The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-01-22
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/ SpulLh
N to Hardinge to fetch me in
hot haste to Lanston Grange,
I knew the cause must be urgent and
scented danger in the air. We had
heard whiSperings and mutterings OF
fresh Jacobite trouble, and l feared my
uncle. Sir Guy Lanston, had allowed
himself to be drawn once more into
the business.
Some ten days before a stranger, a
Master Richard Lovelace, had appeared
suddenly at the Grange, and my uncle
had set off on mysterious visit, from
which he had not returned. Now, it
was concerning this Lovelace that
something of cloud had come be-
tween my sweet Audrey and me. had
come upon the two in close converse
hand with look in his dark eyes that
had set my blood tingling and my fin
gers pricking with desire to punish him
for his meddlesOme intrigues.
Audrey had but laughed at my
moody remonstrance, and when Ques-
toned her would tell me nothing.
Godfrey, Godfrey, you but worsen
mattersr she cried, with a toss of her
pretty head. Because a gallant gen.
teman in a hard case lays his lips to
Awdrey's poor fingers, and your wits
are not sharp enough to see the rea-
son, you must needs leap like blind
horseman into the slough Of mistrust
10 20 20 Ta
everything you cannot understand to
be Awdrey's fault?"
"And were my lips to go a-mumbling
Mistress Pallisters fingers, would you
cry: Godfrey is right. Well met, lips
and fingers""
But at this clumSineSS Audrey bri-
died and tossed her head again.
Mistress Pallister, forsoothr' she
exclaimed again in high dudgeon and
walked away with her head in the air.
IF you leave me like that, Audrey,
I'd better go and
She broke into my surly words with
laugh.
Eyes; better SO and stay away until
your wits are sharpened enough to
guess the riddle Of your own mistrust
Mistress Pallister, indeedr'
I'll return when your Master Love-
lace has gone" l replied bluntly and
came away and for a week had not
been to the Grange. Seven miserable
days they had been. So you may think
how my heart beat when 1 got her
message by young Gorham and knew
that in the time of danger she had
turned to me and how willingly l sent
my horse galloping straight across
country to Lanston that bright De-
cember morning.
She was waiting for me in the large
domed hall Of the Grange, pacing rest
lessly up and down by the huge eques-
trian statue, the statue of old Sir Guy,
who fought with the great Edward and
won his gold spurs at Cressy and Poi
tiers and founded the Lanston family.
Her face and manner were full of trou-
BILE
Il have not forgiven you, Sir Mis-
trust, though l have sent for you," she
said. But her sweet blue eyes were
telling another tale.
l..
When l have helped you, send me away
again if you WILL" said.
You have learned how to stay
away"
And harder penance never grieved
penitent, Awdrey''
"A sincere penitent should never sue
in vain, it is true she said demurely
and then with a smile looked up and
added: 80 you're forgiven. And. oh.
Godfrey, the trouble is sore indeedw
''Tell me-" answered, and when she
did tell me saw in truth she had moi
underjudged it. This Lovelace was 8
far greater one than l had deemed-nC
lesser than the young pretender him
self. He had come over at the biddins
of certain reckless counselors, who hat
advised that rising could be organ
lied If he would but show himself t.
his followers, and now the plans haC
all miscarried, his presence In England
had been discovered, and he had fed t.
Lanston to hide while means could b,
devised for his crossing again t
France. 1t was this business which
had taken Sir Guy away, and the II
news was come that he had been Iait
by the heels by his old enemy, the govt
and had done nothing
Nor was that the worst. Sir Burton
Prendergast had got wind of the mat
ter in some way and might be trusted
to do his worst against Lanston. 4
more malignant, rancorous, spteful ra
of man did not breathe in all the goot
county of Sussex than Sir Burton. an,
he had never forgiven Awdrey for hay
ing rejected him year ago nor me TO
having won her from him and woul,
welcome chance to strike at Lanston
If it were once known who Lovelac
was and that the Grange had sheltere,
him, the consequences would be no les
than ruin. The government had no
Set forgiven Sir Guy for his old JAG
obite work and would readily seize o.
pretext now for Furnishing him an,
his.
II don't know what to do, Godfrey,
cried my cousin. wringing her hand
distractedly. Tomorrow we have. a
you know, our customary Christina
eve masquerade and every one will b
here, Sir Burton among them, of course
Master Lovelace Is known to be her