Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-29

not see Nuum | Dlluk Win me
II was a confession Of her great content
that she should thus reward him with that
surprise. but 30 bright was the light OF
torches in the chamber, the fame Of them
90 dazzling to the eyes. that he must look
before he dlscerned the cloaked figure
OF a woman treaiing close upon my lady's
steps. Nor until a little while had passed
and he had peered again into the gloom was
he able TO say that the queen stood there
and waited for her servants recognition.
Then was my lady Justified, IN truth. when
she heard his Joyful confession.
Your majesty-if I forget all else, let
this night remain unforgotteni"
He knelt at Mary's feet, It is written, and
she, In turn, dismissIng her attendants,
was not unwilling to grant him confidence.
you are he they call Roy, the outlaw OF
Calverton2 ?"
"a truth, your majesty. but at Sherwood
they name me king"
Being lord OF the forest by right OF
felony"
NAY, your majesty, by right OF the love
the people bear me-"
Setting up a domain which knows
neither law nor authority"
The law Of Christ, your majesty, the au-
thority OF Justice"
H' hN " NlAukt uttuIt uNI hut utltuu
himself as one who would seek grace, and
his mood pleasing her she went on to re-
member why she had come to him.
you spake an enigma to my Lord Gard
liner this morning and asked a promise"
Il asked that | might see my queen"
"Who comes to hear you and, n the oc-
casion arise, to prove her gratitude"
She drew a stool to the bare wooden table
and, throwing back the cloak about her
head, she showed him the stern face OF a
woman harassed by perplexities aud seek
ing counsel OF wisdom which heretofore she
had not found. The outlaw himself paced
the room slowly AS though to control the
freshet Of his thoughts which streamed 10
abundantly. My lady herself stood in the
shadows; every word that her lover spoke
was as a Jewel OF her content. lie would
save the queen that night; she who loved
him was all confident.
Madam" he said, the woman shall give
me gratitude, the queen justice. To you I
speak freely without any bond or deed OF
my security. Here in my wallet are the
papers took from the dead body Of my lord
Of Stowe. He claimed the inheritance OF a
woman's heart, which no law can give. Him
| killed in fair encounter. That he deserved
to die this paper shall tell you truly. II il
an account, with every circumstance Of
tHoSe III tue mluldnu countries VINO, ana YOU
do not act expeditiously, shall Join these
malcontents that knock at your gates.
Madam, here is all their story; the names
of those that buss conspiracy, the places Of
their meeting, their harborage in wood and
town, the full proposal Of that which they
would do. Here and now | say that II this
kingdom is to be saved you shall act with
out delay. Comman me and ! will send
messengers to Sherwood forest who will nip
this treason in the bud, as any flower the
frost has bitten. II I am king Of Calvertou
In truth let my kingshlp find stout hearts
to serve the throne whence my dominion
comes. Give me the right to send my mes
sengers forth upon the instant and that
which the duke of Suffolk does at Leicester
shall be blotted from your thoughts. Nay.
madam, | %oonjure you to speak. This is no
season when an aye is gotten OF a chancel-
lor's labor! Command me and I obey. 1t
shall be yours to reap the fruit Of that
obediencel"
He was warmed to great eloquence Of
pleading. His ringing voice awakened new
courage in the queens heart. The craven
counsel she had carried from the palace,
the procrastinations, the doubt OF the faint
hearts, the whimperings Of the priests were
driven from her mind while she listened
to this goodly promise, and began to be-
lieve that Of all in London this man alone
could save her that night. Nevertheless
the habit Of her craft remained. she must
daily with 1t even at the eleventh hour.
Your messengers shall go to Noting
ham willingly; yet who will shut the gate
OF this city to those who burn the ships
and drive the people out? Is It aught to
me that Leicester be kept and London lost?
God knows, I suffer greatly to see how Ill
10 To-
should befriend me! Let your counsel
speak Of London, and l will lend a ready
ear"
She looked at him as one who would say:
II seek to trust, help the endeavor!' and
he, understanding this desire, was quick
to meet II.
Madam, let the shame be to those that
delay in this defense. Is London, then, so
bare a town that It hath no gates, no
cannon, no horsemen for your service?
Four thousand ride to Southwark, they
say. II the bridge be drawn up and the
c%ulverin planted. how shall even four pass
over? / speak a thing which any child
might hear impatiently. This Wyatt has
sworn to touch the city gate. II he pass
not in by London bridge, then will he seek
another way, which you shall make for
him-an open way, upon which he may
stumble Dllndly. Draw MIN TO your gate as
to a net, which shall close about him
presently. II l have any wisdom in this
AFFAIR l say to you, give me leave to form
a troop that shall ride out at my discre-
ton, and when next you hear Of me IL
will be OF one who says, the net is drawn;
the bird is caged!' But I am a prisoner
for the news that I bear to you. 'Twere
odd II distress must call upon your jails
for freedom!"
A discord OF his irony was manifest in
that complaint, and he who had spoken
with such fervor OF her safety now stood
reluctant, as though the work we're for
others and not for him. But the queen. for
whom the word was as a message OF her
salvation, rose at the appeal, and taking
both his hands, she said:
'You whom they call the king OF CAL
verton, save my city tonight"
He bent and kissed her hands. My lady,
in the shadows. hid the tears upon her
cheek.
Ito Be Continued.)