The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-12-31

the lord Chamberlain, who expressed
deep regret that the king was indis-
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 cali
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
| LEGGED in securing one brief interview
with Frances. The landlord had plac-
ed two rooms at her disposal, and ir
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 Ruby 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 q 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 Ran
bury and there await the coming Of
Armstrong. But the young man would
not hear of such a 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
ttat 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 sc
strenuously opposed her desire. II
seemed that contrary fate was tight
ening the coils around her, and all
struggle against 1t 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 Cromwell's words
should have prepared her for II, 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 be would carry so fearful a dis
| fguration to his grave chilled her with
fear of his vengeance; for II ever muir
der shone from mans eyes 1t glared
in his when she caught his first glance
the evening before.
All during the night the terrifying
vision drove sleep from her couch, an6
she pondered on some possible method
of escape, but without result How
gladly she would have confded hel
peril to Armstrong did she stand II
honest relation to him, but she could
not bring herself to ask help from {
} man whom she had just rejected and
whom she would shortly rob. WheI
Armstrong mentioned the absence o.
Rudby, she had utterly forgotten tina
the ostensible reason for this Oxfort
, journey was to see him, and for q mo
ment 1t appeared that here lay loop
hole OF escape. but Armstrong; out
spoken opposition to her plan left he
J with no adequate excuse for persistina
In It.
During this unsatisfactory coming to
! gether little was said by either. Tn
girl sat In q chair by a small table, ant
he stood on the other side. Most o
the time her head rested on her hand
:, and he saw she was near to tears. III
! censured himself again for his III time
avowal of the day before, but saw n
+ method by which he could annul 1t
: consequences save by saying Dothin
: more.
On the third day of his stay in Ok
ford the suave De Courcy was CON
PEELED to bewail the continued indispc
sition of The king. There were variou
AAhpOl 1udlLtlS uWullll8 LIS lltJce
TVS attention, he said, but nothin
could be done until his recovery. Near
I while, to pass time that must be hang
+ ing heavily on the visitors hands, tn
J thoughtful Frenchman suggested tina
Armstrong should indulge in a stro
: around the Notifications AS soon a
s he was out of sight De Courcy hastene
/ back to the inn, passed up the stair an
knocked at the door of the room occr
:, pied by Frances Wentworth. On r,
I ceiving permission to enter he wer
:. in and closed the door behind him. Th
u girl, who had expected a different cal
err, rose from her chair and stood silen
L Madam, this is a meeting which
IS have long looked forward to with plea,
, ant anticipation
"Sir. / regret that have no share