Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-10-06

in the least curious II you intended
to marry her, then were my mouth
sealed. Very well, since you will have
It, and | take your word as gentle
man pledged that you will say nothing
TO the girl of this until you are clear Of
oxford Know that was once her be-
trothed. She WINS TO have been my
wife, and would have been my wife to-
day had her father not fallen"
your wife"
yes. Her father gave me permits
sion to pay my court to her. She could
not have been much more than sixteen
then and | WAS her first lover per
sonage that q girl never forgets Her
fathers ruin changed my plans, and
refused TO marry her. | announced this
refusal 10 her in the seclusion of my
own room in whitehall and
'Slr, you lie!'
Armstrong; sword seemed to spring
of its own will from the scabbard, and
his hand drew it a-swish through the
air with tie hiss Of deadly serpent.
The FrenChman shrugged his Shout
ders, but did not move. The three
words Of his opponent had been spoken
very quietly, despite his impulsive ac-
ton. De Courcy did not raise bis voice
Us he asked.
Which of my statements do you
question:
"No matter for that We fight on
his phrase in Scotland. No man ever
called me liar and lived
Ills coarse phrase. I admit. and
did not represent my king as
free as YOU you should have had my
response in steel ere this But | cannot
wreck the King in q private quarrel Of
my own, Whether you killed me or l
you. twould he equally disastrous to
his majesty
Il care nothing for the king. Draw,
/ you poltroou or | shall Kill you where
you sit
My dear Armstrong | refuse to be
murdered under q miSapprehension on
your part | have said nothing against
! the girl. lis all your own hot blood.
And indeed your brNwling Is the girls
| greatest danger. she might well trem-
bic if she knew your present occupa-
/ ton. IF you run your nimble sword
through me, you give the girl to the
fate that befell her father"
At the first word OF danger 30 Fran
COS the point OF Armstrong; blade
sank 10 the door, and he stood hesitat-
! inc frlp of triYI LINT Il
died IN the eye OF the Ircnchman. He
knew he was the victor, although the
I chance he had run NJ one stage Of the
game almost made his heart stop beat,
Ing.
How can any action of mine jeopar
die Lady Frances Wentworth"
IF the king knew this girl was with
in his Jurisdiction, she would be in
stantly arrested, tried and condemned
She entered Whitehall the day LEI
father was executed for the sole pur
pose Of numbering Charles. | prevent
ed the carrying out OF that purpose
and these scars on my face are the
results of my interference with mad
dened woman"
again, you lie, yet II she had killeC
you both she would have accomplished
but justice"
LAS to the truth or falsity OF my
statements, regarding which you MAKE
comments Of unseemly tersencss, you
may ask the king when you see him
or you may ask the lady herself wheI
you get her out Of oxford, If you pre-
cipltate turmoil here, you are like Il
tumble her pretty head in the basket
When this war is done with | will "
far to teach you the correct method o
addressing gentleman
Armstrong; sword dropped int
scabbard again, and he drew a brcatl
that was a sigh. The poison was al
ready at work. He remembered tn
distress Of the girl on the road, and he
wall, Il am not worthy the love Of an.
honest man"
Il shall never question her or an.
other but will believe her lghtes
word against the world when she con
descends to tell me. Meanwhile | shal
get her out of this thieves den az 500
as may he, and when | meet you
DE Courcy had risen, and now bowe,
slightly to his perturbed guest.