The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-28
CHAPTER XVI.
CHALLENGE.

HALT" came a sharp command. Arm
strong looked Np as one coming out q a
dream. They were at the outposts OF OK
ford. ,. A..
After a short parley an officer in faded
finery was called, and, on learning of their
Grand invited Armstrong to follow him
to the Lord Great Chamberlain. They had
not long been In the streets. before their
escort cried: "a propitious meeting, In
deed, sir. Here comes the Lord Great |
Chamberlain himself r~s E'f
Armstrong noted the approach OF man |
with a countenance so remarka BITE that 1T |
might have been taken as typical of war.
From brow to chin was drawn a long red |
scar, while another ran transVersely across |
the forehead just over the eyes, so that
there famed from his face an angry cross
that gave a most sinister expression to a
visage which. lacking these time-healed
wounds, would have been handsome. The
chamberlain stopped abruptly in his ad-
vance, his gaze riVeted upon the girl and
there came into his eyes a look of such
malignity that Armstrong Instantly turned
his glance upon his travelling companion.
| The girls cheeks had gone deathly white,
and she swayed blindly In her saddle, per
ilously near to falling. The young man
sprang from his horse and caught her just
in time. Bitterly he blamed himself for
| this unexpected collapse, curslng his per-
sistence on the road, when he had plainly
seen that some strong emotion tormented
| ner. his mental peTluFDdllOu COHluIS0
with the physical strain she had under
gone during their long journey, fully ac-
counted for the prostration of the moment
at the end.
my poor lass" he said regretfully,
81 am to blame, I am thoughtless,
selfish hound to have so sorely troubled
you with my insstence." b. mr..
ut is not that" she whispered faint
ly, leaning heavily on him with the
pathetic helplessness of tired child, a
dependence which sent a thrill OF pity and
love for her tingling to his finger ENDS.
Take me in; take me in quickly. I am
ILL.," ...-... ..~. - -. ...-< - -.
Now, the, Lord Great Chamberlain, all
smiles and courtesy, stepped forward and
said with authority to the inn-keeper:
THE chief rooms in the house TOR the
lady. Turn out whoever occupies them,
whatever their quality"
The landlord called his wife, and Fran
ces was given into her care. L..
| The officer introduced the traveller to
| the high official: -
my Lord Chamberlain, this gentleman
says he has come from the Scottish mobiles
with a message for his majesty. Sir Mon
sieur de Courcy, Lord Great Chamberlain
to the king. '" "
Frenchman and Scot bowed to each 9TH
err, the grace of the gesture being almost
married face. .....:..
Sir" said Armstrong to the officer, l
thank you for your guidance, and you, my
lord to de Courcy, 'for your kind and
prompt command with respect to the lady.
She has had long and firing journey thru
a dangerous country, under continual fear
of arrest, and so it not to be wondered
that woman should succumb to the
strain at last"
II am William Armstrong" he contin-
ued, somewhat known on the border, a
Scottish gentleman, and a loyal subject Of
his majesty, the king
''Then YOU are very welcome in Oxford.
and am sure his majesty wishes there
were more like you in the environs thereof
and the regions beyond 1t is now too
late to see the king to-day, and probably
you are n mot to meet nghts rsss
a meeting for you with his majesty as
soon as possible"
THANK you. If may hint that every
day is of value, you will perhaps urge
upon the king the danger Of delay
II shall not fail to do So. Goodnight .
For the first time in his life, Armstrong
left his horse to the care of others and
entered the inn to inquire after the vel.
fare of the lady who absorbed his
thoughts. She sent word that she was
quite recovered, but would see no one un
til the morrow. With this. he was fam IS
be content, and he wandered about the
town in the gathering dusk, hoping to de
her service by discovering the Wherea
abouts Of Lord Rudby's son, to whom he
supposed she carried some message from
her brother. He learned that this young
man, who was a captain in the kings
army, had been sent, 1t was supposed t.
/ London, but nothing had been heard o.
l him for month or more, and wtet hers he
/ was prisoner or not none could say. sThi,
/ intelligence depressed Armstrong, Wht
feared, that the girl had taken her lont
| journey for nothing, and that the failur,
/ to find the one she sought might entail Sc