Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-09-18
CHAPTER XIII.

| therefore, is from the outer Worlu D.
the wide spreading chase ana cos
massed with the homestead, Slr An
thony had some excuse for CONSIDER
ing II as much a part OF his demesn
AS the mill or the smithy. In WORD
he would have been willing TO admit
distinction. but I'm thought i fancy ~
| Jumped IL with the rest OF his posses
sions.
II was with a lowering eyes that OF
this Sunday morning he watched IRON
his room over the gateway the ususua
stream of people making LOT th'
church. Perchance he had in his mine
other Sundays-Sundays when he hac
walked out at this hour. light or near
and kind of eye. with his staff In MS
fist. and his glove dangling. n MS
dog at his heels, and, free from care
had taken pleasure I'm each ponne'
dotted and each old wife's God bless
We, Sir Anthony" Well, those Gays
were gone Now the rain drlppeu IRON
the eaves-for a thaw had come In the
highland the bells that could on oc-
casion ring SO cheerily sounded sad and
forlorn. His daughter, when she came,
according to custom, bringing his great
service book, could scarcely look MN
I'm the face. l know not whether ever
then his resolution TO dare all mlght
not at sound OF a word from her or al
sight Of her face have melted 1ke yes
terday's ice, but before the word could
be spoken or the eyes meet another
step rang on the stone staircase, ana
Brother Ferdinand entered.
They are heret" he said in a low
voice. six Of them, Anthony, and stur-
dy fellows, as all Clopton's men are;
If you DO not think your people VIII
stand by you
The knight fred al his suggestion.
What" he burst out, turning from
the window. III Cludde men cannot
meet Clopton men, the times are m
deco gone mad! Make way and let me
come. Though the mass be never said
again In Cotton church, 1t shall be sald
today" And he swore a great oath.
He strobe down the stairs and under
the gateway. where were arranged, ac-
cording to the custom of the Gus on
wet days, all the servants. with Bald
win and Martin Luther at their head.
The knight stalked through them with
q gloomy brow. His brother followed
him. a faint smile fiekering about the
corners OF HIS mouth. Then came Fer
dinand's wife and Petronilla. the latter
with her hood drawn close about her
face: Anne, with her chin In the air n
her eyes aglow. 1T Is not a bit or a
hustle will scare her!" Balwin muttered
as he fell In behind her and eyed her
back with no great ayo
mo. so long as IL does not touch
her" Martin replied in a cynical whisp-
er. She is well mated-well mated
and i'll fatedi Ha. hal"
silence. fool" growled his eompan-
ion angrily. rs this a time for antics"'
Aye il Isl" Martin retorted swiftly,
though with the same caution, for,
when wise men turn fools. fools are put
ii TO act UP 70 their profession! You
see, brother?" And he deliberately cut
a caper. His eyes were glistening. and
the nerves on one ! of his face
twitehed oddly. Baldwin looaed at
him and muttered that Martin was go
Ing TO have one of his mad fits. What
has grown on the fool OF late?
The knight reached the church porch
and passed through the crowd which
awaited him there. Save for its un-
usual size and some strange faces 10
be seen on it's skirts, there was no in
dication of trouble. He walked, tap
ping his stick on the pavement a little
more loudly than usual. to his place I'm
the front pew. The household, the VIII
the strangers, pressed In behind
him until every seat was filled. Even
the table monument of Sir Piers
Cludde, which stood lengthwise in the
aisle. was seized upon, and IL the two
which stood to right
and left below the chancel steps had
not besn under the knights eyes they,
too. would have been invaded. Yet all
was done decently and I'm order, but no
scrambling or i'll words. The Clopton
men were there. Baldwin had marked
them well. and SO had a dozen stout
fellows, som OF Sir Anthony's tenants
But they behaved discreetly, and amid
such silence as Father Carey never re-
menbered to have faced he began the
Roman service.
The. December light fell family
through the east window ON the father
at his min~istrations, on his small
acolytes, on the four Cludde brasses
before the altar. 1t fell everywhere
on gray dusty walls buttressed by gray
tombs which left but a narrow space in
the middln of the chancel. The mar
bic crusader TO the left matched IN
%canopied bed Of Sir Anthony's parents
on the right. the abbess' tomb In thu
next row faced the palmer num
OF Sir Anthony's wife, a vacant place
by her side awaiting his own efigy, and
there We're others. The chancel was so
small--nay, the church, too--so small
and old and gIay and solid and the
tombs were so massive that they ell
bowed one another. The very dust
vsi.s rose as Wen stirred Yas the dust
OF cluddes. Sir Anthony's brow re-
Taxed, He listened gravely and sadly.
And then the interruption came. II
protest." y rough voice IN rear OF the
crowd cried suddenly, ringing harshly
and strangely above the fathers ac-
cents and the solemn hush. Il protest
against this service!''
A thrill OF establishment ran through
the crowd. and all rose. Every man In
the church TUNED round. Sir Anthony
among the first. and looked In the d.
rection OF the voice. Then IL was seen
that h glopton men had massed
themselves about the door in the south
west corner a strong position, when re-
treat WAS easy. Father Carey. after a
~monlentary glance. went on as II he
had hot heard. bur his voice shook, and
all still waited with their faces turned
toward the west end.
X protest in the name OF the queen.'
tbs same nam crier sharply, while his
fellow raised a murmur SO that the
priests voice was drowned.
Sir Anthony stepped into the aisle
his face irflamed with anger. The In
interruption taking place there, In
thai place. seemed 30 him a double
proclamation.
"Who is that brawler2" he said. his
hand trembling On his staff, and all ths
old DANES trembled too. Let him stand
out"
The sheriff's spokesman was SO con-
cSaled by his Fellows that he could no
be sesn but he answered civiily
Il am no brawler." he said. Il oni,
require the law 10 be observed, and tha'
you know. sir l arm here on behalf Of
the sheriff, and | war; all present tha'