The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-04-22
CHAPTER XIII.
Changes at De Wick.


When Matilda received letter from
Anthony Lynn, she was Immediately
certain that the old mans conscience
troubled him in the presence of death,
and that he wished to return de Wick
to its rightful owner. Sir Thomas and
Lady Jeyery were of the same opinion
and the two ladies started for de Wick
at once.
Anthony Lynn stood at the door to
meet them. He looked i'll and frail,
but hardly like death, and when he
witnessed the delight of the ladies' at
the changes made In de Wick, his face
grew almost young in its pleasure.
Every room in the house was fresh
SURPRISE; for through all that was
venerable through age or family asso-
citation, and all that was valuable and
beautiful had been preserved, yet so
much of modern splendor and worth
had been mingled with the old that
the rooms were apparently newly fur
nished. Matilda said enthusiastically:
Mr.. Lynn, seeing that the de Wicks
had to leave their ancient home, | am
glad it has fallen to you--and | am
sure my father Is glad, also"
Then the old man burst into that
thin, cold passion of weeping so sig
nificant of age, and so pitiful in its
helplessness. 1T is your fathers do
ing, Lady Matilda" he sobbed. 1T is
my dear lords wisdom. Pardon me
now. This evening | will tell you ALL"
He went away with these words, and
the two women looked at each other
in amaZement.
In the evening he came to them.
Whom these dreadful wars first be-
gan" he said Earl de Wick foresaw
their ending, and after Marion Moor
he said to me, 4 know this man, Oil
yer Cromwell, and there is none that
will stand against him. 1t is my duty
to save de Wick; will you help me?'
And said to him, My dear lord,
owe you all | am, and all | have
Then it was agreed that should join
the Puritan party, that | should pre-
tend disapproval of the Earl and his
ways-but disapproval tempered
with regret-so that men might not
suspect my -nosition. The king was
even then sending to de Wick for
money, and | was supposed to supply
1t on the de Wick silver and valuables.
In reality, the Earl sent these things
to my care, and he himself gave the
gold. Then there came time when
de Wick was bare, and the king still
wanted money. And the Earl prom
Used to borrow from me one thousand
pounds, in consideration of letters
royal making the Lady Matilda Coun-
tess de Wick in her own right, if her
brother Stephen had no heirs of his
body Here are the pa "ers relating to
your success \, and ere are those
relating to : trust in the matter OF
the de Wick silver and valuables."
Thus Matilda virtually became mis-
tress of her old home. Anthony was
seldom seen, but Stephen de Wick
came and went, and brought with him
men whose names were not spoken.
and whose business meant much more
than the packs of cards which ap
peared to be all they care. for. In
fact, Matilda was soon neck deep in
Prince Rupert's plot, and there was no
uOuDI Ill HSI tliul diC liiChth Vi
May would end the life of Oliver Crom-
well, and br;' he XII to his throne
and the de ia s to their earldom.
She was sitting, one afternoon, talk
ing to Stephen, when a servant en-
tered. my lady," he said, here has
come a man with a letter, which he
will deliver t" none but you" Matilda
ordered the messenger to her presence
at once. Hastily she glanced over the
lines, until she came to the discovery
of the plot.
"Oh, indeed, here Is the burden of
Jane Swaffham!" she cried in a pas
sion. I'VE are discovered. Stephen.
you are in instant danger. You must
away at once"
And pray, how? or where? I will
not run. l VIII stand or fall with the
rest"
what drivel, what nonsensical bonn