The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-08-16
CHAPTER XIX.
Acquaintance.

she was already in tine saddle.
Set me on the road TO Broughton. |
( you please"
THE road for tonight is 'BrOughton, "
he whispered. then took the horse by
abe bride and led him down the street.
THE Girl became aware that the town
was alive with unseen men, for at
every corner the inkeeper breathed the
Nord "Broughton" to some one who
had challenged his progress She real
'ded then that Cromwell had surround
VI Armstrong with ring OF flesh. q
living clasp. as her own wrist had been
uircled earlier in The night. At last
ihey came suddenly from the shadow
af the houses into the open country,
and the night seemed lighter.
straight on for about a league" SAID
the inkeeper. You will be challenged
By a sentinel before you reach the
castle. and he yill lead you there. Re
member that the word going and re-
turning IS BroughtOn.' DO not forget,
] beg of you to tell the general that
all preparations were made TO your Tx
Ing" and with that the honest man LEI
20 the rein, smUte the horse on the
flank, and babe her good night.
In spite of herself the girl experienced
that eXhilar8tiOn which comes of the
morning air. The freshness Of the coun-
try, and the movement Of a spirited
horse. She berathed deeply and felt
as one brought newly to life again. IL
81 were not for her upbraiding con-
science and her distress Of mind she
could have sung for the JOY of living.
But the Biblical phrase. "A thief in the
night haunted her and brought
choking sensation to her throat. Once
or twice she wavered and almost
turned back. for there was still time
TO undo; but reflection showed her the
useIessness Of retreat as the town she
had left was man-envirOned and until
Cromwell gave the word of release,
Armstrong could no more reach its
outer boundary than she could have
escaped when his fingers closed upon
her wrist. Her sacrifice must be COM
plctc, or all she loved were involved in
common ruin. So with the phrase ring
ing i'm her cars, Thief in the night"
Thief i'm the night. through the night
she galloped until her horse suddenly
placed his fore feet rigid, and came TO
a stop so abrupt that the shock nearly
unseatcd her.
who EOes?' came the sharp Chal-
lcnge from under the trees that over
Swallowed the highway.
"BrOughton," she answered automat-
ically,
Are you the woman from Banbury?"
Yes"
This is Broughton castle. 1 viii lead
your horse"
They descended slight depression
and came to n drawbridge, passed I'M
der an arch in the wall, then crossed
level lawn, on the further edge OF
which stood the broad eastern front of
the castle. with its numerous null
lioned windows. "a mysterious half light
in the horizon playing or the blank
panes, which recalled the staring open
eyes Of r. blind man. The house
seemed high and somber with TO sign
..T fHsrH D In h.
against the door and il was opened at
once. Mufiled as had been the knock
ing on the oak, IL aWoke the alert gem
eral, for when Frances had dismounted
and followed her guide into the ample
hall. Cromwell stood at the head of the
stair. a candle i'm his hand. Less mind
ful of his comfort than Armstrong. he
had evidently slept in his boots, and as
Frances looked UP at him his strong
face seemed older than when she last
saw him, although but a few days had
passed The swaying flame of the cam
die held on a level with his head,
made the shadows come and go on the
rugged features and emphasized the
deep burrows in his face. His hair was
towsled, and he had the unkempt ap-
pearunce OF man who had slept in
his clothes. But his eyes burned down
upon her as if their fire had never been
eAIlnEulSneu Tor a moment
come up" he commanded, and as
she assembled the stair cried impatient
~ Welt"
There is the kings commission" she
said quietly, presenting the document
to him. He took it without a word.
turned and entered the room; she fol-
lowed him. He placed the candle on
q table. did not take the time to ,ntie
the silkcn cord that bound the royal
communication. but ripped it asUnder
and spread open the. crinklng parch-
ment, holding il mp TO the light He
read il through 10 the end. then cast
it COntemptuOusly on the table, NUT
tering;
''Charlcs Rex, \ wreck you have
made of lie and opportunity and coun-
try" Then 10 the girl. "Wench YOU
have done wen. Would you were a
man
"'rhe pardon Tor my brother. sir. if
IL please you"
"1t is ready. ana the commission rs
captain also. You see 1 trusted you."
so did another and through his
faith he now lies undOne at Banburv. q"
You have not killed him2" cried
Cromwell sharply, looking with some
thing almost like alarm at the uncanny
apparti0n. All beauty had deserted
her and her face seemed pinched and
small. white as the parchment on the
table, and rendered unearthly in its
hue by the mass of cavern black hair
that surrounded &c.
Killed him, no. But 1 have killed
his faith in woman. Cozened him. lied
10 him. robbed him. 60 buy for YOU
with the name OF your maker on your
lips, life that you know was not for
ieited, but which you had the power to
destroy"
All. yes, yes, yes. remember your
tongue of old, but IL may wag harm
less now for all Of me. His life was
forfeited; aye and this Scots as we'll.
But no matter now"
He threw before her the pardon for
her brother and his commission as cap
tain, then strobe out of the room to
the head Of the stair again and she
heard his strenuous voice;
"Hobson,"
Here, eXcellency."
Ride al once 10 the commandment at
Banbury. Tell him the Scot goes free
Tell him 10 send word north and see
that he is not molested. but should he
turn in his tracks and attempt to reach
oxford again. hold him and send word
10 me-"
YES. excellepcy."
Send up a stoup OF wine"
He waited at the stair-head until the
wine was brought. then took Il into the
room and placed 1t on the table before
her
Drink" he said
81 cannot" she cried.
Drink, drink" he shouted IN a voice
20 harsh that il made her tremble. She
lifted the fiauDn tn hp- Inns and barotv