The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-24

W
censured himself again for his ill timed
avowal of the day before. but saw no
method by which he could annul its
consequences save by saying nothing
more.
On the third day of his stay in Ok
ford the suave De Courcy was COM
PEELED to bewail the continued indispo-
sitlon of the king. There were various
important matters awaiting his males
tvs attention. he said, but nothing
could be done until his recovery. Mean
while, to pass time that must be hang
ing heavily on the visitors hands. the
thoughtful Frenchman suggested that
Armstrong should indulge in a stroll
around the forufications. AS soon as
he was out of sight De Courcy FASTENED
back TO the inn, passed up the stair and
knocked at the door of the room occu-
pied by Frances Wentworth. On re-
ceiving permission to enter he went
in and closed the door behind him. The
girl, who had expected q different call
er, rose from her chair and stood silent.
Madam, this is a meeting which I
have long looked forward to with pleas
ant anticipation
'Sir, regret that have no share in
your felicity"
Perhaps you prefer that we should
meet as enemies"
Il prefer that we should not meet at
all, and, knowing this, you may be
good enough TO make your visit as
short as possible"
Il cannot find words to express my
sorrow on learning l am so unwelcome.
l am sure that when last we met l did
my best to make your visit as long as I
could, so why should you wish to short
en- mine?'
1t seemed to the girl that there was
something unnecessarily shameless in
his allusion to circumstance that had
so disfigured him. AS she made no re-
ply he went on with airy nonchalance:
''Will you excuse me if | lock the
door, and, showing that experience is
proficient schoolmaster, l ask the ex-
tension of your forgiveness to cover the
act Of putting the key in my pocket?
We live and learn, you know. Not that
l fear any interruption, for the inno-
cent and excellent Scot is at this mo-
ment investigating our battlements and
will not return this three hours or
more"
The polite intruder locked the door
and put the key in his pocket, then adj
vanced toward her. She retreated to
the other room, and for a moment he
thought she was about to barricade
herself within, but she reappeared on
the instant with a jeweled dagger in
her hand
Il warn you, sir, that if you ap-
proach within striking distance l will
pierce you to the heart"
The Frenchman smiled and waved
his fine white hands with a gesture Of
inimitable grace.
"Fairest Of the Wentworths," he said,
may / sit down, and if I place this
table between us will you feel safer?
"You will be safer so long as it re-
mains between u.s."
Il assure you my own safety weighs
but lightly with me. 1 implore you to
be seated. for 1 cannot converse at
ease with lady who is standing
Il prefer to stand. Your ingrained
courtesy will then cause you to make
our conference Brief
at distresses me to say that you are
prolonging the conference by standing
We have grave particulars Of state
policy to discuss, and I cannot begin
while you are so cruel as to put me
in the light
ooh, very wellw cried Frances i'm
patiently, taking her own chair, where
upon he, elegantly gracious. seated
himself opposite her, with the table be-
tween them.
He waited for a few moments, but,
she making no remark, he continued:
"Grief for the loss Of you filled my
heart. You think l come here as an
enemy, but 1 come as suppliant. In
the folly of that time at Whitehall l
refused you marriage, and l do not
wonder you were wroth at me. l wish
to atone for what you justly considered
an insult, and am willing to marry you
in the face of the world
Il thank you"
Il shall ask no questions anent this
awkward Scot who has been your
courier, for l am sure you can have
thought nothing of him."
Il thank you"
"You return thanks coldly, but l
know that is the English nature. The
fire of France is not to be expected
| in this northern cline, but if you say
yes to my pleading l am satisfied"
eff 1 wished for fire l would go down
| and not abroad for it. l had sooner
wed the fiend from the pit than you"
De Courcy laughed lightly.
THAT were a sulphurous mating in
| deed! Still you see how / adore you
when l restate my determination to
occupy the DEVILS place at your side
before the altar. You but whet my ex-
pectation, for l should dearly love to
tame you as your Shakespeare tanned
| his shrew'
THAT you shall never do while a
hands breadth of steel will rid me OF
| you, or myself of the world. Escape
is too easy"
Not from an Oxford dungeon, my
dear This medieval town furnishes
us with dark pits in which there is nc
fire, and consequently they have cool
| ing effect on the hottest temperament
| These are pits of which I am the fiend
| My dear, you underrate my power OF
! oyerrate my patipnca"