Morris tribune., 1904-11-26
Author of"Jennie Baxter.
Journalist" Etc.

81 care nothing for the king. Draw
you poltroon, or shall kill you where
you sit.'
"My dear Armstrong, l refuse to be
murdered under misapprehension on
your part. 1 have said nothing against
the girl. IT'S all your own hot blood
And indeed your brawling is the girls
greatest danger; she might we'll trem-
BILE if she knew your present occupa-
ton. If you run your nimble sword
through me, you give the girl to the
fate that befell her father"
At the first word of danger to Fran
ces the point Of Armstrong; blade
ing. A CLEAN Of triumph glinted and
died in the eye Of the Frenchman. He
knew he was the victor, although the
chance he had run at one stage of the
game almost made his heart stop beat
ing
"How can any action of mine jeopar-
die Lady Frances Wentworth?'
IF the king knew this girl was with
in his jurisdiction, she would be in
stantly arrested, tried and condemned.
She entered Whitehall the day her
father was executed for the sole pur-
pose Of numbering Charles l prevent
ed the carrying out of that purpose
and these scars on my face are the
results of my interference with a mad
dened woman"
again, you lie, yet if she had killed
you both she would have accomplished
but justice"
GAS to the truth or falsity Of my
statements, regarding which you make
comments Of unseemly terseness, you
may ask the king when you see him,
or you may ask the lady herself when
you get her out of Oxford If you pre-
cipitate turmoil here, you are like to
tumble her pretty head in the basket.
When this war is done with l will go
far to teach you the correct method Of
addressing gentleman"
Armstrong; sword dropped into
scabbard again, and he drew breath
that was sigh. The poison was al
ready at work. He remembered the
distress Of the girl on the road, and her
wall, II am not worthy the love of any
honest man" *
II shall never question her or any
other, but will believe her lightest
word against the world when she con-
descends to tell me. Meanwhile l shall
get her out of this thieves den as soon
oo no nd T
De Courcy had risen, and now bowed
slightly to his perturbed guest.
"Sir, you shall meet me at IL, and
1t will be my privilege to conduct you
to his majesty. Good morning"
He stood by the window overlooking
the quadrangle and watched his late
visitor cross it, staggering once as if
he had partaken freely of the wine
which remained untasted on the Ia
BILE. AS the Scot disappeared under the
archway De Courcy laughed.
my fine, strutting cockerel," he NUT
tered, ''Tll lay you by the heels before
two days are past. Cromwelps at
Broughton, curse his tattling tongue.
How many more has he told Of me?
Never mind. He's the coming man.
The kings game is up. and I shake
the dust Of Oxford from my. feet to-
night. st. Denis, if she had, only
known! Every man in Oxford distrusts
me except the king"
When Armstrong was brought before
Charles he found no difficulty in con-
vincing the king that he was a we'll
accredited envoy, and his majesty in
quired eagerly about the disposition Of
the Scottish people toward him. the
likely to take, the field in his
behalf, who their probable leaders
were. and how soon they would be
ready for the fray. All these ques-
tons Armstrong answered as hopefully
as he could, in deep commiseration for
a defeated man. The king commanded
one Of his secretaries to write out the
required commission, and while this
was being done, Armstrong related to
him the purport Of the papers Which he
had not dared to bring with him.
The names Of the mobiles were. insert
ed in the document from the dictation
Of the Scot. then the kings seal was
affixed and Charles signed the parch-
ment He seemed in feverish haste to
get the business done with. as If every
lost was irreparable. When +,
the ink was dried and the parchment
folded Armstrong placed it in safe :
keeping within his vest. While thus
engaged the king said word to the
secretary. who handed him light
rapier. then whispered to- the mes
senger the single word "kneel." The t
Scot flushed to think he had been !;
in the etiquette Of the court,
his kind heart yearning to prefer any
Differences which should be rendered
to monarch. more especially that he
was no longer in d position to enforce
homage. He dropped on one knee and ,
bowed his head. Charles. rising. touch /
ed the rapier blade lightly upon the
shoulder Of the kneeling man. saying:
Rise. Sir William Armstrong. and
De assured that II you bring this poor
li0natIlre OP mine RI Scotia nj thara ia