Evening star., 1903-07-04
CHAPTER XVI.
Challenge.

dream. They were at the outposts of Ok
ford.
After a short parley an officer In faded
fnery was called, and learning of their
errand invited Armstrong to follow him to
the lord great chamberlain. They had not
been long in the streets before their escort
cried: "a propitious meeting, indeed, sir.
Here comes the lord great chamberlain
himself
Armstrong noted the approach of a man
with countenance remarkable 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 eye, 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 hindly in her saddle, peri
lously near to falling. The young man sprang
from his horse and caught her just in time.
Bitterly he blamed himself for this unex-
pected collapse, cursing his persistence on
the road when he had plainly seen that
some strong emotion tormented her. This
mental perturbation, combined with the
physical strain she had undergone during
prostra ton of the moment at the end
My poor lass" he said regretfully, Il
am to blame 1 am a thoughtless, selfish
hound to have so sorely troubled you with
my insiStence."
1T is not that" she whispered family,
leaning heavily on him with the pathetic
helplessness of a tired child. dependence
which sent thrill of pity and love for
her tingling to his fnger-ends. Take me
in; take me in quickly. 1 am i'll.
Now. the lord great chamberlain. all
smiles and courtesy. stepped forward and
said with authority to the innkeeper:-
The chief rooms in the house for the
lady. Turn out whoever occupies them
whatever their quality
The landlord called his wife and
Frances was given into her care
The officer introduced the traveller to the
high official:
MY lord chamberlain. this gentleman
says he has come from the Scottish mobiles
with message for his majesty, Sir Mon
sieur De Courcy, lord great chamberlain to
the king
Frenchman and Scot bowed to each
other, the grace of the gesture being al
most entirely in favor Of the former, de-
spite his marred face,
Sir said Armstrong to the officer, Il
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
through dangerous country, under con-
be wondered that woman should succumb
to the strain at last"
Il am William Armstrong" he continued
somewhat known on the border, Scot
t1Sh 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
ana the regions beyond. 1t is now too la te
to see the king today, and probably you
are not loath to meet a nights rest after
hard days riding. l will arrange a
meeting for you with his majesty as soon
as possible
THANK you. If 1 may hint that every
oay Is OF value you will perhaps urge
upon The king the danger Of delay"
shall not fail to do SO. Good night"
FOR the f1rst time in his life Armstrong
lett his horse to the care of others and en-
tered the inn to inquire after the welfare
or the lady who absorbed his thoughts. She
sent word that she was quite recovered
out would see no one until the morrow
with this he was fain to be content and
he wandered about the town in the gather
ing dusk, hoping to do her a service by
discovering the whereabout of Lord Rud-
bys 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. to London, but nothing had been
heard OF him for month or more and
whether he was a prisoner or not none
Armstrong, who feared that the girl had
taken her long journey for nothing and
that the failure to find the one she sought
might entail serious consequences upon her
brother and herself, for each in turn had
manifested great concern touching the mis-
sion she had undertaken.
Next morning his first visitor was the
lord chamberlain, who expressed deep re-
gret that the king was indsposed and could
not see any emissary from the Scots that
day. The high official spoke feelingly of
the disappointment the monarch had been
called upon to endure through the unmer-
tied success of his rebellious subjects, and
this statement seemed to Arms; rong only
what was to have been expected
During the day Armstrong was privi-
legged in securing one brief interview with
Frances The landlord had placed two
rooms at her disposal, and in the scantily
furnished parlor the young man had called
upon her. The improvement she had af-
firmed the evening before scarcely
borne out by her appearance for she was
wan and dispirited, so much so that when
Armstrong announced the disappearance
of Captain Rudby the tdings did not seem
to depress her more than was already the
case.
All during the night she had pondered on
some way of escape from the web of con-
spiracy in which hee and she were inter-
woven. but in vain. ,i.s ~
She wished him with her, for his strong
presence calmed her? yet she wished him
in which she was to hold him TO save her
brothers life. Here, was-a mutability in
deed for the daughter Of imperious Strait
ford!
On the third day Of his stay in Oxford
De Courcy still bewailed the indispost, on
of the king, and to. o.spass the time away.
suggested that Armstrong stroll around the
fortifcat ations. 500
Shortly after they set out De Courcy in
troduced him to an officer who was to be
his guide, and excused himself because of
the kings illness.
AS soon the two were out of sight De
Courcy FASTENED to the inn and knocked at
Frances Wentworths door. The girl, who
expected a different caller bade him enter
and as soon as he was in the room ne
locked it and put the key in his pocket.
She retreated to the other ROOM but re-
appeared in moment with jeweled dag
ger in her hand. =
The Frenchman smiled and waved his
white hands gracefully. May I sit DOWN"
he asked, suavely, land If l put this table
between us you will feel better"
you will be safer so long as 1t remains
between u.s." answered she. angrily.
He laughed ironically. You are entirely
in my power Your man, the awkward
Scot, shall have hanged out. Of hand as
spy. I myself will plead for your own life
and they will agree. VIII you make terms