The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1906-11-27

Only curmudgeOn could have re-
sisted such voice.
Eyes, my lady; you send message"
The full hour passed after Tom
reached the ferry before blue-eyed
page boy from the castle came racing
down anc commanded him to put him
across upon the instant. Tom saw the
lad disappear behind the lights of the
inn; lie was gone not above quarter
of an hour when he came racing back
again.
1t was long after supper, in fact,
close tc the hour of midnight, when
the traveller who had so mystified mine
host, Joel, and his satellites, slipped
by a side door from the Castle Inn.
The moon shone round and full
He made straight for the ferry and
crossed, plying the oar himself. In
half an hours time he was conversing
with a cloaked figure without the cas-
tie gate They were speaking of the
Lady Alices brother; but deeper
thoughts were unspoken, and would
remain so if their destiny wlled it,
"You have been generosity itself,
Sir Richard, my lady was saying (for
1t was the Lady Alice herself; the
debt 10 you is common for us all; 1t
will lie heavily upon my fathers
shoulders and upon mine. We can
never repay, do what We will.'
Sir Richards eyes shona softer in
sudden ray OF moonlight that pierced
the hedge. Every word that she spoke
was like music in his ears.
mo debt is there when the task is
of mans own seeking, Alice. told
you gix months ago that our poet,
Pope, was right when he said that the
greatest study of mankind is man. |
have studied men all my life. Your
brother Harry was but human addi-
ton 20 my library. found the pages
blurred and almost undecipherable;
but read them, nevertheless. Here
was fellow creature who had wan
dered upon all roads for want of
signpOst, | began by asking him to
showed the pages of life and the pic
lures that were to be painted upon
them by mans will and by his in
dustry / tempted him to begin and
TO find excitement in the pursuit.
When the old gypsy inclination called
him away, | was patient, not angry.
He would come back, | said. Time
justified me, and the months have
cleaned the blades of my harvest. To-
night Harry is waiting at Ashford hall
for me, My work is done, Alice.
need no mans thanks for a little pa
tience and kindness that have been
their own reward. They have given
me this opportunity to speak with her
to whom | may never speak again I'M
til the end of my days"
The Lady Alice made no reply, but
she turned away her head. Perhaps
there was something in her pretty eyes
which she did not wish him to find.
You are leaving England, Sir Rich
ard?" she asked anew, with her head
still averted from him. The tone of her
voice nerved him to speak of it.
"A mans country is dear to him only
when ii gives him that which his heart
desires. If leave England, Alice,
will be because | no longer may hope
here. If | go, it will be because there
is one at Brede who would visit the
sins Of the son upon the daughter.
say it only to ask your forgiveness;
there is a duty which is above love;
let me speak no i'll of your father"
She thanked him with a quick
glance, so quick that the teardrops,
like Jewel upon jewel, were hidden
from him; then, looking away over the
hills again, she said: Duty asks