Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-15
CHAPTER XVI.
Matrimony.


Matrimony.
A night, and a day and night, rejuve-
mated the tired man and his horse. Clothed
and in his right mind, he was once more
the gallant borderer, ready to face what
ever fortune had in store for him; on this
occasion, Traquair said, more superply
attired than ever had been the case before,
but Armstrong held that this was merely
interested praise of the Castle tailor ira
QUAR- endeavored to persuade him not to
trust himself again on English soil, but MS
advice was unheeded, as is usually the fate
of unasked counsel Traquair wished MN
to take a bodyguard of a score or more,
but Armstrong pointed out that unless ne
had an army at his back able to defeat
Vromwells forces all other assistance was
useless He risked everything upon his
belief in Cromwelrs common sense, and
from this position nothing Traquair could
ray would turn him. The earl rode with
him as far as the Esk and there babe MN
good luck and godSpeed.
When Armstrong had gone once over
road he needed no other guide than ms
own memory and instinct of direction He
made directly for the farmsteadlng. where
first he had been arrested, and found IL de-
serted; then took the route over which MS
captors had conducted him, expecting to
reach Coz biton Manor before darkness set
in This plan was frustrated by the fact
that he had allowed too scant time Tor the
Gordon across the country to be Withdrawn
Cromwell was. indeed. calling in his men,
and massing them at Carlisle, Newcastle
and HeXham, which latter town Arm
strong's own ancestors had frequently pill
LACED. He learned of this movement from
chance wayfarers, and was on the alert
not to fall within the scope of any march
ing company. There was evidently no Sc
cret about Cromwells intentions and the
general
plans to be we'll spread over the land. and
thus overawe the northerners in any hos
tile project they might think of undertake
ing showing his readiness to crush them If
they ventured to set foot across the border.
About midday Armstrong caught sight of
the first large body of men, and he was
compelled to hide for several hours in
depression the moor, until they and the
danger were past. This delay retarded his
arrival at Corbiton Manor until after night
fall, when the full moon shone upon the
ancient mansion, in place of the silver
crescent which hung in the western sky
when last he visited the place. 1t seemed
incredible that the space of time could have
been so short, for the events of life Were
crowded in the interval. AS he approached
the ancient house the challenge of a sem
tinel brought him to stand, and called
from the hall several officers.
rs Cromwell here?" asked the newcomer.
This is the headquarters of his excel
lency, General Cromwell said one of the
officers. with some severity in his tone, a
rebuke to the questions offhand method OF
designation.
That's the man 1 mean replied Ann
strong. Il never heard there were two OF
the name or the kind. Well, tell him that
William Armstrong, who carried the COM
mission from the king to Scotland, is here
and requires a private conference with
him.
The strong moonlight was shining on the
back of the horseman and in the faces OF
the officers. The latter did not obey the in
1nyI To-, h,rt tlatr a6nr
gave, instead a brief command, and II, a
moment two dozen pikemen surrounded the
rider. who laughed heartily and said:
My lads. you are too late. You should
have done that trick several days since.
Oliver will give you no thanks for it now.
Go in and tell him l am here, and send
some one to take charge Of my horse while
l talk with him.
The chief officer hesitated for a moment,
then turned and disappeared within the
mansion. while Armstrong dismounted and
gave to the soldier who took his horse mi
mute instructions touching the treatment OF
the animal
You are all good horsemen," said the
visitor in his most genial accents, land will
doubtless respect Bruce here, whatever you
think of his master, for this is the charger
that louped over the parapet of Carlisle
bridge. and, after that, beat the best you
had in your cavalry in for the bor-
der If your chief should come to u Cjs-
agreement with me. take care of he horse,
at least. for you haven't another like him.
The horse was led away, palpably adj
mired by all the men, for some of them
stroked and patted his flank, speaking
soothingly to him. William stood with his
hands in his pockets, the center of ring of
armed men, his gay dress in striking con-
trast to the more sober uniform of his
guards. Cromwell taking his time
making up his mind, and the young man
thought this delay was not an encouraging
sign. He had thrust his head between the
lions jaws, and the minutes that passed
before he could know whether the brute
was going to bite not were irkSome 10
him. especially as there now nothing to
do but await the issue. At last the officer
reappeared. dismissed the guard and said
CURLY to the prisoner:
Follow me-"
Armstrong was ushered into the huge
room which he remembered so well. and
found Cromwell sitting alone at the table
as If he had never left it. Even the two
candles stood where they had been placed
before, but the face of the seated man
seemed inscrutible, more stern, than he
recollected 1t. This was the leader of the
lronsides on the Northampton road rather
than the urhane man who had pretended to
believe the story of the search for cattle
Armstrong swept off his feathered hat
most courteously as he approached the ia
ole. bowed and said:
Good evening. general standing then
at ease on the spot he had formerly occu-
pied. The general lifted his heavy ewes to
the cropped head, now glstening in the
light. and, although his firm mouth re-
manned immoble the slightest suspicion of
twinkle scintillated for one brief moment
in his searching glance
Good evening. You wished to see me ,"
Yes general, and have come from Scot