The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-29
Ouer the Doraer
II Stirring Story Of The English Parliamentary H>ar
Ru RORERT RAPR
Copyrighted. 1903. by Robert Barr.)
By ROBERT BARR

spirits but she will be the better for
seeing the green fields again. Like my
self, she of the country, and does not
thrive within the walls of a town.
Yes. 1 noticed that when she was In
London" '-t.' .'s f.. ..t- -
In London? Did you know her in
London?"
tionship? Perhaps l should not have
mentioned it."
What do you mean by your relation
ship? You are French; she is pure Eng
lish."
De Courey threw back his head and
laughed unheeding. and indeed unnot1c-
ing the angry color mounting In face
that had grown suddenly stern .-.,
MY dear conrade. there other re-
lationships between a young man and
handsome woman than the ties of kin
ship. But those days are long past, and
should never have recalled them had
it not been that you two have been trav-
cling about the country together I make
no doubt with an innocence that he
calls the sylvan days Of yore."
Armstrong pushed back his chair and
rose to his feet.
"Sir, the lady took her brothers place,
he being unexpectedly and grievously
wounded. My position has been that of
| true comrade to her.
| THAT is precisely what I have said.
said your journey was one of Arcadian
| innocence
"These were your words. but your tone
bears meaning I resent"
you are quite in error. I will say no
more about her.
| you have already. said too much or
| too little Tell me In plain words what
this relationship was to which you have
referred"
First answer me question. Are you
betrothed to Frances Wentworth"'
| mo. I told you I acted the brothers
| part toward her in this Journey.
"Oh, we all say that. but I am not IN
the least curious. If you intended to
marry her, then were my mouth sealed
| Very we'll, since you will have 1t, and
| take your word gentleman pledged
| that you will say nothing to the girl OF
this until you are clear Of Oxford, know
that was once her betrothed. She was
to have been my wife, and would have
| been my wife to-day had her father not
| fallen.'' - 49, --@. -
Your wife,"
Eyes. Her father gave me permission
I to pay my court to her. She could not
have been much more than Is then, and
was her first lover, a parsonage that a
girl never forgets. At first she was
frightened, but that stage did not last
long. Her fathers ruin changed my plans
and refused to marry her. I announced
this refusal to her in the eclusion of my
own room in Whitehall and
"Sir. you lie!''
''Armstrong's sword seemed to spring
| Of it's own will from the scabbard, and his
| hand drew it a-swish thru the air with the
| hiss Of a deadly serpent The Frenchman
| shrugged his shoulders, but did not move.
The three words of his opponent had been
spoken very quietly, despite his impuisive
action. De Courcy did not raise his voice
| as he asked: Which Of my statements 90
| you question:
| mo matter for that We fight on this
phrase in Scotland. No man ever called
me liar and lived" :..--.. So -. ~
| "'Tis a coarse phrase, admit, and, did
not represent my king-were as free as
you, you should have had my response in
| steel ere this. But I cannot wreck the
king In a private quarrel Of my own.
Whether you killed me, or you, 'twould
be equally disastrous to his majesty
"I care nothing for the king. Draw,
you poltroon or shall kill you where you
sit"
my dear. Armstrong, refuse to be
murdered under a misrepresentation on
your part. I have said nothing against
the girl. It's all your own hot blood.
And, indeed, your brawling Is the girls
greatest danger; she might we'll tremble
i'm she knew your present occupation. II
you run your nimble sword thru me, you
give the girl to the fate that befell he1
father" .'' -
At the first word of danger to Frances
the point Of Armstrong; blade sank to the
floor, and he stood hesitating. A CLEAN
Of triumph glinted and died in the eye o.
the Frenchrnan. He knew he was the vic
tor, altho the chance he had run at one
; stage of the game almost made his hear
stop beating. iii s-..,
How can any action Of mine jeopardiz'
Miss Wentworth?'
! If the king knew this lady was within
} his jurisdiction, she would be Instant.
arrested, tried and condemned. She en-
) tered Whitehall the day her father wa
executed for the sole purpose Of muir
der1ng Charles. prevented the carrying
out Of that purpose and these scars OF
my face are the results Of my interior
I ence with maddened woman
:: Again you lie. yet If she had kille'
7 you both she would but have accomplishe'
the justice of Cod --.- 20
e LAS to the truth or falsity Of my state
[ ments, regarding which you make com
ments of unseemly terseness, you may as
the king when you see him, or you ma;
e ask the lady herself when you get he
out of Oxford. If you precipitate tur
moil here you are like to tumble he
u pretty head in the basket. When this wa
q is done with I will go far to teach 20
the correct 1NetIlOu u duuIeSSHiS d SoH
= tleman.'
1 Armstrong; sword dropped into scah
IT bard again and he drew breath that wa
= a sigh. The poison was already at worl
He remembered the distress Of the 81
on the road, and her wall. I'm not worth
of the love of any honest man.
Il shall never question her or any othe
but will believe her highest word again!
lie the world when she condescends to te
) me- Meanwhile I shall get her out
< this thieves den soon may be, an
1t by God when meet YOU"
': De Courcy had risen. and now bowe
N slightly to his perturbed guest "Sir, yc
1t shall meet me at II, and 1t will be m
If privilege to conduct you to his majest
ID Good morning"
'e He stood by the window overlooking tt
lie quadrangle and watched his late visitt
. cross it. staggering once If he Ia
it partaken freely Of the wine which r.
lie manned untasted on the, table. AS tt
l. Scot disappeared under the archway [
lie Courcy laughed. -.-.,-..-.a,....
Is "My fine, strutting cockerel," he mu
tered, III. lay you by the heels befo
m two days are past. Cromwell's
le Broughton, curse his tattling tongu
i How many more has he told Of me? New
e. mind. He's the coming man. The king
l. games up and I shake the dust Of Oxfo1
at from my feet tonight Saint Denis. If 81
ze had only known! Every man In Oxfo
lie distrusts me except the king"
Ill When Armstrong was brought befo
We Charles a great pity filled him as he gaz'
at for the first time on that gaunt, hagga
w face, the face Of a beaten man, with h