The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-12-31
OVER THE
BORDER
BY Roberf Barr.
Ausho~ Of -Jsnnis Ba-rfsr. ysur-
poiish~ Etc.
CHAPTER xxi.

SoCCto Until NAtJ CtLnt " Tie OTOWD
inn. Oxford was no longer the home of
learning for any art save that of war
A few students still strolled its thor
oughfares, but the military man was
everywhere. The colleges had beer
turned into barracks and arsenals; the
king himself lived in Christchurch
over the towers of which hoated the
royal standard, now almost the only
red spot in all England
AS the party came, to halt the off,
Ger turned to Armstrong. "a propitious
meeting" he said. Here comes the
lord great chamberlain himself"
Armstrong noted the approach of
man with countenance so remarkable
that 1t might have been taken as typ
zeal Of war. From brow to chin was
drawn a long red scar, while another
ran transversely across the forehead
just over the eyes, so that there famed
from his face an angry cross that gave
a most sinister expression to visage
which, lacking these time healed
wounds, would have been handsome.
The chamberlain stopped abruptly IN
his advance, his gaze riveted Upon the
girl, and there came into his eyes a
look of such malignity that Armstrong
instantly turned his glance upon his
travelling companion.
The girls cheeks had gone deathly
white, and she swayed blindly in her
saddle. perilously near to falling. The
young man sprang from his horse and
caught her Just In time Bitterly he
blamed himself for this unexpected
collapse, cursing his persistence on the
road when he had plainly seen that
some strong emotion tormented her.
This mental perturbation, combined
with the physical strain she had under
gone during their long journey, fully
accounted for the prostration Of the
moment at the end
my poor LASS he said regretfully,
II am to blame. / am thoughtless,
selfish hound to have so sorely troubled
you with my insistence," =
at is not that" she whispered faint
ly, leaning heavily on him with the pa
thetic helplessness of a tired child, a
dependence which sent a thrill of pity
and love for her tingling to his finger
ends. Take me in; take me In quickly.
1 am Ill"
Now the lord great chamberlain, all
smiles and courtesy, stepped forward
and said with authority to the finn
keeper:
1.-THE chief rooms in the house for the
lady. Turn out whoever occupies them,
whatever their quality"
The landlord called his wife, and
Frances was given into her care.
The officer introduced the traveller &c
the high official:
my lord chamberlain, this gentle
man says he has come from the Scot
fish mobiles with message for his
majesty. Sir, M de Courcy, lord great
chamberlain to the king
Frenchman and Scot bowed 10 eacf
other, the grace Of the gesture betne
almost entirely IN favor Of the former
despite his marred face.
"Sir," said Armstrong TO The officer
II thank you for your guidance, ant
you, my lord" to De Courcy, flor you
kind and prompt command with re
spect to the lady. She has had a lont
and firing Journey through danger
Gus country, under continual fear o
arrest, and so 1t is not to be wonderet
that woman should succumb to th'
strain at the last"
1.-The officer who has left us did no
give me your name, SIR" said ID
Courcy.
IT am William Armstrong, somewha
known on the border, q Scottish gen
tleman and a loyal subject of his maj
esty the king"
''Then you are very welcome In OK
ford, and l am sure his majesty wishe
there were more like you in the Ell
virons thereof and the regions beyond
1t is now too late to see the king today
and probably you are not loath to NEE
a nights rest after hard days riding
l will arrange conference for yo
with his majesty as soon as possible"
''Thank you. If / may hint tina
every day is of value you will perhap
urge upon the king the danger of d.
lay"
81 shall not fail to do 80. Goo
night"
For the first time In his life Arm
strong left his horse to the care @
others and entered the inn to inquir
after the welfare OF the lady who nj
sorbed his thoughts She sent wor
that she was quite recovered. Blu
would see no one until the morrow
With this he was fain to be conten
and he wandered about the town in III
gathering dusk. hoping 10 do her
service by discovering the wbereabou'
OF Lord Rudby's son, 20 whom he sur
posed she carried some message froi
her brother,
He learned that this young man. wh
was a captain IN the kings army, ha
been sent, Il was supposed, 10 Londol
but nothing had been heard u Dim q
month or nore, nnd whether he va
=