The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-30

willy Frenchrnan had been accurate enough
in his belief that the young mans pleasure
In the northward journey would be spoiled
He could not bring himself to ask any ex-
PLANTATION from the girl, nor even tell her
what De Courcy had said, for he saw that
already weight l.of woe oppressed her,
and to- that burden he would not add a
pressure of the slightest word He pos
tsessed q supreme confidence in her. and
only feared that she had loved this runa-
gate once and that some remnant of this
long-ago affection still remained Her own
words before they reached oxford. her
own action during the encounter fronting
the Crown inn. disturbed him far more
than the insinuations of the Frenchman.
He stroye to rid himself Of these. thoughts,
but they were very intrusive and persis-
tent At last with an effort he reused
himself and cried with feigned hilarity
Frances, we travel like two mutes The
influence Of saddened Oxford is still upon
us both. We are long out of sight of the
town, so let US be done with all remem-
brance Of it. The meeting with the king
this m morning has stirred nae up to q great
pity for him. but vexed mediations on his
case are no help either to him or to us.
The spur is the only weapon. can WELD
for him now, so let us ga1lop and cry God
save"athe king. So. 3t.:&.
With that they raced together for a
time and were the better Of it: He had
become almost cheerful again when the
spires Of Banbury came into view, and
thanked fortune that Il the first stage, Of
their march was safely over. .s:,, ...,:
They found old John and his pack horse
both ready for the road again, and Arm
strong was plainly 10th to let such a fine
evening slip without further progress but
| Frances seemed: SO wan and worn that he
had not the heart to propose a more dis
| .tant stopping place, -and; 5@with a? sigh, he
put up his horse for the night. 49,.
| While he was gone, the innkeeper came
furtively to her, and; after. seeing the pass,
led her to the prepared room and showed
her the door. = 49, - :: So :
Much against her will, Armstrong insist
| ed upon her coming to supper with him,
altho she protested she had no appetite,
| and, indeed, sat opposite him most forlorn,
| and could not touch morsel I'm vain he
| urged her to eat, but she shook her head,
avoiding his GLANCE and keeping her eyes
downcast. -
my girl he! said, anxiously, you are
| completely tired. see that you are on
| the point Of being i'll, if better care is not
taken. Rest here few days, I beg OF
| you. Eager as am to be forward, Il will
| stay if you wish to have me near you. Or
| / will push on and come back for you"
| 81 shall be well enough in the morning,
| most like. I am tired tonight
And .dispirited, too?'' p: - I...
Eyes, and dispirited. You will excuse
me, I know .'
Frances rose-:to her feet, but seemed
so faint that she leaned against the, table
i for support. He was by her side at once
4. 'My sweet lassy@I am so sorry for you
Tell me what 4. can do for you, and, on
my soul, my life is yours if you require
| it," .
mo, no. God grant you take no hurt
F for my sake
|, = He slipped his arm about her waist
and would drawn her toward him, bu,
| with more strength than he had. expected
her to possess, she held away. His great
love for her almost, overcame him, and al
the, prudence he had gathered was scat
tered suddenly the winds. 49,. p.
4 rtDeaf, dear lass, one touch Of 7our lips
and see if all doubts do not dissolve be-
Nov ~ NJ es5s7 Srssessds herself rrss a,,t
| would have escaped but that he sprang
forwa rd--and caught her by the wrists, {
| grip she was to remember later in the
night. In spite Of this prisoning he1
hands were raised to the sides Of her face
and look Of such terror shot thru l1e1
eyes, that he, feared some. madness hat
come upon her. r.s
Mot that. Not that, she shrieked
''The kiss Of Judas! 1t. would kill mel.
His arms dropped para,lyzed to hts side:
and he stepped back a pace, amazed a
the expression she had used and the terro
! Of her utterance. Next instant he wa
alone and the closed door between them
Still he stood where she had left him.
-'tThe kiss of Judas!"" he muttered
1.-THE kiss of Judas! She loves him
thinks me his friend, trying to take Judas
advantage. Of him because we are alon,
together. De Courcy spoke truth. wa,
! ic oh n q ~ ind fAr1--
Oh, God, pity that poor girl and this in
sanity Of passion wasted on 50 rank {
| curl -. = s..--i- -.
Frances fled to her room and threv
herself on the bed in an agony Of. tears
This storm subsidized into a gentle rail
Of subdued weeping, and finally ceased a
she heard the heavy tramp of riding
in the. darkness listening intently. H
closed the wooden shutters Of the win
dow, shaking them to be sure that, thei
fastenings We're secure. Then the bolt
Of the. outer door, were thrust in thei
places, but this apparently failing to sat
isfy the doubts Of the inmate, there wa
a sound of some heavy article Of furri
ture being dragged across the room; the
the tramping ceased and all was still
She sat there thinking Of nothing; he
mind seemed to- be dulled by the ordes
awaiting her and the fear Of 1t, but ther
was no thought. Of turning back or tryin
to avoid it. DimlY she was sorry for her
self and for him. sleeping in his fancie
security, yet, in a, set trap. but on he
action this night depended her brother
life, and that outweighed all other cor
siderations,, even if her brain were ale1
enough: to- cast them in the. opposit
| scales .Unheeding she heard the clock
a neighboring~ tower. toll the hour; no
Lit struck again and she / counted II
notes. Eleven! : 1t was still too earl
People slept heavier as the night wore OF
She thought Of their journey; of the ha
at York; of their talk in the niche in. tt
hotel Of the Tenplars; of various inc
dents along the road the tramp pa
of Cronwell's troopers, four and four, a
: looking straight ahead, and as she X
membered them they seemed to be pas
ing her now; passing, passing, passin,
) then Cromwell stopped and snote his ste
, breastplate with resounding clang. ST
! lifted her head with q start, and tt
; clang Of the breastplate changed to IL
toll of the bell, in the tower. Heaven
} she had been asleep her brothers II
3 hanging on her dropping eyelids! On
I two, three, four, five; six, seven! 1t mu
Y be midnight, and the first five strokes hi
e been on Cromwell's breastplate. 81
:, reused herself and attempted to take {
8 her shoes, but her hands were tremb1i1
6 So She was forced To desist ShA cat :