Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-12-21

SapaoiA huupS tile tlulIlSS ulu uOl
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 Il tone which
showed she had not been listening, that
as Captain Rudby was not in Oxford
there was no reason why she should
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 n 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
Il at 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 n contrary fate was tight
ening the coils around her. and all
struggle against 1t was fruitless. There
were unshc1 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 Cromwell's 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 its 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 confided 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 aud
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 lie 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 lie could annul its
consequences 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 majes-
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 a stroll
around the Notifications. AS soon us
he was out of sight De Courcy hastened
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 q different call
err, rose from her chair and stood silent,
Madam, this is meeting which /
have long looked forward to with pleas
ant anticipation"
"Sir, regret that have no share in
your felicity"
Perhaps you prefer that we should
meet as enemies"
Il prefer that we should not meet at
oil, and, knowing this, you may be
good enough to make your visit us
short as possible"
Il cannot find words to express my
sorrow on learning am so unwelcome.
am sure thtrt when last we met did
my best to make your visit as long as
could, SO why should you wish to short
en- mine?"
1t seemed to the girl that there was
something unnecessarily shameless in
his allusion to n circumstance that had
SO disfigured him. AS she made no re-
ply he went on with airy nonchalance:
"Wfll you excuse me If l lock the
door, and, showing that experience is
proficient schoolmaster, / ask the ex-
tension of your forgiveness to cover the
act of putting the key in my pocket?
we live and learn, you know. Not that
fear any interruption. for the inno-
cent and excellent Scot is at this mo-
ment investigating our battlements and
Will. not return this three hours or
more"
The polite intruder locked the door
and put the key in his pocket, then ad-
vanced toward her. She retreated to
the other room, and for moment he
thought she was about to barricade
herself within, but she reappeared on
the instant with jeweled dagger in
her hand.
II warn you, sir, that IL you ap-
proach within striking distance will
pierce you to the heart"
The Frenchman smiled and waved
his line White hands with n gesture Of
inimitable grace.
"Fairest of the Wentworths," he said,
"may sit down, and if 1 place this
table between us will you feel safer?"
you will be safer so long as 1t re-
mains between u.s."
Il assure you my own safety weighs
but lightly with me. implore you to
be seated, for cannot converse at
ease with lady who is standing"