Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-07-04
THE.
Storyof Francis Cludde
A Romance Of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY J. wEYMAN
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN.

head. 1T was an accident" I urged,
my eyes on his.
He grasped my hand firmly, and
| turning away his face seemed for
whispered: He must suffer for the
others, lad. fear so. 1t is hard
fate, a cruel fate. But l can do no
more. They will not hear me on this.
1t is true he will be first tried by the
magistrate, but there is no hope. They
are very hard
My heart sank. stood irresolute,
pondering on what we ought to do.
pondering on what / should say to the
wife who so loved the man who must
die. What could / say? Yet somehow
must break the news. I asked Master
Lindstrom to walt where he was while
consulted the Others adding, You
will answer for II that there will be no
attack while you are here. suppose?"
Il WILL" he said. ! knew l could trust
him, and went in to the duchess, clos
ing the door behind me. A change had
come over the room since l had left II.
The moon had risen and was flinging
its cold white light through the twisted
and shattered framework OF the win
dow to fall In three bright panels on
the floor. The torches in the street had
for the most part burned out or been
extinguished. In place of the red glare,
the shouts and the crash of glass, the
atmosphere Of battle and strife / had
left. l found this silvery light and a
stiffness made more apparent by the
distant hum of many voices.
Mistress Anne was standing Just
within the threshold, her face showing
pale against the gloom. her hands
clasped. The duchess was kneeling by
her husband, but she looked up as
entered.
They viii let us all CO." said blunt
hA 10 oil NIA Hn1A aN
once-"except the one who hurt the
patrol, that is"
1t was strange how differently the
two women received the news. While
Mistress Anne flung her hands to her
face with a sobbing cry of thankful
ness and leaned against the wall cry
ing and shaking, my lady stood up
straight and still, breathing hard, but
saying nothing. / saw that she did
not need to ask what would be done to
the one who was excepted. She knew.
NO" she murmured at last, her hands
pressed to her bosom, I'VE cannot do
it,"
II fear we must" said gently, calm
ly, too, think. Yet in saying it was
not quite myself. An odd sensation
was growing upon me in the stiffness
Of the room. ! began ON a sudden,
did not know why, To thrill with ex-
citement, to trembie with nervousness,
such as would rather have become one
of the women than a man. My head
grew hot, my heart began to beat
quickly. I caught myself looking out,
listening, waiting for something to
happen, something to be said 1t was
something more terrible, as It seemed
to me- than the din and crash of the
worst moments of the assault. What
was it? What was II that was threat
ening my being? An instant and I
knew.
''Oh, no, never!" cried the duchess
again, her voice Quivering, her face full
OF keenest pain. I'VE will not give
you up. We will stand or fall togeth-
er, friend"
Give you up! Give you up! Ha! The
veil was lifted now, and saw what the
something with the cold breath going
before It was. I looked quietly from
her to her husband, and l asked
fancy she thought my question strange
ly irrelevent at that moment: How
Is he? Is he better?"
Much better. He knew me for a
moment" she answered. Then he
seemed to sink away again. but his eyes
were quite clear"
l stood gazing down at his thin face,
which had ever looked so kindly into
mine. My fingers played idly with the
knot OF my sword. He will live?" l
asked abruptly, harshly.
She started at tho sudden question; ;
but, brutal as II must have sounded, she
was looking at me In pity so great and
generous that It did not wound her.
"Oh, yes" she said, her eyes still cling
ing to me. Il think he will live, thank
heaven!"
Thank heaven! All. yes, thank
heaven!
l turned and went slowly toward the
door, but before l reached II she was
at my side-nay was on her knees by
me-clasping my hand. looking up to
me with streaming eyes. What arc
you going to do?" she cried, reading, /
suppose, something in my face.
Il will see If Master Lindstrom can
not get better terms foT u.s." l an
swCred.
She rose, still OBTAINING me. you
are sure?" she said, still eying me
jealOusly.
quite sure" l answered, forcing q
smile. Il will come back and report TO
you"
She let me go then, and l went out
and joined Lindstrom on the staircase
Are you certain" | asked, speaking
in whisper, that they WILL that the
town will keep It's word and let the 9TH
ers go?"
Il am quite sure of it," he replied.
nodding. They are Germans, and
hard and pitiless, but you may trust
them. So far / will answer for them
Then we accept" l said gravely. Il
give myself up. Let them take me-"