Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-11-09
had been constantly changing Their

had been constantly changing Their
positions, De Courcy advancing and
Frances retreating, keeping the table
between them. The girls design was
plain enough. She desired to hold him
in conversation, gradually shifting her
position, until she got between him and
the door, when sudden dash might
give her freedom. But he easily faith
omed this design and laughed as he
checkmated it. At her last words,
however, he drew himself upright,
look Of genuine amazement overspread.
ing his face.
when he is freel" he echoed. Pow
ers of heaven! Then you have not
come to reproach the king, but oplead
with him!"
''Why should reproach him?'
ut would surely be useless enough,
but feminine. Why? Because Gregory
Brandon, with one good stroke, severed
the kings word and Strafford's neck
on Tower hill this morning."
The girls face went white as the
kerchief about her throat, and, sway
Ing half an instant, she leaned against
the table for support. Something in
the brutal method of the announce
ment convinced her of its truth more
surely than il he had spoken with all
the solemnity Of which he might be
capable. Yet she struggled not to be-
lieve.
you are lying to me-" she gasped.
Far from 1t, my little lady. How
could l Imagine you did not know?
You are surely the only person in Lon
don who is ignorant of it. Why is
everything SO quiet near Whitehall,
where the generous citizens have been
SO solicitous about us of late? Merely
because the center of interest has
changed to the other end of the town,
and rare show was put on the stage
for all good people to see, free of cost
to themselves, unless they have the
brains to know of what they are be-
reft by Strafford's death, which is most
unlikely"
AS he spoke he had been edglng to-
ward her, catlike, but she paid no heed
to him. Then with spring he caught
her wrists, but she did not move or
make any effort to free herself She
looked duly at him, as if wondering
why he acted SO.
you will be pleased to withdraw
yourself, sir. and let me go. My heart
IL broken"
She spoke with forced calmness, but
there was tremor in her tone that
cast doubt on her former assertion re-
garding the tears.
your heart is not broken, and If 1t
was I'd mend it for you. Absurd!
Why, You knew the man for scarce a
day, and that time is full short for the
growth of any large affection"
Il shall never love any as 1 have
loved him"
"Tush! How little you know of your
self. You are very goddess of love,
and will"-
He released one wrist and endeavor-
ed to slip his disengaged arm about her
waist. This seemed to rouse the girl
from her stupor, for she suddenly
thrust him back and, taking him I'M
aware, sent him sprawling; then she
sprang for the door. But he was rs
nimble MS she, for, quickly recovering
himself, he held her tight before she
could turn the key.
"Sir, you forget who am. Release
me at once and modest me no further"
"Divinest of the fair, swear to
you''-
She whisked herself free of him, and,
darting to the other side of the room,
whipped down thin rapier from the
wall.
you will be well advised to put an
end to this fooling am now In no hui
NOR for it, and WI, yoa--nevcr. II you
have not the gift 10 see ii, / would
have you know that detcst you and
despise you, and have done so since
first saw you"
"Ah, my little Lady Tcrmagant, you
. say us much now, but when the world
knows you paid thousand pounds for
lover there will be many envious per-
sons who wish to be despised us
much.'
"You ruffian and thief! Well did
Vollins estimate your honesty. But
stand aside from that door or your
J stealing will profit you little"
"1ndeedW cried De Courcy, with a
laugh, as he possessed himself Of a
similar weapon to that which threat
} ened him. "'Tis already squandered,
. and am in sore need of n further in
stallment. Are you for duel, them"
"If you are coward enough to lift
blade to woman"
II meet kiss with kiss and steel with
steel, always ready for either. Guard
: yourself, madam"
: His pretended antagonism was but
. feint to throw her off the guard he
advised her to maintain, for, being one
. of the best swordsmen Of his time, he
knew by her holding of the blade that
. she was ignorant of its practice. He
brushed her sword aside, dropped his
. own and sprang in upon her, grasping
J again her helpless wrists, her arms
pinioned thus transversely across her
, body, her right hand still clinging to
, the useless hilt, with the blade extend.
ing past her shoulder and behind her.
His sneering, grinning face SO close to
hers that his breath famed her cheek,
he pressed her back and back against
. the wall, the sword bending and bend.
ing behind her until the blade snapped
off some six inches from the hilt and
fell ringing to the floor.
D.