The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-09-11
CHAPTER Xxn-continued.

CHAPTER XXTI-Continued.
God save the q%ueen!" he shouted
and out of respect for the knight he
slipped from his saddle and promptly
fell on his back In the road.
Aye. to be sure. God save the
%queen!" echoed Sir Anthony. taking Off
his hat again. You are right, mani"
the m~cssenger's mishap. The tidtngs
he had heard seemed of such
Importance, and he was so anxious to
tell them to his household-for the
greatest men have weaknesses. and
news such as this comes seldom In a
and over the d~rawbrtdge into the court
yard without looking behind him.
He loved order and decent observ-
nnce. but there are times when n cat,
to get to the cream pan. will wet It's
feet. He stood now in the middle of
shouted for his daughter. "Ho. Petro.
Father Careyl Martin Luther! Bald
win!" and 80 on until half the house.
hold were collected. do you hear, all
of you? The queen is dead! God rest
"Amen!" said Father Carey, as be-
came him, putting in his word amid the
, wondering sllence which followed.
while Martin Luther and Baldwin. who
We're washing themselves at the pump,
stood with their heads dripping and
their mouths agape.
"Amen!" echoed the knight. And
long live the queen! Long live Queen
Elizabeth" he continued, having now
got his formula by heart. And he
swung his hat.
There was a cheer. a fairly oud
cheer, but there was one who did not
Join in It., mt that was Petronilla-
She. listening at her lattice up stairs.
began at once to think, as was her
habit when any matter great or small
fell out. whether this would affect the
fortunes of a certain person far away.
It might, it might not. She did not
know. But the doubt so far entertained
her that she came down to supper with
a heightened color, not thinking In
the least. poor girl. that the event might
have dire consequences for others al
most us dear to her and nearer home.
Every year since his sudden de-
parture n letter from Francis Cludde
had come to Coton-a meager letter,
which had passed through many hands
and which reached Sir Anthony now
through one channel. now through an
other. The knight grumbled and swore
over these letters, which never on
tanned an address to which an answer
could be forwarded. nor said much,
save that the writer was we'll and sent
his owe n duty and looked to re-
turn. all being we'll. But. meager as
they were and oud as he swore at
them, he put them religiously away in
an oak chest in his parlor, and an
other always put away for her share
something else. which was invariably
inclosed-a tiny swallows feather. The
knight said anything about the
feather, neither asked the meaning OF
it's presence nor commented upon it's
absence when Petronilla CAV him back
the letter. But for days after each of
these arrivals he would look much at
his daughter, would ollow her about
ding her attend him in his walk and
more particular in seeing that she
had the tidbits Of the joint.
For Petronilla. 1t ann be said,
though I think in after times she would
have liked to make some one believe
take n more serious and thoughtful air
In these days, which she never, God
bless her, lost afterward. There came
from Wootton Wawen and from Hen
ley in Arden and from Cookhill gen.
tlemen of excellent estate to WOO her.
after drinking very deeply Of Sir An
thongs ale and strong waters. And
some wondered that the good knight did
not roundly take the jade to ask and
see her settled.
But he did not. So possibly even in
these days he nae other views. l have
been told that. going up once to her
little chamber to seek her, he found
a very singular suspended
inside her lattice. 1t was no other than
a common clay house martins nest, but
1t was so deftly hung in a netted bag
end so daintily swathed in moss always
green and the Christmas roses and
snowdrops and violets and doffodils
which decked 1t in turn We're always so
pure and fresh n bright-as the
knight learned by more than
stealthy visit afterward-that, coming
down h steep steps, he could not see
clearly and stumbled against a cookboy
and yea him soundly for getting In his
way.
To return, however. The news Of the
digested at Cotton. nor the mass for
her soul. which Father Carey celebrated
with much devotion, been properly
criticised. before another surprise fell
upon the household. Two strangers ar
rived. riding, late one evening, and
rang the great bell while all were at
supper. Baldwin n the porter went
to. see what it was and brought back
. message which drew the knight from
his chair as a terrier draws a rat.
You are drunk!' he shouted. purple
in h face and fumbling for the stick
which usually leaned against his seat
ready Tor emergencies. How dare you
bring cock and bull stories to meg"
"It is true enough!" muttered Bald
win sullenly. n stout door man, not
much afraid OF his master, but oving
him exceedingly. 1T knew him again
myself"
Sir Anthony strobe firmly out OF the
room. and IN the courtyard near he
great gate found a man and a woman
standing in the luz He walked up
to the former and looked him in he
face. What do you here?" he said in
q strange, hard voice.
"I van shelter for a night for my
! self and my wife,. a meal and some
words with you-no more,' was the an
! swer. "Give me this" the stranger
continued, which every idle passerby
may claim at Cotton End. and you shall
rec no more of me, Anthony"
For Il moment the knight seemed to
hesitate. Then he answered, pointing
sternly with his hand: There is the
hall. and supper. Go and eat and drink.
NJ STAY" he resumed. And he turned
II gave some orders to Baldwin, who
went swiftly to the hall, and in a mo-
ment came again. Now, go! What
you want the servants will prepare for
you"
II want speech of you." said the new
core.
Sir Anthony seemed about to refuse.
N-..A