Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-11-28
CHAPTER XVII.
. MEMoRABIE EVENING.

fire. The was empty when we en-
tered, but in a momen an old woman,
his wife, came in n held some con-
versation with him. From 1t l gath
cred hat a clergyman was expected
soon to visit Mistress Whitgift.
Twenty minutes later a light knock
came at the door and some one arrived.
9TH parson," thought / n won
dered if he would come in my way. Ten
to one / should know him, so near home
as l was.
Know him! He walked n the kitch-
en- and / almost shouted. DR.. Wiling
ham-Anthony Willingham, our w
doctor, whom 1 had heard preaching
steadily away in Butley church for an
our on end many and many a time. L
was ready to cry out for sheer pleas
ure at the sight of his cheerful red race,
gray hair, and big silver spectacles. But
L restrained myself and resolved to test
my disguise. He also was in like case,
for his dress bore no token OF his sacred
office, and was that of an unprosperous
drover. / had not known of late where
he was, for a stauncher royalist never
breathed, and he had been driven from
his rectory at Butley long ago., and
wandered at large among the cavalier
houses Of Worcestershire.
He stopped and whispered to the old
man, his eve on me. When he had
learned who / was he came forward. |
stood up, scraped a rude bow and Of
fered to draw back from the fire.
mo, no, my man." said the doctor;
keep thy seat, my good fellow. 1on-
der heap of oak billets will suffice to
warm us two, without one retiring
l sank down again upon the settee
and he seated himself in a ta~ll-backed
chair opposite and looked at ME
thoughtfully.
"Dost thou use the English tongue,
my friend?" asked DR.. Willingham.
Yes, your reverence" returned,
Disgusting my voice as well as | could
Il speak a little English"
That is lucky" he replied, for the
old fellow who used to march with that
young lady had never a word, and |
| should be glad to ask thee a few ques-
tons"
II will do your pleasure in all I can"
said /.
GAY. ay, honestly said" returned DR..
Willingham, beaming on me through
his great shining spectacles.
HAS there eve q stranger arrived at
Sir Arthur Vaughan's house of late?'
There have been many strangers"
l answered.
The one l speak Of" pursued he. 'is
a tail, straight, handsome young man,
we'll dressed and well mounted. our
master would call him nephew"
Ol, Sdlu Il YOU opNoh VI N"p'tN
Godfrey Heathcote, Of Butley Croft
Il do, / do" cried DR.. Willingham,
eagerly. Then he arrived safely
among the Welsh hills"
He did," l answered.
"The Lord be praised for it," cried
the good old man. Il felt sure the lad
had gone that way. And is yonder a
sure place Of refuSe?"
Better could not be- said l. 1T Is
a wild tangle Of hills, which few can
thread"
"Ay, ay," said the doctor, and clapped
his knee for joy.
l was perfectly satisfied with my ex-
pertinent. He seemed to have no sus-
plcicn but that he was talking with a
genuine serving nan and TO have de-
ceived the man who had christened me
and taught me the catechism left me in
an easy state of mind as regards other
people.
and he was safe and well when your
party left homer"
@Gre was and is, my dear old friend"
/ replied, in my natural voice. DR.. VIII
lingham started and looked fXedly at
me. / leaned forward and laid my
hand upon his knee. Doctor" said /,
forgive me playing with you, as it
seemed, but l was anxious to test my
disguise. / have had no opportunity to
do so before, and 1 am satisfied now"
MY lad, my lad, my dear Geoff,"
cried he, land is it you? And here?
Why have you left your safe hiding
place, and what do o do here in the
midst of danger? And how did you
come by hat hur upon your face?"
False" said 1; there is nothing I'M
der the patch" The doctor held me by
the hands, which he shook again and
again, then patted my shoulder just as
he did when 1 was a boy, next took
huge pinches Of snuff, n was alto
gether in n state OF great excitement
and wonder, at once delighted and fear
full to see me there.
'"Tell me everything" he said, land
l will advise you to the best of my abil-
ity."
TT is just what l wish 10 do said I,
and plunged at once into my story. For
details l had neither time nor fancy,
and in ten minutes l had put him in
complete possession of the heads of my
doings since l fed from Butley Croft.
| had just finished, n he was
th~oughtfully polishing his spectacles
Eliminating upon my story, when the
old man of the house came in.
DR.. Willingham looked up and the
old man spoke. MY mistress would
like to see your reverence now
Yes, william" he replied, Il will
come at once"
He turned to me. my duty calls me
away for the moment, Godfrey" said
he, 'but we shall have an opportunity
Of conversing upon upon these matters
later"
He went away, the old man followed
him, and l was left alone. A few min
utes passed and the door opened again
| looked up and SAY Enid enter the
room. S%pringing up l fastened to hel
and took her in my arms to kiss away
the tears, which were falling fast.
"Oh, she is weak, very weak" said
Enid, and / fear / have done wrong In
coming to distress her. She is SC
troubled because
because she fears she cannot render
you the help o need" Enid made 6
/, gesture of assent.
Il have told her everything" wills.
pered Enid. she insisted. feeble a:
|; she is, OH my telling her all that haC
happened"
The latch clicked and we started
| apart, mistress and servant again. /
= was only Siani, however, followed in
moment by William.
The latter, helped by Siani, set on
food, and we sat down at a long table
| my love being placed at the top wit
a tablecloth before her, and l at tn
bottom with my dish on the bare oak.
l May, William" said she, when sh
; observed how the old man was mar
shalling us. This is not a serving maj
as old Gwilym was. He is a gentlemal
: and must sit near me-"
oh said William, under a CLOUD
Ell? My respects to the gentleman" h
} continued, turning q sad eye on me
7 but there are folk in this village VIII
might come to this house at any min
: ute, and trouble might hap for hir
, were he suspected"
. Upon this hin we remained as w
! were, and the meal was swiftly made
: Enid disappeared again, Slant began
. clear away the supper dishes. tn
: old man came and stood opposite to m
in the chimney corner to which l ma
returned.