where-where did he see himS''
the girl asked. She still trembled. Once
moro had to tell the tale, Mistress Anne,
as was natural, listening to 1t with the
liyelicst emotions. And this time SO much
of the ghost story had to be introduced,
for she pressed me closely as to where
had left Clarence and why had let him
go that my assurances got less credence
than ever.
II think see how 1t is, y she said, with
saucy scorn that hurt me not o little.
Master Carey's nerves IRE in much the
same state tonight as Dymphna's. He
thought he sawa ghost, and he did not.
He thought he saw Dymphna, and he did
not. And he thought he saw, Master Clnr-
enoe, and he did not. !"
Not SO fast, childn' cried the, duchess
sharply, seeing me vince. Your tongue
runs too freely. Noone has had better
proofs Of Master Carey's courage-fol
which 1 will answer myself-than We
have!"
"Then he should not say things about
.Dymplinnl" the young lady retorted, her
foot tapping the floor and the red spots
back in her cheeks. Such rubbish
never heard!"
They none of them believed me, II
seemed, and slnarting under Mistress
Anne's r!dicule, hurt by even the duchess
kindly incrcdulity, what could LIDO? Only
assert what / had asserted already THAT it
was undoubtedly Clarence, and that DO,
fore "a hours elapsed they would have
proof Of my words.
At mention of this possibility Master
Berthe looked up. He had left tho main
part in the discussion to Others, but now
he interviewed. Ono moment he said.
Take it that tho lad is right, Master
Lindstrom. Is there any precaution we
can adopt. any back door, SO to speak, we
Gun keep open, in cnse of an attempt to ar-
rest us being nader What would be the
line of our rstreat to Wesel?"
Tho river" replied the Dutchman
promptly.
And the boats are all ut the landing
stage2'
.They aro, and for that reason they are
useless in an emergency, our host an
swered thoughtfully. Knowing the
place, any ono sent to surprise and arrest
us would secure them first and the bridge.
Then they would have us in trap. II
might be well to take q boat round and
moor it in the little crock in the farther
orchard, y he added, rising. " 1t is 9 good
idea, at any rate. will go and do it. :"
He went ont, leaving US four-the Ouch.
;ess, her husband, Anne and myself-stt-
ting round the lamp.
IF Master Carey Is SO certain that 1t
was Clarence. my lady began, u think
he ought to-
yes, Kate." her husband said. She
had paused and seemed to DO listening.
Ought to open that letter ho hast" she
continued impetuously. Il have no doubt
1t Is q letter to Clarence. Now the rogue
has come on the scene again the lads
scruples ought not to stand In the way.
They are oil nonsense. Tho letter may
throw some light on the bishops schemes
and Clarence s presence here, and 1T should
BIO read. That is what I think.
What doyou say, Caroyf" her husband
asked as I kept silence. Il not that; rea-
sonable?"
Sitting with my elbows on the table, ]
twisted and UNFINISHED the fingers of my
clasped hands, gazing at them the whilo as
though inspiration might come OF them.
What was I to dof I knew that the three
pairs of eyes were upon me, and tho knowl-
edge distracted mo and prevented mo
really thinking, though seemed to be
thinking SO hard We'll, burst out at
last, ..the circumstances are certainly Ill
tered. SEQ no reason why should not
Crashl
stopped, uttering an. exclamation, and
We all sprang to our feet HOh, what
pityl" tho duchess cried, clasping her
hands. You clumsy, clumsy grill What
have you dones'
Mistress Anne's sleeve as she turned
had swept from the table Florentine
Jug, one Of Master Lindstrons's greatest
treasures, and it lay dozen fragments
on the floor We stood and looked at 1t,
the duchess in anger, Master BERTHE and
lin comic dismay. The girls lip trcmbled,
md he turned quite white as she contem-