The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-07-02
cHAPTER ~xIv-continud.

How come you here? How has 1t
happened?" Master Lindstrom asked,
his voice. though he still remained be-
low, betraying his perpelxity and I'M
happiness. Can ] not do something?
This is terrible indeed"
"YoE IA come up, If you like" l an
swered after q moments thought. BUT
you must come alone, and / cannot let
even you, friend as you are, see u
defenses."
AS he came up ! stepped back and
drew the door of the room toward me,
so that, though a little light reached
the ffsad of the stairs, he could not,
standing there, see into the room or
discern our real weakness. ] did not
distrust him-heaven forbid!--but he
might have to tell all he saw to his
friends below, and / thought it well, for
his sake as well as our own that he
should be able to do this freely and
without hurting US. AS he joined me
I held up a finger for silence and list
eried keenly. But all was quiet below.
NO N had followed him. Then 1
turned and warmly grasped his hands,
and we peered into one another's faces.
I saw he was deeply moved; that he
had saved her. He held my hands as
though he would never loose them.
We'll" / said as cheerfully as /
could, have you brought us an offer of
terms? But let me tell you first" /
continued. "how 1t happened" And /
briefly explained that we had mistaken
the captain of the guard and his two
followers for Clarence and the W
spaniards. rs he dead?" / continued.
mo" he is still alive" Master Lind
strom answered gravely. But the
townsfolk are furious, and the seizure
of the tower has still further exasper-
ated them. Why did you do it?" "
Because we should have been torn
to pieces IL we had not lone It," 1 an
swered dryly. You think we are in a
do you not think so yourself?" he
said. somewhat astonished. .
i laughed. THAT is as may be-" I
answered with an affectation Of reck-
lessness. THE staircase is narrow and
the window low. We shall sell our
lives dearly, my friend. Yet for the
sake OF the women who are with us
we are willing to surrender If the citi-
zens offer us terms. After all, 1t was
an accident. Cannot you impress this
on them?" 1 added eagerly.
He shook his head. They will not
hear reason" he said.
Then" / replied, impress the other
thing upon them. Tell them that our
swords are sharp and we are desper-
ate
81 VIII see what / can do" he an
swered slowly. 'fThe Duke of Gloves
is. expected here tomorrow, and the
townsfClk feel they would be disgraced
forever IL he should find their gate held
by a party of marauders, as they con-
slider you" .th .-
"The Duke of cleves?" L repeated.
l"Perhaps he may be better affected to-
ward u.s. s&
"They will you before he
comes" Master Lindstrom answered
l~despondently. II would put no trust in
him IL / Were you. But / will go to
them. and, believe me, l will do all that
man can do w.
t'Of that / am sure I said warmly.
And then cautioning me to remain
strictly on the defensive. he left me.
Before his footsteps had ceased to
echo on the stairs the loo beside me
,oEened, and Mistress Anne appeared al
It. / saw at nee that his familiar
voice hal reused her from the stupor
iof fear in which l had last seen her,
Her eyes were bright; her whole frame
was thrilling with excitement, hope
suspense. / began to understand her
TO discern beneath the disguise thrown
Owe 1t in ordinary times by a strong
will the nervous allure which was al.
a confident or despairing, which
felt everything so Keenly-everything
that is, which touched itself. "'Well?'
she cried. "Well?" .
"Patience! Patience!" / replied rath.
er sharply. I could not help comparing
her conduct with that of the duchess
and blaming her moi for her timidity
but for the selfshness which she had
betrayed in her fear. l could fancy
Petronilla trembling and a coward, but
not despairing, nor utterly cast down
nor useless when others needed her
nor wrapped In her own terrors to tn,
very exclusion of reason. "Patience!'
said. He is coming back. He an(
his friends will do all they can fol
us. We u wait awhile and hop,
and keep a good lookout"
She had her hand on the door, an(
by an abrupt movement she slipped ou
to me and closed 1t behind her. Thi
made the staircase so dark that / coulC
no longer distinguish her face, but
Judged from her tor that her fear,
were regaining possession of her. "Clar
ence,V she muttered, her voice low ant
trembling. Have you thought of him
Could not he help us? He may hav,
followed us here and may be here now
Now! Aud perhaps he does not know
I'm what danger we are"
"Clarence!" / said, astonished and al
most angry. Clarence help us? G,
back, girl, go back. You are mad. H
would be more likely to complete on
ruin. Go in and nurse the baby"
huueu uIlterly. ..H
What could she mean? Isasked my
self when she had gone in. Was Their
anything In her suggestion? Woul,
Clarence follow us hither? If SO, and 1
he should come in time, would he hav
power to help us, using such myster
fous influence, Spanish or English. a
he seemed TO possess? And, IL he coul,
help us, would 1t be better to fall int
his hands than into those of the exas
perated Santonese? I thought tn
duchess would say "No!"
So II mattered not what / answere,
myself. ] hoped, now Master Lindstror
had appeared, that the women woul
be allowed to go free, and it SCENE
to me that to surrender to Clarenc
would be TO hand over the duchess I
her enemy simply that the rest OF u
might escape.
Master Lindstrom returned while
was still considering this, and obserI
jng the same precautions as before
babe him join me. well" l said, ne
so impetutously, j hope, as Mistres
Anne, yet / dare a with a good de-
OF eagerness. well, what do they say?
For he was slow to speak.
II have bad news" he answere
Rently.