The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-05-13
make out your paper later, and 1t will
be handed to you in the morning"
s"Thank YOU general"

''Ihank you, general.
After giving some laconic instruc-
! tons touching the welfare Of the north
erner to Captain Bent, who was hover
ing uneasily in the outside hall. Crom-
well, bidding his enforced guest a
cordial farewell, ordered Wentworth
to be brought to him and retired once
more into the dim council chamber.
With hands clasped behind him and
head bent, he strobe slowly up and
| down the long room in deep medita-
ton, vanishing into the gloom at the
farther end and reappearing in the
the two candles, for the torches had
long since smoked themselves out, and
there had been no replacement of them,
none daring to enter that room unsum-
moned while the leader was within
| it. The watcher in the gallery felt
rather than saw that there was an
ominous frown on the lowered face as
the commander waited for the second
prisoner, over whom hung sentence Of
| death.
| This time a clanking Of chains an
nounced the new arrival, who was pre-
coded by Colonel Porlock and accom-
panied by two soldiers, one on either
side of him. The young fellow, who
shuffled up to the table dragging his
irons, cast an anxious look at the for
bidding face of the man who was to
be his final judge, in whose word lay
life or death for him, and he found
there little to comfort him. Cromwell
seated himself once more and said
gruffly:
take off those letters"
When the command was complied
with the general dismissed the trio
and sat for some moments in silence,
reading the frank, open face Of his op
posite
you are to be shot at daybreak to-
morrow" he began in harsh tones that
echoed dismally from the raftered cell
ing. 1 have examined the evidence,
and 1 find your condemnation just"
II have never questioned the verdict,
general, nor did l make appeal"
The shaggy brows came down over
Cromwelrs eyes, but his face cleared
perceptibly.
"You own the penalty rightT'
'Sir, it is partly right and partly
wrong, like most things in this world.
It is right to punish me for deserving
my post; it is wrong to brand nae
traitor"
"Ah, you have found your voice at
last, and there is some courage behind
1t. Desertion is an objectionable
crime. The point press upon you is
this: Your life is forfeit; yet, although
your fault is objectionable, do not say
it cannot be compensated for Even
my enemies admit l am an honest
trader l will bargain with you for
your life. You shall buy it of me, and
shall pay the price, even though 1 do
not forgive the crime. We will first,
If you please, clear up the charge of
treachery. You were visiting your own
home that night. and as it is on the
farther side of Ruby Hall your &C.
cusers naturally thought you had
rendezvous thereY'
mo, general; it was my intention to
have visited Rudby Hail."
1.-THE residence of that foul, malig
liant Lord Rudby, so calledT'
Eyes, but not to see his lordship, who
Is my enemy, personal as well as po
litical."
"You are truthful, and 1t pleases me.
Why did you make a foolish mystery
Of your excursions? I take the case
to stand thus: Your grandfather and
Rudby were neighbors and possibly
friends. You were and are in love
with my lords daughter. but since you
belong to the cause Of the people this
Oppressor of the people will have
naught of you. You have risked your
life to see the girl, who is doubtless as
silly as the rest Of her class, as you
will discover if 1 let you live. Stands
the case not thus?"
I'm measure, sir, it does saving any
reflection on the lady, who
Surely, surely. l know what you
would say, for was once your age and
as soaked in folly. The question is,
! If you will risk your life for her. will
| you do what 1 ask of you to earn the
girl and your life, or will you refuse
and let her go to another?'
'Sir, l will do anything for her."
Then harken well. There was here
before me, where you now stand, some
moments since, the most plausible liar
in the kingdom. He told me truths
which on the surface appeared to be
reachery to his friend, but which he
was well aware 1 already knew. This
was to battle me into believing him. He
rides to Oxford to see the king, and in
that l am willing to aid him. He may
tell the king what pleases him and
those who send him. Little good will it
do any Of them. In return the king
Is to give him a commission to be hand
ed to certain lords in Scotland. If that
commission crosses the border we are
like to have blaze to the north Of us
which do not wish to see kindled un-
til year from now. Then, by Cod
then, by Gods will shall be ready for
them. We shall defeat the Scots in
any case, but if this commission reaches
these malcontents we cannot have the