The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-07-08


whispered, then took her
- horse by the bride and led
x,,, dovn the street The girl became
ouaye that the town was alive with
.nsoen men, for at every corner the
,nnkeeper breathed the word "Brough-
an. To some one who had challenged
Ma progress. She realized then that
--omweU had surrounded Armstrong
Nth ring Of flesh, living clasp, as
W.. own wrist had been circled earlier
:, the night. At last they came sud,
son,r from the shadow Of the houses
,nto the open country. and the night
seemed lighter.
.straight on for about a league"
cold the tnnkeeper You will be chal-
,onoed by a sentinel before you reach
Ono castle. and he will lead you there.
remember that the word, going and re-
turning, is 'Broughton.'
In sDite Of herself the girl expert
enced that exhilaration which comes
NJ the air. the freshness Of the country
and the movement Of spirited horse.
Th,ongh the night she galloped until
her horse suddenly placed his fore feet
rigid and came to stop so abrupt that
the shock nearly unseated her.
"Who goesy came the sharp chal-
,enge from under the trees that over
shadowed the highway.
"Broughton," she answered automat-
icaly.
"Are YOU the woman from Banbury"
"Yes"
This is Broughton castle. will
lead your horse"
They descended slight depression
and came to a drawbridge, passed I'M
der an arch In the wall, then across a
level lawn, on the farther side of which
stood the broad eastern front of the
castle with its numerous mulliOned
windows, a mysterious half light in the
horizon playing on the blank panes,
which recalled the staring open eyes
Of q blind man. The house seemed
high and somber, with no sign Of light
within The sentinel beat against the
door, and it was opened at once. Muf-
fed as had been the knocking on the
oak, It awoke the alert general. for
when Frances had dismOunted and fol-
lowed her guide into the ample hall
Cromwell stood at the head of the stair.
a candle in his hand
Come up" he commanded, and as
she assembled the stair cried inpatient
ly, "Wellw
There Is the kings commission"
she said quietly, presenting the docu-
ment to him. He took it without
word, turned and entered the room, she
following him. He placed the candle
on table, did not take the time to
unite the silken cord that bound the
royal communication. but ripped 1t
asunder and spread open the crinkling
parchment, holding it up to the light.
DE read 1t through to the end, then,
casting 1t contemptuously on the table,
said:
"Wench, you have done we'll. Would
you were q man."
The pardon for my brother. sir, If
It please you"
1t Is ready, and the commission as
captain also. You see trusted YOU"
so did another, and through his
falth be now lies undOne in Banbury."
You have not killed him" cried
cromwell sharply, looking with some
thing almost like alarm at the uncanny
appariton. All beauty had deserted
ner' and her face seemed pinched and
small, white as the parchment on the
taole, and rendered unearthly in it's
nue by the mass Of cavern black hair.
Killed him? No! But l have killed
MS faith in woman, cozened him, lied
70 MIN. robbed him. to buy from you,
WIN the name of your Maker on your
ups life that you know was not for
te'tec. but which you had the power
to destroy"
AN. yes, yes, yes! rem ember your
tongue of old, but it may wag harm
less now, for all of me. His life was
forfeited. Aye, and this Scots as well.
but no matter now"
ne Threw before her the pardon for
her brother and his commission as
captain, then strobe out Of the room
~ the head Of the stair again. and she
Aeara MS strenuous voice:
hioe at once to the commandment at
nanoury. Tell him the Scot goes free.
e'i hlm to send word north and see
.'iat ne Is not molested, but should he
.urn In his tracks and attempt to reach
oAiord again, hold him and send word
b me-"
les excellency."
9eno up a stoup Of wine"
e waited at the stair head until the
he was brought, then took it into
room and placed it on the table
before her. w
Drink" he said.
cannot" she cried.
LINK be roared, bringing his
sunched fist down on the oaken table
nn,. A iorce that made the very room
S SaNe' The word had all the brutal
h sa OF an oath, and it beat down
~. weak resolution as the storm levels
tho ap'hg. She drank deep, then let
nagon drop, raised her hands to her
$500. ana burst into helpless wall OF
NJ, ere' there" he said in tones not