The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-01-29


straight blue eye.
Ladies" he said. as he reached IN
road. II crave your pardon humbll
This. I think. is the coach Of my lord
the earl of Banbury. Mayhap this !
the Lady Catharine Knollys 10 whom
speak,"
The lady addressed still gazed a
him. though she drew up with dignity
"You have quite the advantage o
u.s." said she. She glanced uneasily a
the coachman. but the order to go for
ward did not quite leave her lips.
Il am not aware do not know
she began, afraid of her adventure now
1t had come. after the way of al
dreaming maids who pirate of men and
conquests.
Il should be dull of eye did not sec
the Knollys arms" said the stranger
smiling and bowling low. And
should be i'll advised of the families
of England did |. not know that the
daughter of Knollys, the sister of the
earl of Banbury, is the Lady Catharine,
and most charming also. This | might
say, though tbs true | never was in
| London or in England until now"
AS though it were another person.
Lady Catharine heard herself murmur
And you. sir?"
81 am John Law, of Lauriston, Scot
| land, madam, and entirely at your
service. That is my brother Will, yon-
der by the bank" He smiled, and the
younger man came forward, hesitating-
ly, and not with the address of his
brother, though yet with the breeding
of gentleman.
The eyes of Mary Connynge took in
both men with the same look. but her
eyes, as did those of the Lady Cath
arine became most concerned with the
first speaker.
MY brother and l are on our first
journey to London" continued he, with
gay laugh which did not consort
fully with the plight in which he
showed I'VE started by coach, as gen.
tlemen; and now we come on foot, like
laborers or thieves. Twas my own
fault. Yesterday | must needs quit
the Edinboro' stage. Last night our
chaise was stopped, and we were asked
to hand our money to pair of evil |
fellows who had made prey of us. In |
short--you see-we Jared i'll enough. |
Lost in the dark, we made what shift |
we could along this road, where we |
both are strangers At last, not able |
to pay for better quarters even had we
found them, we lay down to sleep. |
have slept far worse. And It's lovely |
Madam, | thank you for this
happy beginning of the day"
The face of Will Law hardly offered
complete proof of this assertion. He
had slept i'll enough, and in the morn
ing light his face showed gaunt and
pale. Here, then. was situation n,nsr
the coacn or TWO ladies.
unattended, stopped by two strangers.
who certainly could not claim introduce
ion by either friend or reputation.
Il did but wish to ask some advic5
Of the roads hereabout," said the elder
brother, turning his eyes full upon
hose of Lady Catharine. AS you see,
We are in i'll plight to get forward TO ;
he city. If you will be SO good as to
ell me which way to take, | shall re- q
member it most gracefully. Once in
he city, we should do better, for the {
'ascals have not taken certain papers, {
etters which l bear to gentlemen in /
he city-Sir Arthur Pembroke | may
lame as one-a friend of my fathers $
Who hath had some dealings with him {
n the handling of moneys. | have +
.lso word for others, and make sure
nat once we have got into town, We 7
hall soon mend our fortune" h
Lady Catharlne looAed at Mary
,onnynge and the latter in turn 8azed
t her. There could be no harm,
aid each to the other with her eyes. L
Surely it is our duty to take them IN II
ri.h u.s."
William called the Lady Cath p
rine Knollys, open the door for Mr.. G
.aw, of Lauriston!" :
The footman sprang to the ground
nd held open the door. Therefore, C
ito the coach stepped John Law and 6
is brother, late of Edinboro', some n
me robbed and afoot, but now TO come A
Ito London in circumstances which
lrely might have been far worse. Il
So in the merry month of May, with p
he birds singing in the trees, and the re
cent of the flowers waited coolly to fl
leir senses, they came on apace to the
lrong at Sadlers Wells. There it al
as that John Law, finding in pocket "
coin that had been overlooked, III
cached out to vender and bought Vi
use. He offered his flower with
eep inclination of the body to the
ady Catharine.
1t was at this moment that Mary :,
Dnnynge first began to hate her \;
lend the Lady katharine KnoIlvs -