The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-08-23
CHAPTER XXI.


ana the nnlnoflIieE proved reluctant 10
let them proceed further with the jour-
ncy. 1t was evident that the COM
mandant had received instructions re-
aarding the very pass they presented
TO him for their safe conduct. because
he retired with it To the guardhOuse.
where he remained for a. time that
seemed perilOusly long, and even when
at last he came out with it be was
plainly stin suspicious and in doubt re-
garding what action he should take. Tt
was Frances who turned the scale in
her own favor and that Of her COM
paniOn.
Where did you get this pass?" the
commandant asked.
AT Corbiton Manor, in the county
OF Durham"
who gave it 10 youo'
ct was given to me by General
CrOmwels direction and written al
most Ia my own presence. ! might
say. or at least. a few moments after
had been speaking with him"
you went from Durham TO Oxford?"
yes" 8.
And have come from oxford here?"'
yes"
Did you travel through Banbury?"
1--WE stopped the night at BanbUry-
at the aBnbury Arms"
stopping there by the direction of
General Cromwell himself put in the
girl, much to the surprise of William
Armstrong. The officer looked up at
with interest,
when did the general give you such
Instructions"
You saw him at Northampton?
Yes. and 7 saw him again this MORN
ing before daybreak.'
"Really. And where was that?''
AT Brougbton castle three miles
west Of aBnbury. In my presence he
told his aid to ride to Banbury and
z , se a.,
be honored. Has the commander at
Banbury not obeyed his generals in
structions?"
yes, he has" admitted the officer.
looking with admiration on the young
woman who spoke so straightforward
". 'Sbut the communication came to me
by way of Coventry and it was some
what vague. The essenger reached
here but scant half-hour since and he
spoke of one person, not of two. May I
ask your name2' he continued to the
man.
William Armstrong.
"That is right. My orders are to pass
William Armstrong, holding a permit
from the general. but they say nothing
OF a lady
THAT is doubtless the messengers
mistake" said Frances confidently.
"NIy brother is. or was. up to this
morning Lieutenant Wentworth of the
parliamentary forces in Durham. This
morning General Cromwell wrote out
his commissions as captain and that 1
brought away with me from BrOughton
and sent II direct to Durham by my
servant. But YOU may detain me, If
YOU wish or send an. escort with me
back to the general. f viii be "A more
serious matter IL you detain Mr.. Arm
strong, who Is a Scotsman, and whom
the general has been at some pains to
further"
Indeed. madam. I shall detain nei-
Their OF YOU. My only excuse is that the
messenger was not as clear as he might
have been, and YOU come 50 clese on his
heels Besides I have had disquietins
news from Birmingham. There is a
rising of some sort forward. Birming-
ham has already been smitten sore by
the kings troops. so there is little fear
that the citizens have risen in his Ia
vor. but I surmise that there has been
some sort of royalist outbreak else
where in the north. Something is afOOt
for messengers have been galopine
through Alcaster TO the east of US for
Birmingham. You heard nothing Of
that further south2s
No" SAID Armstrong. who neVerthe-
less had shrewd suspicion where The
trouble lay. ''If there is any rOyalist
rising IN Birmingham 1 would like e
avoi dthe place L have no wish to ge
among the royalists. Are these roads
by which we can win east Of Birming
route for you whereby you may reacl
the main highway some seven miles
north of Birmingham, at Sutton Cold
feld.-
Il shall be much indebted to you i
you viii be 50 good"
The officer retired to the guard hous
and brought out aNrude map OF tn
district whic hhe save TO Armstrong
after explaining H. Then he serrt
soldier with them 10 set them ON IN
right way after leaving the village
When the soldier had departed and tn
two were once tDore, alone Armstroni
turned in his saddle and looked back a
the frowning towers of Warwick castle
looming up through the trees. very sug
gestve Of a prison.
"That-was a narrow shave he said
"and / have to thank you. Frances
that we have squeezed through
The gal shook her head.
ALAS. circumstances are proving 70
strong for me-" she said sorrOwfull1
land All, my old ideas OF right an
wrong are being nouted day an
night Just now I have used truth 70
the purposes OF falsehOOd. a faul
which I chided i'm YOU earlier IN on
tourney. i wish We were free Of On
entangelments and might be homes
once more.
You have done we'll Have no feai
and 7 still insist that the Lord stand
by us We cannot meet force Wit
force and must use What craft we ar
possessed or cromwell uses it, and S
does the king. Why should we be dc
barred2 ] think we are well out Of the
trap and / am wondering how man
hours viii elapse before the commando
is sorry he let us go"
They lunched on bread ard cheese
a wavside hut and once when the
reached the top Of a hin they sa
what they took 10 be birmingham ava
TO the west. The hyrOads they wei
traversing proved to be deserted. an
they resolved TO keep to them rath'
than seek the main highway at~Suttl
COldneld or elsewhere, for they col
sidsred that their comparative SLOW
ness would be more than compensate
for by greater safety. This course 500
proved of doubtful wisdom Without
guide the intricate lanes were puzzlin
and often came TO an end without ar
apparent reason When they took
the nelds the soil was heavy In mar
cases. and fatigued their horses. b
sides entangling them sometimes
lowlying lands that were alnio
marshes To add 10 their difficult
the sun became 0bscured in ha
and the temperature dropped sharpl
condensing The moisture in the q
about them. involving them in "a mi
that was worse than the darkest mgr
Stiu they struggled on. leaving the &
rection entirely TO their horses. At la
they came upon what appeared 70