Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-20

That 1 cannot just say at the moment
1 wish to follow trade wherever it leads
me-"
Then an inclusive pass extending as far
south as Manchester, will meet your
needs?
1T will more than meet them. general,
said Armstrong with supreme Indifference.
The commander took up his pen. but
paused. and still shading his face, scruti-
nized the man before him.
AS am not likely to see you again, per-
haps 1t would be as well not to limit it to
Manchester. You may wish to travel fur
Their south when you reach that town"
1t is barely possible
As you carry no message from Traquair
to the king. l can write Oxford on your
permit as easily as Manchester"
THANK you. general, but Manchester will
be far enough
Il may say that we are strict about those
whom we allow to journey to and fro at
the present time and if you should over
step the limit of this document you are
liable to investigation and delay. and 1 am
not likely to be so near at hand on the next
occasion"
II quite understand, and if 1 wished to
go further south l would have no hesta-
ton in begging permission of your excel
lency. but l doubt if l shall even see Man
chester"
You will not be leaving Corbiton until
the morning. of cOurse?"
mo, general. 1 know when am we'll
housed
Then. I have much to do I will make
out your paper later, and it will be handed
to you in the morning"
THANK you, general
With this the commander rose and him.
self accompanied Armstrong to the door in
most friendly manner. The young man, in
spite of his distrust was very favorably
impressed, for there had been nothing in
Cromwelfs conversation of that cant with
which he was popularity accredited The
Scot had expected to find an English Alex
a NJ davis I;r,~,, 81 zp
tyrannical leader. committing acts of op-
preston or cruelty, and continually appeal
ing to his Maker for Justification. But
Cromweli's attitude throughout had been
that of the honest soldier, with little to
suggest the fervent exhorter.
After giving some laconic instructions
touching the welfare of the northerner to
Captain Bent, who was lowering uneasily
In the outside hall. Cromwell, bidding his
enforced guest a cordial farewell, ordered
wentworth to be brought to him, and re-
tired once more into the dim council cham
Der.
With hands clasped behind him and head
bent, he STROBE slowly up and down the
long room in deep meditation. vanishing
into the gloom at the further end and re-
appearing in the limited circle of light that
surrounded the two candles, for the torches
had long since smoked themselves out and
there had been no replacement of them, for
none dared enter that room. unsummoned
while the leader was within it. The watcher
in the gallery felt. rather than saw there
was an omnous frown on the lowered face
as the commander waited for the second
prisoner, over whom hung sentence Of
death.
This time clanking of chains announced
the new arrival. who was preceded by Colo
mel porlock. and accompanied by two SOL
diers. one on either side of him. The young
fellow, who shuff1ed up to the table, drag
ging his irons, cast an anxious look at the
forbidding face of the man who was to be
his final judge; in whose word lay life or
death for him. and he found there little to
more, and said gruffly:
Take off those fetters.'
When the command was complied with
the general dismissed the trio and sat for
open face of his opposite like poster on a
wall.
You are to be shot at daybreak tomor-
row." he began in harsh tones that echoed
dtsmally. from the raftered ceiling. This
statement contained no information for the
youth. but. the ravens croak sent shiver
through his frame. and somehow the It'd
ings brought a terror that had been absent
before, even when sentence of death was
pronounced with such solemnity by the
the words. which showed that the speaker
cared not one pin whether the human being
standing before him lived or died. Allow
ing time to produce the impression he de-
sired. Cromwell continued in the same
strain of voice:
81 have examined the evidence, and
find your condemnation just
The boy remembered that his father had
met death bravely. asking no mercy and
receiving none. and the thought neryed
him. If this man had merely brought him
here to make death more bitter by tauntjng
him 1t was an unworthy action; So moist
ening his lips twice before they would obey
his VIII. he spoke up.
II have never questioned the verdict ren