Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1904-11-19
Author OF "Jennie Baxter.
Journalist" Etc.


posed and could not see any emissary
from the Scots that day. The high
official spoke feelingly of the disap.
pointment the monarch had been call
ed upon to endure through the unmerit-
ed success Of his rebellious subjects,
and this statement seemed to the trav-
eler only what was to have been ex-
pected
During the day Armstrong was priv
ileged in securing one brief interview
with Frances. The landlord had plac-
ed two rooms at her disposal, and in
the scantily furnished parlor the young
man had called upon her. The i'm
provement she had affirmed the evening
before was scarcely borne out by her
appearance, for she was wan and dis
pirited, so much so that when Arm
strong announced the disappearance of
Captain Rudby the tidings did not
seem to depress her more than was al
ready the case.
However. the news chung to her
mind, for as he was telling her that
the king could not see him that day
she suddenly said, in a tone which
showed she had not been listening, that
as Captain Rudby was not in Oxford
stay-she would go on at once to Ban
bury and there await the coming of
Armstrong. But the young man would
not hear of such course. 1t was i'm
possible he said, that an unprotected
lady in the disturbed state Of the coun-
try should travel alone between Ok
ford and Banbury. 1t was not likely
| Lat he would be held from the king
more than another day, and then they
would both set out together. Besides,
she needed all the rest she could obtain
before they turned north again.
The girl was too deeply detected even
to argue the question, when he so
strenuously opposed her desire. 1t
seemed that contrary fate was tight
ening the coils around her, and all
struggle against it was fruitless. There
were unshed tears in her eyes as she
glanced timidly up at him, and she had
the haunted look of one who was trap
ped. The unforeseen meeting with De
Courcy, although Cromwells words
should have prepared her. for it, had
completely unnerved her; that night
mare face of his confronting her when
ever she closed her eyes. The past had
come up before her in it's most abhor-
rent guise. She remembered striking
him fiercely with the jagged iron she
happened to hold in her hand, and
thought anything was justified that en-
abled her to escape his clutches, but
that he would carry so fearful dis
figuration to his grave chilled her with
fear of his vengeance; for if ever MUIR
der shone from mans eyes it glared
in his when she caught his first glance
the evening before.
All during the night the terrifying
vision drove sleep from her couch, and
she pondered on some possible method
of escape, but without result. How
gladly she would have confded her
peril to Armstrong, did she stand in
honest relation to him, but she could
not bring herself to ask help from a
man whom she had just rejected and
whom she would shortly rob. When
Armstrong mentioned the absence of
Rudby, she had utterly forgotten that
the ostensible reason for this Oxford
journey was to see him, and for mo-
ment it appeared that here lay loop
hole Of escape, but Armstrong; out
spoken opposition to her plan left her
with no adequate excuse for persisting
in it.
During this unsatisfactory coming to-
gether little was said by either. The
girl sat in chair by small table. and
he stood on the other side. Most of
the time her head rested on her hand, !
and he saw she was near to tears. He
censured himself again for his i'll timed
avowal Of the day before. but saw no
method by which he could annul it's |
save by saying nothing !
more.
On the third day of his stay in Ok
ford the suave De Courcy was COM
PEELED to bewail the continued indispo-
sition of the king. There were various
important matters awaiting his males
tvs attention. he said, but nothing
could be done until his recovery. Mean
while, to pass time that must be hang
ing heavily on the visitors hands, the
thoughtful Frenchman suggested that
Armstrong should indulge in stroll
around the Notifications AS soon as
ne was out of sight De Courcy FASTENED !
back to the inn. passed up the stair and
knocked at the door of the room occu-
pied by Frances Wentworth. On re-
ceiving permission to enter he went
IN and closed the door behind him. The
girl. who had expected different call
sr. rose from her chair and stood silent.
Madam, this Is meeting which
have long looked forward to with pleas.
ant anticipation" 4
"Sir, regret that have no share in
your felicity"
Perhaps you prefer that we should
meet as enemies
II prefer that we should not meet at
LII. and, knowing this. you may be
oil fn ;e;k |