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


and not abroad for it. l had sooner
wed the 1iend from the pit than you"
De Courcy laughed lightly.
'That We're sulphurous mating in
deed! Still you see how l adore you
when l restate my determination to
occupy the DEVILS place at your side
before the altar. You but whet my ex-
pectation, for l should dearly love to
tame you as your Shakespeare tanned
his shrew."
THAT you shall never do while q
hands breadth of steel will rid me of
you, or myself of the world. Escape
is too easy"
"Not from an Oxford dungeon, my
dear. This medieval town furnishes
us with dark pits in which there is no
fire, and consequently they have cool
ing effect on the hottest temperament.
These Me pits of which am the fiend.
My dear, you underrate my power or
overrate my patience"
"There are English gentlemen in Ok
ford. On what plea could you induce
them to think that an English lady
should be placed in n dungeon?"
"Yes, there are English gentlemen
here, and some French gentlemen as
well. They are unanimous in their
detestation of spy, male or female.
Your man we shall hang out Of hand,
and there will be little difficulty about
the pleasing task. shall myself plead
that your life be spared, and they will
agree. Everything will be dope with
that beautiful legality which the Eng
lish SO much admire, but even from this
moment you are entirely in my power,
and sensible woman should not need
SO much argument to convince her that
the situation is hopeless"
Armstrong is no spy"
HE may have difficulty in proving he
is not. am glad to note that you ad
NIT by inference that you are spy"
Il can prove he is not spy"
Your evidence would be tainted. You
are an accomplice. Besides, you could
not clear him without condemning
yourself"
"Such will 1 gladly do 1 glory in
that l would sacrifice myself with ipy
to save William Armstrong, the awk-
ward Scot, as you called him. Besides.
one word from me to Armstrong will
transfer the danger to you. He will
break you like Il reed"
Indeed, my dear, you do yourself in
justice in threatening me. You shall
have no opportunity of speaking your
one word, for when next we meet. If
we part now without coming to ami
cable arrangement, you will be on your
knees to me pleading for his life"
"That will not. 1 shall 90 to the
king
Frances, you dishearten me and
cast grave doubts on the possession of
that sound sense with which credited
you. Was your first appeal to the king
for mans life SO successful that you
build hopes on second?"
IF Charles had kept his word with
me then he would not now be ENGAGED
In Oxford. He abandoned my father
and chung to such us you, and not a
foot of English ground remains to him
DuC Wnat he stands on"
What would have happened had
Stanford lived, neither you nor can
tell, and all discussion thereon is aside
from our present purpose. Will you
make terms with meY'
II will mott
"You prefer The dungeon?
You dare not iinprison me-"
"Why:"
"Your master will not allow you."
my dear, let me put quietus for
ever upon your mad idea that any help
is to be expected from the king.
beg you to believe that speak the ex-
act truth. Do you know what the king
thinks of your
HE does not think of me Mt all. He
has forgotten me-"
"Pardon me. There you are mistak-
en-. He thinks you came to Whitehall
the day Of your fathers death to as
sassinate him. He believes that i'm
periled my life to save his The scars
of your claws, however repulsive they
may be to others. are to him constant
reminder of his supposed debt to me.
Judge you then, my dear, what your
position in Oxford would be did the
king but dream you had crept surrep-
titiously into his stronghold. Need I
say more?"
mo. But you should have paid bet
ter heed to what said.
"What did you say?'
II said your master would not permit
you to injure me-"
"But l have shown you that the
king
II am not speaking Of the king.
Your master is Oliver Cromwell"
Either the cross on his face became
redder or the sudden pallor of his other
features made it appear so. Slowly he
withdrew his elbows from the table
and leaned back in his chair, moisten-
ing his lips, gazing on the girl with the
intensity of newborn fear. She sat
motionless, returning his look without
flinching. For some moments the room
was as silent rs If it were deserted. AT
last he spoke huskily:
"What do you expect to gain by max
Ing SO absurd Il statement?'
The girl rose, with gesture of impa-
tience. walked to the window and back.
then to the window again, and unfas
tened latch that let free a latticed
sash, us If the room stitled her and she
wanted air. Then she exclaimed:
"Oh, let us have truce to this fool
ing. am tired of 1t. You say | shall
beg on my knees to you, Int you have
mistaken your own attitude for mine.
Why do make such statement? Be
cause Cromwell told me in Northamp-
ton that if met difficulty in Oxford
you, his spy, would assist me-"
''Heavens!"
FAYE, heavens! You did not think
such man would blab out secrets of
death to woman, but there is this to
say on his behalf. that he w;ts merely
recommending one spy to another. He
thought mutual safety would be their
bond of union, and he was right"
Then you knew you would meet me
in Oxford? Why did you seem SO dis