The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-03

Angel remembered Frances
and her former visits to the
inn, so she took charge of the
girl in the most motherly way, fussine
over her and seeing to her comfort
It 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 as 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 dim alcove.
Dear lassv' 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 if the oriel window recess
had been constructed for two lovers.
II am not tired" she said, land have
much to think Of, 80 l knew 1 could
not Sleep"
ooh, 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?'
II do not"
"You surprise me. l thought you
were a partisan of his. You remember
what l said when we were approach
ing this inn?"
"You said many things"
AYE. But 1 said one in particular
that would have wished recalled if il
had been said to any one but you. ]
promised to let you know all about il
some day, but I've thought over the
matter and I'm going to tell you now"
mo, no! l do not wish to hear"
ut is not fair to you that you should
be exposed to an unknown scath. This
did not occur to me when l set out,
but your journey may be jeopardized
because of my being deeper in danger,
Gus projects than you have any sus-
picion of. So 1 have need to tell you
my real errand in the south"
''Mr Armstrong, refuse to hear you.
l will not be burdened with what does
not concern me. l 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 a cOnfidant
Of any person without their consent"
'You say sOoth. If you take my hint
and promptly disown me should l be-
come involved, l am satisfied"
II can the more readily disown you
if know nothing of the traffic you are
engaged in"
The two were startled by deep
voice that broke in upon their dis
course They had heard no one ap-
proach, but now there stood before
them at the outlet of the recess a 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 fervid exhorter, a sword by his
side indicated that he used the physical
as well as the spiritual arm. His
cheeks were sunken, and two days
stubble 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 purpose?"
"Egad," muttered Armstrong under
his breath, heres a father confessor
indeed, and right willing to take on the
task with no misgiving."
The girl wondered how long the ap-
partition had been standing there and
rapidly ran over in her mind what had
been said between herself and her COM
panion since he came. Armstrong
spoke up and, while speaking, pro1ered
his pass to the interloper.
"Sir, that document will possibly
satisfy all your Questionings." The
stranger, taking 1t, held it near the
lamp and read its brief wording.
This answers none Of my questions
except, and then by inference only.
that you are perchance destined for
Oxford"
us not the signature sufficient pass
port, so long as you do not find us
south Of Oxford or north of Carlisle
We are within the region over which
the passport extends"
For the second time PROFOUND my
inquiries"
"Then for the first time l return