The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-11-18
THE LIONS WHELP
A Story Of Cromwells Time
BY AMELIA f. BARR
Authoi Of Tho Bow of Orange Ribbon" ~. Thou and the Other One"
Tho Maid o Maiden Lane" Etc.
Copyright 1901. by Dodd Mead & Company IL rights esredJ


see her lose it."
Then Matilda laughed, and STOPPING
to her friend, kissed her and said,
Come, little Jane, | will ask your
pardon. Kiss and be friends, Jane. l
came to get your receipt for lavender
conserves, and this is nothing to it.
Come, let lis go to the still-room."
h spoke with al unconscious air of
authority, and Jane as unconsciously
obeyed it, but there was a GOODNESS in
her manner which did not disappear
her for half an hour about the spices
and the distilled waters.
When the electuary had been pre-
pared, the girls became silent. They
We're as remarkably contrasted as
were the t%enets, religious and civil,
for which they stood. But if mere
physical ascendency could have domi-
mated Jane Swaffham, she was in it's
presence. Yet it was o Matilda, but
Jane, who filed the cool, sweet place
with a sense of power not to be dis
puted. Her pale hair was full of light
and life; 1t seemed to shine in it's
waving order and crown-like coil. Her
eyes had a steady glow in their depths
that was ~invincible; her slight form
was proudly poised; her whole man
ner %resolute and a little cold, as of
Il who was putting down an offense
only h~alf-forgiven.
Matilda was conscious of James
1n~fnpnpn and che na1lnI oil har ou,r
charms forth to rival it. Putting out
Of account her beautiful face and
stately figure as not likely to affect
Jane, n assumed the manner she
had never known to fail-a name
half-serious and wholly affectionate
and confidential. She knew that
Swaffham vas always a safe subject,
and that a conversation set to that
key went directly to James heart. So
turning slowly round to observe ev-
erything, she said,
How cool and sweet is this place.
janet"
1T is, Matilda. l often think that
n might receive angels among these
pure scents"
o l 40 IAN ooSAAhl ICi
me put my hands through it," and she
hastily pulled off her white embroid-
cred gloves, and passed her hands,
shining with gems, through the delici-
ously fragrant green leaves.
Il have a passion for rosemary"
she continued. 1T always perfigures.
good fortune to me. Sometimes if l
uyoRn in tho pirhf 7 small TT rrn1
miles of it-and then l know my angel
has been to see me, and that some
good thing will tread in her footsteps"
Then she said with an attempt at
Indifference, when did you hear from
Cymlin? And pray in what place
must l remember him now?"
81 know not particularly. Wherever
the Captain-G General is, there Cymlin
Swaffham is like to be-"
why do you not ask after Stephens
f~ortune-good or bad?"
Il did not at the moment think OF
Stephen. When Cromwell is in the
mind tits impossible to find him fit
company. 1t is he, and he only"
yet if ever Stephen de Wick gets
a glimpse Of home, it is not home to
him until he has been at Swaffham."
Jane made no answer, and they
walked silently to the door where Ma
tilda's carriage was waiting. Mrs.
Swaffham Joined them as Matilda was
about to leave, and the girl said, 81
had come near to forgetting ONE
thing | wished to tell you. One Of
those men called Quakers was preach
ing his new religion at Squire Oliver
Leder's last night. There was much
disputing about him to-day"
What said Lady Heneage Of the
preacher" asked Mrs. Swaffham.
"She thought he ought to be put in
the stocks; and her sister Isabel said
that he was a good man, and had the
root of the matter in him. l heard
that he was to preach again at Deep
ing Den. Now, l must make what
haste l can; my father will be a
at my delay. Goodbye! faithful ,.u
we meet again."
"She says faithful yet knows not
how to be faithful"
"She is much changed"
1T would be strange indeed if she
was not changed. Before these trou-
bles she was a girl living at her
mothers knee, petted by her father,
and the idol Of her brothers. Two of
her brothers fell fighting by the side
Of Prince Rupert, her mother wept
herself into the grace for them, her
father is still nursing the wound he
got at Naseby, and her only brother,
Stephen, is with Charles Stuart. wher.
ever he may be. If such troubles did
not change a girl, she would be hewn
from the very rock Of selfishness."
On her way home Matilda sat erect,
lost in thought, and her eyes had a
look in them full of anxiety and sor-
row.. The sadness of an immense dis
illusion was over her. Her life ~
gone to ruin, but she trusted at
some miracle would restore it. All
her old friends had departed. The
grave had some: others had taken diff
ferent ways, or battle and exile had
scattered them. BY the side Of her