The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-25
CHAPTER XIV.

Sonable directness, gently I'M
dulating in parts, passing through quiet
villages and a sweet country, mildly
beautiful, yet to the mind of Frances
Wentworth this innocent highway ever
remained, as it were, a section of the
broad path to perditiOn. In after life
she never thought of it but with a
creepy sensation of horror.
Dependency seemed to be the por-
ton of William Armstrong as well as
of his fair companion. She surmised
that he was bordering on the events
which had happened when their faces
were set south over this course, and
in part she was right, but the thoughts
which ranked in his mind were those
implanted by De Courcy, and the willy
Frenchman had been accurate enough
in his belief that the young mans
pleasure in the northward journey
would be spoiled. He could not bring
himself to ask any explanation from
the girl, nor even tell her what De
Courcy had said, for he saw that al
ready weight Of woe oppressed her,
and to that burden he would not add
q pressure of the slightest word
He possessed supreme confidence
IA her and only feared that she had
loved this runagate once and that some
remnant of this long ago affection still
remained. Her own words before they
reached Oxford, Acr own action dur
ing the encounter fronting the Crown
inn, disturbed him far more than the
insinuations of the Frenchman. He
strove to rid himself of these thoughts
but they were very intrusive and per
sistent. At last with an effort he
reused himself and cried with feigned
hilarity:
Frances, we travel like two mutes
The influence of saddened oxford is
still upon us both. We are long out
of sight of the town, SO let us be done
with all remembrance of it. The meet
ing with the king this morning has
stirred me up to great pity for him,
but vexed meditations on his case are
no help either to him or to us. The
spur is the only weapon 1 can WELD
for him now so let us gallop and cry,
God save the king""
With that they raced together for a
time and were the better of it. He
had become almost cheerful again
when the spires of Banbury came into
view, and thanked fortune that the
first stage of their march was safely
over.
They found old John anG his pack
horse both ready for the road again,
and Armstrong was plainly loath to
let such fine evening slip by without
SO wan and worn that he had not the
heart to propose more distant stop
ping place, and, with a sigh, he put up
his horse for the night.
While he was gone the innkeeper
came furtively to Frances, and, after
seeing the pass, led her to the prepared
room and showed her the door.
Much against her will, Armstrong in
sisted upon her coming to supper with
him. although she protested she had no
appetite, and indeed sat opposite him
fOrlorn and could not touch a morsel
In vain he urged her to eat, but she
shook her head, avoiding his glance
and keeping her eyes downcast
MY girl" he said anxiously, you
are completely tired. 1 see that you
are on the point of being ill if better
days, I beg of you. Eager as 1 am
to be forward, will stay if you wish
to have me near you, or l will push
on and come back for YOU
Il shall be well enough in the morn
ing, most like. l am tired tonight"
And dispirited too
Yes, and dispirited. You will ex-
cuse me, l know
Frances rose to her feet, but seemed
so faint that she leaned against the
table for support. He was by her side
at once.
MY sweet lass, 1 am so sorry for
you. Tell me what l can do for you
and on my soul my life is yours if you
require it,
NO, no! Heaven grant you take no
hurt for my sake
He slipped his arm about her waist
and would have drawn her toward
him, but with more strength than he
had expected her to possess she held
away. His great love for her almost
overcame him and all the prudence he
had gathered was scattered suddenly
to the winds. Dear, dear lass, one
touch of our lips and see if all doubts
do not dissolve before the contact"
Now she wrenched herself free and
would have escaped but that hesprang
forward and caught her by the wrists,
a grip she was to remember later in
the night. In spite of this prisoning.
her hands were raised to the sides of
her face and look of such terror shot
from her eyes that he feared some
madness had come upon her.
Not that. Not THAR she shrieked.
The kiss of Judas. 1t would kill me-"
His arms dropped paralyzed to his
sides and he stepped back a pace.
amazed at the expression she had used
and the terror of her utterance. Next
instant he was alone and the closed
door between them. Still he stood
where she had left him.
1.-The kiss of Judas he muttered.
1.-THE kiss of Judas. She loves him,
thinks me his friend, trying to take
Judas advantage of him because we