Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1904-11-19
Deer The
Border sz;;
CON S@G BARR,
49, ...- Author of Jennie Baxter.
~o''''f E.....;.t a. Stole. Co. Journalism Etc.
CHAPTER XXI.
Copyright. 1908. by
Frederick II. Stokes Co.

St1SclS uulll luey CduIo W Tue CiOWu
inn. Oxford was no longer the home of
learning for any art save that of war
4 few students still strolled it's thor
rughfares. but the military man was
everywhere. The colleges had been
turned into barracks and arsenals the
King himself lived in Christchurch,
ever the towers of which foated the
loyal standard. now almost the only
red spot in all England.
As the party came to halt the Off
rer turned to Armstrong. "a propitious
meeting he said. Here comes the
lord great chamberlain himself"
Armstrong noted the approach of a
man with a countenance so remarkable
hat it might have been taken as typ
al of. war. From brow to chin was
sz..rawn a long red scar, while another
ran transversely across the forehead
last over the eyes, so that there famed
4 .om, his face an angry cross that gave
4 most sinister expression to a visage
~ hich. lacking these time healed
wounds would have been handsome.
4he chamberlain stopped abruptly in
LIS advance. his gaze riveted upon the
Iii and there came into his eyes d
Hsok 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,
Il am to blame. l am thoughtless,
selfish hound 10 have SO sorely troubled
you with my ins.stence.'
st is not that she whispered faint
", leaning heavily on him with the pa
fhetic helpiesSness of a tired child,
dependence which sent a thrill of pity
and love for Ler tingiing to bis finger
ends. Take he in; take me in quickly.
/ am ILL.," y
Now the lord great chamberlain, all
smiles and courtesy, stepped forward
and. said with authority to the inn
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 to
the high official:
"My lord chamberlain, this gentle
man says he has come from the Scot
fish mobiles with a message for his
majesty. Sir, NJ. de Courcy, lord great
chamberlain to the king"
Frenchman and Scot bowed to each
other, the grace of the gesture being
almost entirely in favor of the former
despite his married face.
"Sir," said Armstrong to the officer,
Il thank you for your guidance, and
You, my lord" to De Courcy, for your
kind and prompt command with re-
spect to the lady. She has had long
and firing journey through a danger
GUS country, under continual fear of
arrest, and SO it is not to be wondered
that a woman should succumb to the
strain at the last"
1.-The officer who has left US did not
give me your name, SIR" said De
Courcy.
II am William Armstrong, somewhat
iknoWn on the border, a Scottish gen
tlenan and a loyal subject of his maj
esty, the king"
'"Then you are very welcome in Ok
ford, and am sure his majesty wishes
there were more like you in the en-
virons thereof and the regions beyond.
1t is now too late to see the king today
and probably you are not loath to meet
q nights rest after a hard days riding
I will arrange a conference for you
with his majesty as soon as possible"
''Thank you. If I may hint that
every day is of'value you will perhaps
urge. upon the king the danger Of de-
lay"
81, shall not fail to do 80. Good
night"
Fot. the first time in his life Arm
strong left his horse to the care of |
,Dthers and entered the inn to inquire
after the welfare Of the lady who alb
Berbed his thoughts. She sent word
That she was quite recovered, but !
would see no one until the morrow.
With this he was fain to be content,
and lie wandered about the town in the ;,
gathering dusk, hoping to do her a
service by discovering the whereabouts
o6 Lord Rudby's son, to whom he sup
posed she carried some message from
aer brother.
He, learned that this young man, who
MAS a captain in the kings army, had
been sent, it was supposed, to London,
but nothing had been heard Of him for
q month or more, and whether he was
prisoner or not none could say. This
depressed Armstrong, who
hot ovir1 ho1 fol-