The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1903-12-24
aGeoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
by JOHN FINNiMORE. Copyright 1899, by S. S. Mcclure Co.

JAA6 49, %S(~S VEL
my great surprise the old man SCENE
moved. His ayes softened and too o
4 look OF pity. his voice when he spo1
changed inde~scribably. She seemed t
feel what he was going to say, an,
shrank, and chung tighter TO me. ]
clumsy n slow, could not perceive.
"a, mistress, mistress" said he, IAN,
[ thought o were everything tha
was innocent and good"
And SO she is" / cried holly. "Nev
er. never in our life, Sir John, helt
your mind a truer thought"
For an instant all stood wrapt ant
silent. The speech was as unexpected
as IL a dumb animal had found voice.
Every face was turned on me, hither
to, in their eyes, a mute, wordles:
clown.
Sir John recovered himself first OF all
This Is no miracle of tongues" he
said dryly. WHO are you who have
Been playing q part so successfully;
Come. sir, your name and station"
! made him a low bow and smiled
grirlly, My head was bare. for my hat
had flown aside as l ran.
County, too" sneered the old man;
you have played your game out. ]
never suspected you, Speak,"
Father, father!" screamed Jack.
Peace, peace!'' cried Sir John, lifting
his hand and surveying me with kim
lding Y "As I live, a light breaks
across my mind; Q are Godfrey
Heathcote."
a loud cry of surprise from the on
lockers echoed his words, and Jack
fairly halloed for joy.
"A doomed mani" he called out, and
laughed shrilly, "a doomed man! a
bloody death-a traitors deata-waits
for him.
1 took no notice of him, but kept my
eyes fixed on the older man.
Yes, Sir John" said I, "Geoffrey
Heathcote, and this lady,let me tell you,
he reathless silence which now wait
ed upon my words. my voice sounded
like that of a man who speaks aloud
as he walks alone. you have been
addressing her" 1 continued, "as Mis-
tress Vaughan. To that name she has
u right, for h was born to it. But
she has also every claim to another, for
when I rescued her from the insulting
attentions of your son, 1 interfered to
protect-Iny wife,
"A. loud hum of establishment burst
from the Puritan portion of my audi
ence, and Sir John laid his hand over
his mouth, bent down his head and
looked at US long and earnestly. It a
now time for me to go, out the old man
made no move, and every n waited
for him; I, too. At last he took off his
hat and made Enid a stiff bow.
Mistress Heathcote," he said, "I ask
was a device for which 1t We're hard to
blame you. Geoffrey Heathcote." he
went on, turning to me, IT tell you h
plain truth when I say that were the
warrant hold against you a private
matter touching my own fortune alone,
I would tear 1t In a thousand pieces
and fling it into yonder moat."
I bowed and kept a wary eye IN Jack,
was lingering his pistol hungrily.
a magistrate and a sworn servant Of
the commonwealth Of England I have
no choice but to execute It, and I will
procure 0 a fair trial."
And, pending that, Sir John, you will
see that no n disturbs my wife in her
own house here?"
She shall be safe" said he.
II thank yeu." I replied; that is all
I could wish"
Enid, OF her own instinct, gently
lcosed her mold upon me, knowing that
the time of my attempt was now come.
yield yourself" cried Jack, and -four
ished his sword. ! made a single bound
to the top OF the low parapet, and OWED
clean into the 1noat. AS / Glove the
water, the sound of a pistol shot rang
my ears, but 1t was too late and I
was untouched. / SWAN across under
the water and came up to breathe
among a olump of sedges on the fur
taer side.
"A deep drain emptied itself into the
moat within a yard Of my head and
I crept into ft@and Waded along till I
was beyond pistol shot. Then / climbed
out and looked back. Enid was
crouched on the parapet, watching a
gerly, and I heard her cry OF joy as I
waved my hand and started to run
down the park. For there was need to
put my best foot foremost.
My enemies had got to horse, and
swept round the further angle of
the house In hot pursuit. I had three
hundred yards between me and cover,
and 1 fled for my life. A plantation Of
young ashes lay before me,
and ] strained every nerve to gain 1t
before my pursuers could come up to
me. No law was granted to SO obsti-
a fugitive, and, as I saw the
bay draw nearer and nearer, I heard
shot after shot ring out. The sounds
filed me with renewed hope.
4 dared not glance behind te sic how
- stood, but lie they had taken to their
pistols, 1T was scarce likly they x
pected to- run me dOwnEfn the open.
One or two balls whistled pretty nigh.
uttthe&bsstof shots can take no aim
on q gaIioping horse. and I tumbled.
over the hedge and darted into the
wood In safety. Here was no ground
for a horse to follow, and knowing the
place as j did, feared no pursuit on
foot. pushed swiftly through the.