The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-20
Copyright. 1908. BY
Frederick II. .SfeksJ Co.

the ground and without q look at the
faithful animal that had carried her
so far walked very straight to the door
Of the hosiery and disappeared with
in it.
When the time Of waiting had licked
itself out on the old clock of the inn
Armstrong ordered the horses on the
road again and sent old John to warn
his mistress that the way was still
long to York. She came out promptly
mounting proudly without a word. and
the expedition set forth as before old
John contentedly bringing up the rear,
All afternoon they made their progress
along the very direct road, no utterance
from any one of the three. Frances
grew more and more tired of this dole
full journey, so woefully begun, plac,
ing the blame On her own weary shout
ders for the most part, but now and
then flied with a growing hatred of
the stOlid figure in front, who never
once turned round, never once slack
ened the pace, never once made in
quiry of any kind.
At last the nearly level rays of the
evening sun glorified the towers of the
gray minister, transforming them for
the moment into piles of rosy marble
and the walled tower was spread out
before them. They came to Dootham
Ear, and here for the first time a man
at arms questioned their right of way.
Armstrong silently presented to him
the blood stained pass. bearing the
signature of the man of iron.
The man at arms stood aside and the
trio went up the gathering street until
they came to q house of entertainment
once called The Kings Head" with
picture of Charles on the swaying
sign. now slightly changed to represent
Fairfax. a good YOrkShreman, while
the lettering had been obliterated and
THE Fairfax Arms" painted over it,
The leader of the expedition ordered
the best apartment in the house for the
lady, and sat where he was while the
bustling landlord assisted the fatigued
traveller to dismOunt. Armstrong and
old John saw to the disposal of the
horses, then the young man walked to
the minister and around it, noticing ev
erywhere the ravages of the late siege.
The town had not yet recovered its
arrested prosperity, and most of the
people he met We're heavy footed sol
diers and citizens in somber dress.
York had been royalist to the core, and
now calamity seemed to brood over it.
Armstrong made his way to MERGERS
shop in the main street.
"My garments" he said to the OBJ
sequious proprietor, ARE somewhat
stained, and I would renew them"
In the privacy of the back room the
change was effected, and presently
William Armstrong stood as gay and
coniely man as could be found in all
England, superb attired with filmy
lace fluttering IL :; and wrists.
The gloom Of :,'2ning was on the
town when Armstrong returned to the
inn and sought Frances.
The young lady was partaking of the
repast prepared for her in the private
parlor set aside for her use, said the
landlord in answer to his guests in
quiry. On being shown to the door
Armstrong knocked on the panels and
was admitted by old John, who was in
attendance.
The girl sat at table and looked up
with surprise, not recognizing her visi-
tor in his new finery, thinking some
stranger had mistaken the room; but,
seeing who it was as he advanced, she
turned her gaze away from him and
gave no greeting. If he came to apollo
gize now, it was too late, she said to
herself, and his first words showed
that this was indeed his purpose.
Madam" he said with a courtly in
clination of his head, which obeisance
it flashed across the girls mind, had
been purchased with his fresh accouter-
ing, a thought that almost brought a
smile to her lips, which she hoped to
keep firm-"madam. 1 crave your par
don for my unseemliness of temper to-
day. l am at best an uncouth person.
travelling at the head of my own men
who question neither words nor acts
of mine, and so have led me into the
gruff habit of expecting obedience and
not censure. l am no squire of DANES,
as there is little need to tell you, for al
ready you know it from this days ex-
perience of my ways, but l am deeply
SlleNeu tlidt lcll So lar SuOEL Ol the
courtesy which is your due, and 1 trust
you will forgive my lapse of manners
I had hoped we might part good
friends"
Part" she cried in sharp terror,
and those wide black eyes of hers
quickly turned to meet his searching
gaze. She had never anticipated such
an outcome of their quarrel as this,
nor dreamed that it was easily possible
for him TO circumvent all her plans by
withdrawing himself from her COM
pany. Instantly the dread conse-
quences of such a determination on his
part-and she had had glimpse of his
resoluteness-loomed up before her.
every little disagreement between them
sinking into nothingness before this
fearful alternative
Il fear overrated my power Of serv-
ing you" he continued, "and forgot
for the moment how slight was my &C
Quaintance with your family. Man.
chester, and not Oxford, is my destina-
ton, and l shall make for that town
tomorrow before you are astir. The
country is not nearly so disturbed as
expected to find it, and the roads are
perfectly safe-indeed, you know the