The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-06-04

him."
1T might be some one employed b,
Clarence she suggested, her fac,
gloomy, her brows knit.
True, l had not thought os that
l answered. And 1T reminds me.
have heard so much of Clarence
And seen some little: even that lit
tie more than vas good for you"
Yes, he has had the better of me or
both OCCASIONS" / allowed. But I was
going to ask you l continued. ito tel
me something about aim. He was you
steward, | know. But how did he come
to you? How was ii you trusted him? -
we are all fools at times" she an
swered, grimly. w wanted to have
persons of our own faith about us. and
he was highly recommended to us by
Protestants abroad as having seen ser
vice in the cause. He applied to us
just at this right moment, too. And
at the first we felt a great liking for
him. He was so clever in arranging
things; he kept such excellent order
among the servants; he was so ready,
so willing, so plausible! OH" she
added. bitterly. he had ways that en-
abled him to twist nine women out of
ten around his fingers! Richard was
fond of him: 1 liked him; we had
talked more than once OF how we
might advance his interests. And then,
like a thunderbolt on a clear day, the
knowledge of his double dealing fell
upon as: We learned that he had been
seen talking with a known agent of
Gardiner, and this at a time when the
bishop was planning our ruin. We had
him watched. and just when the net
had all but closed round US we dis
covered that he had been throughout
In Gardeners pay"
Ali" l said. viciously. THE oldest
thing TO me is the way he has twice es-
capped me when 1 had him at the
swords point"
The third time may bring other
fortune. Master Francis" she answered.
smiling. Yet be wary With him. He is
a good swordsman. as my husband,
who sometimes fenced with him, will
tell YOU"
III a be no common man." 1 said.
II Is not. He is well bred and has
seen service. He is at once bold and
cunning. He has a tongue that would
win most women and a hardihood that
would chain them to him. Women
o bold men, my lady added. naive
ly. And she smiled on me, yet hui
morously. SO that l blushed.
There was silence for a moment. The
sal! Mapped, then filled again. How
delicious this morning after that night,
this bright expanse after the dark.
sluggish channels! Far away in front
a great barge, high laden with a
side the bank. the horse that drew it
covered by a kind of knitted rug
When my lady spoke next it was alb
ruptly. rs it AIMEE" she asked.
l knew quite well what she meant
and blushed again. I shook my head.
I think It was going to be- she said,
sagely, only Mistress Dymphna came
upon the scene. You have heard the
story OF the donkey halting between
two bundles of hay, Master Francis?
And in the multitude of sweethearts
there is safety
ct 1o NOT fhSpI, +Io+ -, u,
I said. 1nstinctively my hand went to
my breast in which Petronilla's velvet
sword knot lay safe and warm. The
duchess saw the gesture and Instantly
bent forward and mimicked 1t. .Ha!
hat" she cried, leaning back, with her
hands clasped abou her knees and her |
eyes shining with fun and amusement. |
Now I understand. You have left her
at home. Now. do not deny 1t, or 1 will
tell the others. Be frank, and 1 will
keep your secret. on my hor ="
She Is my cousin" I said, Ivy cheeks ,
hot.
And her name?"
"Petronilla."
"Petronilla?" my lady repeated,
shrewdly. That was the name of your
Spanish grandmother, then?"
Yes. madam"
"~Petronilla? Petronilla? she re-
peated, stroking her cheek with her
hand. She would be before my time,
would she not? Yet there used to be
several Petronillas about the court in
Queen Catherine of Aragon's days, L
remember. There was Petronilla de
Vargas for one. But, there, I guess at
random. Why do you not tell ME more
about yourself, Master Franciso Do
not know me well enough 2"
There is nothing to tell, madam" I
said in a low voice.
Your family?" You come. am
sure, OF q. good house,"
I did, but 1t is nothing to me now.
| am cut Off from 1t. l am building my
house afresh. And" l added, bitterly,
Il have not made much way with it
YETI
she broke. greatly to my surprise.
into a long peal of laughter. ..Oh, YOU
vain boy!" she cried. You valiant cas-
tie builder! How long have you been
about the work Three months? Do |
you think a house is to be built In a
Three months. indeed? Quite a
lifetime!"
Was 1t three months? It seemed to
to be fully three years. l seemed !
to have grown more h three years
older since that February morning
when ! had crossed Arden forest with
Wootton Wawen sleeping in It's vale
and reused h herons fishing in its
bottoms.
Come, tell me about 1T" she said.
abruptly. What did you do to be cut
off %
y cannot tell you" / answered.
A shade OF annoyance clouded her !
countenance. But it passed away al
most on the instant. Very we'll" she ,
said, with q little nod Of disdain and
a pretty grimace. $50 be 1t. Have your
own way. blu / prophesy you will come
to me with your ale some day"
went then and took Master Ber-
ties place at the tiller, and, he lying |
down, I q the boat to myself untii |
noon and drew no little pleasure from
the placid picture which the moving
banks and the Wide river presented.
About noon there was a general up-
rising, and coming Immediately aftsI
erward 70 a little island lying close to |
n bank we all landed to stretch our
legs and refresh ourselves after the
confinement on board.
w are over the border now and
close to Emmerich. said Master
Lindstrom. though the mere line Of
frontier will await us little IL the Span
sisn soldiers a by hook and crook !
lay hands on us. Therefore we must
lose no time In getting within the
walls OF some town. We should be
fairly secure for a few days either II
Vessel ar. 60 rfovy d