Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-18
mission to see thee and thy relatives
safely out of the village"
Si. Gndf1.au ln,1nhod orrinalr

MISSION 10 see Lnee ana thy reIdtlVeS
safely out of the village"
Sir Godfrey laughed grimly.
by our lady, tits a grewsome joke,
sweet, but thy face looks downcast.
Thou vert ever one to enjoy spice
Of danger. What gloom hangs over
'thee?''
His glance expressed great tender
ness as he clumsily tied the gray bon
net strings.
"'Tis the awful fear Of my cousin
that still lies heavy on my heart" she
replied, hurriedly fastening on her
shawl. "Mayhap he hath suspected
thee, Godfrey, and may entrap us yet. y
NAY, love, put by such fearsome
misgivings." La Fabienne laughed
lightly 'Parbleu, in all this village
no man rests so securely in the trusti-
ness Of the new jailer, no man hath
such confidence in the stern Puritan.
Dzekial Mason, as thy kinsmar Josiah.
10 throw fear Of him from thee, Mar
garet. No man will molest us"
Taking her hand, he led her to a
small door at tile back Of the prison
that was opened by the slipping back
of some heavy bolts, and he stepped
out on to the ground.
AS the cool night wind blew on her
face and the broad expanse of country
stretched out before her, with freedom
so close at hand, Margaret, trembling
! and terribly excited, drew back. Her
lover held her hand strongly IN his
own. Still she hesitated, afraid almost
to venture forth.
Margaret, my love, take courage
he urged. cart thou never coming
| through the doorway"
| At his words she seemed to grow
drawer and, raising her head with
movement that Indicated sudden reso-
luton, said firmly: II am coming now,
1 dear rescuer. over the threshold-ever
will we bless it, Godfrey-of hope lib
erty, love and life"
La Fabienne retaining her hand In
his strong clasp, they ran swiftly down
the dark pathway under the protecting
shadows Of the trees
A short time later Josiah Taunston,
sleeping the uneasy, fitful sleep OF the
guilty, was disturbed by the sound Of
horses feet going down the mountain
road. Raising himself in bed on his ell
bow, he listened intently.
"Halt! Who goeth there?'
The cry of the sentinel was brought
to his straining ears by the light wind.
Friends"
"Halt, friends! Advance one with
the countersign!"
A silence for moment, then the clat
tering noise of horses hoofs pounding
the ground, at first loud, then growing
fainter, until the sounds passed out Of
, his hearing.
, With a sigh of relief Taunston Eel
back upon his pillow muttering: "Ha
they ride away! IT'S some good Puri
tans, perchance, going down the noun
tain to meet friends coming up tn
roadway. Strange how the suspicion
hath ever beset my mind that Marga
ret Mayland's lover would return t
rescue her. Ho, ho! Let him come tc
morrow night! Let him come, anon, tc
morrow night with great army.
> challenge him! The man he called
i coward doth challenge him, lovesic
. laggard that he is, to rescue his lady tt
:. morrow night!'
IS His harsh, exultant laughter, gratin
'e and discordant, rang out through til
= dark bedchamber as, his mind now {
lie ease, he settled himself more comfor
Is ably upon his pillow, prepared to slee
e. until the dawn.
T. THE END.