The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-05-07
Storyof francis Cludde
"A Romance Of Queen Mays Reign.
BY STANLEY J. wEYMAN.

of myself. She did not give me time,
however, to consider which attitude 1
should take up. for the moment the
door OF her room was closed behind US
she turned upon me, the color high in
her cheeks. 'sNow, young man. h
said in q tone of ringing contempt. do
you really think that that girl Is In
love with your"
What girl I asked sheepishly. The
unexpected question and her tone put
me out OF countenance.
What girl? What girl?" she replied
impatientiy. Don't play with me-.
boy! You know whom / mean-Dym-
pima Lindstrom!"
"Oh, L thought you meant Mistress
Anne" / said somewhat impertinently.
Her face fell In an extraordinary
fashion, as IL the suggestion were not
pleasant TO her, but she answered on
the instant: well. the vanity OF the
ladl Do you think all the girls are in
love with you? Because o have been
sitting with a pretty face on each side
OF you do you think you have only to
throw the handkerchief this way or
that II you do, open your eyes. n
you will find II is not so. Ny kinswom-
an can take care OF herself. so we Will
leave her out OF the discussion, please,
and for this pink and white Dutch girl"
my lady continued viciously, 'let me
tell you that she thinks more OF Van
Trees little finger than OF your whole.
body
shrugged my shoulders. but still /
was mortified. A young man may not
be In love with a girl. yet Ii d~ispleases
him to hear that she is Indifferent to
him.
The duchess noticed the movement.
Don't do that" she cried in impatient
scorn. You do not see much In Master
Van Tree perhaps? I thought not.
Therefore you think a girl must be of
the same mind as yourself. Well" with
a fierce little nod, you will learn some
day that II is not so; that women are
not quite what men think them. and
particularly, Master Francis, that six
feet OF manhood and a pretty face on
top of 1t do not always have their way.
But, there. / did not bring You here to
tell you that. / want to know whether
you are aware what o are doing"
muttered something to the effect
that l did not know I was doing any
harm Eg
you do not call It harm. then" the
duchess retorted, with energy, ITO en-
danger the safety OF every one OF us?
Cannot you see that IL you insult and
offend this young man-which you are
doing out OF pure wanton mischief, for
you are not In love with the girl-he
may ruin us?"
Ruin u.s." I repeated in~credulously.
"Yes, ruin us!" she cried. Here we
are, living more or less In hiding
through the kindness OF Master Lind
strom-living in peace and quietness.
But do o suppose that Inquiries are
not being made for us? Why, / would
bet a dozen gold angels that Master
Clarence Is In the Netherlands at this
moment tracking u.s."
was startled by this idea, and She
al IA I XUaQ IVA Non tr,tat .NEaaNa~ 7 l.l ~
strom, were it only for his own sake"
she continued more quietly, satisfied
perhaps with the effect she had pro-
duced. And this young man. who Is
the o OF one OF the principal men of
Arnheim. Is also disposed to look kind
ly on us, as I fancy IL is his nature to
look. But IL o make mischief be-
tween Dymphna and him
Il have not" L said.
Then do not" she replied sharply.
Look to Ii for the future, And, more,
do moi let him fancy ii possible. JeaI-
'ousy is as easily awakened as ii is
hardly put to sleep. A'word from this
young mar to the Spanish authorities,
and we should be hauled back to Eng
land In a trice, IL worse did not befall
IS here. Now. you will be careful?'
II WILL" | said. conscience stricken
and a little cowed. Z
That is better she replied. smil-
ing. Il think you will. Now go"
/ went down again with some food
for thought-with some good intentions
too. But / was to find--the discovery
Is made by many-that good resolutions
commonly come too late. When / went
down stairs, I found my host and Mas
ter BERTHE alone in the parlor. The girls
had disappeared, so had Van Tree, and
l saw at once that something had hap
pened. Master BERTHE was standing
gazing st the stove very thoughtfully,
and h Dutchman was walking UP and
the Don with an almost comical
expression OF annoyance andttroubIe on
his pleasant face.
Where are the young LADIES'" I
asked.
up stairs said Master BERTHE. not
looking at me.
.And-and Van Tree?" I asked me-
chanically. Somehow I anticipated the
answer.
"Gone!" said the Englishman CURLY.
AYE. gone, the foolish lad, the
Dutchman struck In, tugging at his
beard. What has come to him? He is
not wont to show temper. / have never
known him and Dymphna have a cross
word before. What has come to the
lad, I say, to go off in a passion at this
time OF night? And no one knows
whittier he has gone or when he will
a RNSNfh NL"
He seemed Is he spoke hardly con-
scious of my presence, but Master
BERTHE turned and looked at me, and I
hung my head. and very shortly after
ward I skunk out The thought OF what
l might have brought upon US all by
my petulance and vanity made me feel
sick. I crept up to bed nervous and
fearful OF the morrow, listening TO ey-
cry noise without and praying inwardly
that my alarm might not be justified.
When the morrow came, I went down
stairs as anxious to see Van Tree In
the flesh as / had been yesterday dis
appointed by his appearance. But no
Van Tree vas there to be seen. Moth
ing had been heard OF him. Dymphna
moved restlessly about, her cheeks pale,
her eyes ~downcast, and IL I had ever
fiattered myself that / was anything to
the girl / vas undeceived now. The
duchess shot angry glances at me from
time to time Master BERTHE kept look
ing ~anxiously at the door. Everyone
seemed to fear and to expect something,
but none OF them feared and expected
IL as / did.
III must have gone home. He must
have gone to Arnhelm,' said our host.
trying to hide his vexation. He will be
back In q day or two. Young men VIII
be young men,"