The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-11-27
CHAPTER XNVII.
A EVENING.

-
A MEMORABLE EVENING.
When the horses were made snug,
William went pack to the nous and l.
followed him. He led me through a
short passage int a spacious Keeping
room and seated me by a cheerful wood
fire. The o was empty when we en-
tered, hut in a moment an old woman,
his wife, came in and held some con-
v%ersation with him. From 1t l gath
cred that q clergyman was expected
soon to visit Mistress WhitSift.
Twenty minutes later a light knock
came at the door and some n arrived.
"'The parson,' thought l and Won
dered if he would come iii my way. Ten
to one I should now him, SO near home
as l was.
Know him! He walked into the kitch-
en- and / almost shouted. DR.. willing
ham-Anthony Willingham, our W
doctor, whom I had heard preaching
steadily away in Butley church for an
hour on end many and many a time. l
was ready to Cry out for sheer pleas
ure at the sight of his cheerful red face,
gray hair, and big silver spectacles. But
| restrained myself and resolved to test
my disguise. He also was in like case.
for his dress bore no OXEN of his sacred
office, and was hat of ar unprosperous
drover. I had not known of late where
he was, for a stauncher royal1st never
breatled, and he had been driven from
his rectory at Butley long ago, and
wandered at large among the caVali
houses of Worcestershire.
He stopped and whispered to the old
his = on me. When he had
learned who 1 was he came forward.
stood up scraped a rude bow and Of
fered to draw back from the fire.
mo, no, my man." said the doctor;
st1ynnY, thv cont nv cnn6 Follow fnn-
der heap of oak billets will suffice tc
warm US two without one retiring"
I sank down again upon the settee
and he seated himself in a tall-baclled
chair opposite and looked at me
thoughtfully.
'"Dost thou use the English tongue
my frienG?'- asked DR.. Willingham.
Yes, your. reverence" 1 returned
Disgusting my voice as we'll as L could
Il speak a little English"
THAT is lucky" he replied, "for the
old fellow who used to march with thai
| young lady had never q word, and
should be glad to ask thee 4 few ques'
tons"
II Will do your pleasure in all I cam
said l.
"Ay, ay, honestly said" returned DR.
Wiliingllan2, heaming on me through
his great shining spectacles.
HAS there ever a stranger arrived e
Sir Arthur VauShan's house of late?'
There have been many strangers
] answered.
THE one I speak Of pursued he, Il:
a tall, straight, handsome young man
we'll dressed and we'll mounted. You
master would call him nephew"
oh said I, you speak of Maste,
Godfrey I~Iearhcote, of Butley Croft"
II do, I do" cried DIR. Willingham
eagerly. Then he arrived safel.
among the Welsh hills?"
He did" l answered.
The Lord be praised for it," criet
the good old man Il felt sure the la'
had gone that way. And is yOnGer
sure place OF refuge"
Better could not be- said I. ut i
. wild targle of hills, which few cal
thread"
"Ay. ay," said the doctor, and clappe,
his knee foc JOY.
I was perfectly satisfied With my ex
pertinent. He seemed 20 have no Sus
piCion but that he vas talking with
genuine serving man, and TO have de
ceivcd the man who had christened N
and taught me the catechiSm left me i
an easy state of mind as regards othe
people.
And he q safe and well when you
party left home?"
He was and is, my dear old friend,
I replied, in my natural voice. DR.. WI
bingham started and looked 1ixedly q
me. l leaned forward and laid N
hand upon his knee. Doctor" said
forgive ne playing with you, as
seemed, hut | was anxious to test m
disguise. l have had no opportunity t
do SO before, II L am satisfied ow."
MY lad, my lad, my dear Geoff,
cried he, and is it you? And here
Why have you left your safe hidin
place, and what do you do here in tn
midst of danger? And how did 70
come by that hurt upon your face?"
False" said I; there is nothing ur
der the patch" The doctor held me b
the hands, which he shook again an
again, then patted my shoulder just 6
nc did when I vas a boy, next too
huge pinches Of snuff, and was alto
sether in a state OF great eXcitemer
and wonder, at. once delighted and feal
full to see ME there.
Tell me everything" he said, "an
I will advise you to the best OF my abb
tty."
TT is just what I wish to do" said
ard plunged at once II my story. FL
details I had neither time nor fame
nd in ten minutes l had put him
-Omplete possession of this heads of n
; 1oings since I fled from Butley Croft.
5 l had just finished, and he VIZ
thoughtfully polishing his spectacl,
Illuminating uron my story. when Il
! old man OF the house came in.
Dr.. Willingham looked up and Il
; Old mar spoke MY mistress wou
) ike to see you reverence now
!. Yes, William" he replied, Il w
| -onie at once"
5 He turned to me. My duty calls n
away for the moment, Godfrey" sa
! &c, but We shall have an opportuni
4 u conversing upon upon these matte
t '3ter."
: He went away, the old man follow!
l him, and l was left alone. a few mi,
, utcS passed and the door opened agai
i l looked up and saw Enid enter Il
room. Springing up 1 fastened to h
, and took her in my arms to kiss awe
" thc tears, which We're falling fast.
"Oh, she is weak, very weak" sa
Enid, 'and I fear ] have done wrong
- coming to distress her. She is
troubled because
because she fears she cannot rend
= you the help you need" Enid made
- go CT ma nf assent g.