Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-12-07
CHAPTER XVIII.


b Angel remembered Frances
IA and her former visits to the
inn, so she took charge of the
girl in the most motherly way, fussing
over her and seeing to her comfort.
1t was late when Armstrong return
ed from the stables, for old Johns pack
horse showed signs of distress from
travelling between seventy and eighty
miles that day, and rs the slowest
horse in the party sets the pace, the
animal had to be seen to and cared for.
After his bounteous supper the
young man strolled about the rambling
inn and to his surprise came upon a
lonely figure in n dim alcoye.
Dear lass!" he cried, "you should
have been at your rest long ago. This
will never do" But he sat down be-
side her. The place was narrow and
very cosy, as il the oriel window recess
had been constructed for two lovers.
II am not tired" she said, land have
much to think of, so knew l could
not Sleep
"Oh. it can be DONE They say
Cromwell has the power of dropping
to Sleep the instant he gets half an
hour to himself. He has plenty to
think of, and yet he must be able to
guide his thoughts or abolish them for
the moment, or he could not do that.
Do you like Cromwell?'
~ do not"
you surprise me. l thought you
We're partisan Of his. You remember
what l said when we were approach
ing this inn?"
"You said many things"
"Aye. But said one in particular
that would have wished recalled if it
had been said to any one but you.
promised to let you know all about it
some day, but I've thought over the
matter and I'm going to tell you now"
NO, no! do not wish to hear"
at is not fair to you that you should
be exposed to an unknown scath. This
did not occur to me when set out,
but your journey may be jeopardizcd
because of my being deeper in danger
Gus projects than you have any sus-
picion Of. So have need to tell you
my real errand in the SOUTH"
Mr.. Armstrong, refuse to hear you.
will not be burdened with what does
not concern me. asked you to think
of the injustice of what you were
about to do. If you are on some secret
mission, there are others besides your
| self involved. 1t is most unfair to
them that you should make coniidant
Of any person without their consent"
You say sooth. If you take my hint
and promptly disown me should be-
come involved am satisfied"
II can the more readily disown you
if know nothing of the traffic you ure
engaged in
The two We're startled by deep
voice that broke i'll upon their dis
course. They had heard no one ap-
proach, but now there stood before
them ut the outlet Of the recess tall.
gaunt figure in the somber garb Of the
parliamentarian, as If he were the
spirit Of some forgotten Templar of
whom they had just been speaking-in-
deed, he seemed the modern embodi-
ment of one of that fanatic, sinister
band, for, while his bearing betokened
the feiyid eEhorter, a sword by his
side Indicated that he used the physical
as we'll as the spiritual arm. His
| checks were sunken, and two days
stubblc on his >chin emphasized not
only the emaciation of his face, but
the unhealthy clay color of his skin.
"a word with you. Who are you?
Whence come you? Whittier are you
bound, and to what purposeY
"Egad," muttercd Armstrong under
his breath, there's father confessor
indeed, and right willing to take OH the