The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-08-09
CHAPTER XVI.

on the way to court ne Dloceeded q |
wreak H.
pretence that IL sti1l was too early 70 I
see the king. There he set out wine /
and asked his guest to be seated.
HAS the lady who accompanied you i
quite recovered from her fatigue?'
asked De Courcy indinerently.
well, as 1 told you, 1 met her yes
terday for a Few moments only, and /
am sorry she was not in the highest /
spirits, but she will be the better for |
seeing the green fields again Like
myself. she is of the country, and does
not thrive within the walls Of town
Yes, noticed that when she was in !
London
I'm London? Did you know her in
London"
"Oh. hasn't she told you OF our rela-
tionship2 Perhaps l should not have
mentioned it."
What do you mean by your rela-
tionship? You are French; she is pure
English
De Courcy threw back his head and
laughed. unheeding, and indeed unnO-
ticing the angry color mounting in a
face that had grown suddenly stern.
My dear cOmrade, there are other
relationships between a young man and
a handsome woman than the ties of
ldnship. But those days are long past.
and ] should never have recalled them
had il not been that you two have
been travelling about the country to-
gether. I make no doubt with an in
nOcence- that recalls the sylvan days Of
yors."
Armstrong pulled back his chair and
rose to his feet
"Sir. the lady took her brothers
place, he being Unexpectedly and griey-
Dusly wounded. My position has been
that Of true cofnrade to her.
THAT is precisely what 1 have said.
said your journey was one Of Ar
cadian innocence"
Those were your words. but your
tone bears a meaning 1 resent,
You are quite in error. / viii say
no more about her..
You have already said too much OF
too little. Tell me in plain words what
this relationship was to which you
have referred"
First answer me- a question. Are
you betrOthed to Frances wentworth
NO. I told you acted the broth
er's part toward her IN this joruncy."
ION, we all say that, but am not in
the least curious. If you intended TO
marry her, then were my mouth sealed
Very we'll; since you win have it, and
take your word as gentleman
pledged that you will say nothing 70
the girl of this until you are clear Of
Oxford, know that / was once her be-
trothed. She was to have been my
wife. and would have been my wife
your wifet'
yes. Her father gave me permits
sion to pay my court 10 her. She could
not have been much more than 26 then.
and I was her first lover a parsonage
that girl never fOrgetsH Al first she
was frightened, but that stage did no.
last long. Her fathers ruin changed
my plans. and I refused 70 marry her.
] announced this refusal 20 her in the
seclusi0n OF my own room in White-
hall and
Sir you lie"
Armstrong; sword seemed to. spring
of rs own viii from the sea bbard- and
his hand drew IL a-swish through the
air with the hiss OF a deadly serpert.
The Frcnchman Shrugged his should
ers. but did not move. Tbs three Hords
OF his opponent had been spoken very
quietly despite his inpulsiVe iiftorf
De Courcy did not raise his voice IS
he asked, which OF my statements 40
you question:
No, matter for that We dSht or
this phrase in scotland No man ever
called me a TAR and lived
tbs a coarse phrase. 1 admit, and.
did ( not represent ny lying-were Il as
free az You--you should have had ms'
response in steel ere this. But Z can
not Wreck the king in a private qlisTnel
81 my own. Whether YOU kiiledeilfe, or
YOU. 'twold be equally disastrous to
his majesty"
n care nothing for the king. Draw.
you paltroon. or I shall kill you where
you sit"
My dear Armstrong. / refuse to be
murdered under a Misrepresentation on
your part. 7 have said nothing against
the girl. It's all your own hot blood.
Ard indeed. your Drawing is the girl $
greatest danger; she might well
tremble III she knew your present occu-
patton. If you run your nimbe sword
through me. you give the girl to thu
fate that befel her father"
At the first word OF danger to
Frances the point OF Armstrong; blade
sank TO the floor and he stood hcsitat-
ing. CLEAN Of triumph glinted and
died in the eve Of the F'renchman. He
knew he was the victor. although the
chance he haS run at one stage of the
game almost made his heart stop beat
ing.
How can any action Of mine jeop-
ardize Miss Wentworth
III the king knew this lady was
within his jurisdiction. she would be
instantly arrested, tried and con-
derlned. She entered Whitehall the day
her father was executed for the sole
purpose of numbering Charles. / pre-
vented the carrying out Of that pur-
pose and these scars on my face are
the results OF my interference. with a
maddened woman"
Again. you lie; yet il she had killed
you both she would but have accom-
DhSneQ the justice OF GOd.
AS 10 the truth of falsity Of my
statements. regarding which you make
comments Of unseemly terseness. you
may ask the king when you see him.
or you may ask the lady herself when
you get herout OF oxford. If you pre-
CiDitate a turmoil here. you are likely
90 tumble her pretty head in the bas-
ket Wien this war is done with, / win
go far to teach you the correct meth
cd OF addressing a gentleman"
Armstrong; sword dropped into scab-
bard again. and he drew a breath that
was a sigh. The poison was already
at work He remembered the distress
or the girl on the road. and her wall,
II am not worthy Of the love OF any
honest man.
II shall never question her or any
other but viii believe her lightest
word against the world when she con-
descends 70 tell me. Meanwhile / shall
set her out Of this thieves den as soon
rs may be. and, by God. when I meet
v0u--"
De Courcy had risen. and now bowed
slightly to his perturbed guest "sir.
YOU shall meet me at T. and il viii be
my privilege 10 conduct YOU to his
majesty Good morning"
lie stood by the window overlooking
the quadrangle and watched his late
visitor cross it. staggering once as IL
he had partaken freely OF the wine
which remained untasted on the table.
As the Scot disappeared under the
archway. De Courcy laughed
My nne strutting cockrel' he NUT
tered. III lay you by the heels before
two days are pass CrOmwell's at