The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-03-05

He did this" he continued SLOWLY,
(which came to light and blasted him
he asked as the price Of his service In
betraying me his brothers estate.
"Impossible!" 1 stammered. why
Sir Anthony
What of Sir Anthony, o would
ask?" the chancellor replied, interrupt
ing me, with savage irony. oh, he
was a papist, an obstinate papist! de
! might go hang-or to Warwick jail"
May, but this at least, my lord, is
false!" / cried! "Palpably false! If my
father had so betrayed his own flesh
and blood, should 1 be here? Should I
be at Cotton End? You say this hap
pened eight years ago. Seven years
ago / came here. Would Sir Anthony
There are fools everywhere" the old
man sneered. when my Lord Hert-
ford refused your fathers suit, Ferd-
inand began-it is his nature-to plot
against hin. He was ound out and
execrated by all, for he had been false
to all. He fed for his life. He left
you behind, and a servant brought you
to Cotton End, where Sir Anthony took
you in"
1 covered my face. Alas, 1 believed
him! /, who had always been so proud
of my lineage. so proud of the brave
traditions of the house and Its honor,
so proud of Cotton End and all that
belonged to 1t! Now, IL this were
true, I could never again take pleasure
in one or the other. l was the son
of a man branded as a turncoat and
an informer, of one who was the
worst of traitorsi l sank down on
the settee behind me and hid my face.
Another might have thought less of the
blow, or, with greater knowledge Of
the world might have made light Of it
as a thing not touching himself. But
on me, young as I was, and proud, and
as yet tender, and having lone moth
ing myself, it fell with crushing force.
1t vas years since 1 had seen my
father. and 1 could not stand forth
Loyalty and fight his battles as a son
his fathers friend and familiar for
years might have fought 1t. On the
contrary there was so much which
seemed mysterious in my past life, so
much that bore out the chancellor's
accusation, that I felt a dread of its
, truth ever before 1 had proof. Yet /
would have proof. SHOW me the let
ters!" I said harshly. "Show me the
letters. my lord!"
You know your fathers handwrit-
ing?"
1T do"
1 knew it, not from any correspond
ence my father had held with me. but
because l had more than once exam
lned with natural curiosity the wrap
pers Of the dispatches which at inter
walls of many months, sometimes of a
year, came from him to Sir Anthony.
! had never known anything of the con-
tents Of the letters, all that fell to
my share being certain formal mes
sages, which Sir Anthony would give
me, generally with a clouded brow and
q testy manne that grew genial again
only with the lapse of time.
Gardiner handed me the letters, and
II tnnk fham and rnaH m Nno uya
enough That my father! Alas, alas!
No wonde that 1 turned my face to the
wall, shiVering as with ague, and that
all about me, except the red glow of
the fire, which burned into my brain
seemed darkness! 1 had lost the thing
I valued most. I had lost at a blow
everything of which l was proud. The
treachery that could flush that worn
face opposite to me, lined as 1t was
with statecraft, n betray the willy
tongue into passion seemed to me,
young and impulsive, q thing so vile
as to brand a mans children through
generations.
Therefore I hid my face in the cor
ner OF the settle, while the chancellor
gazed at me awhile In silence. as one
who had made an experiment might
watch the result.
You see now, my friend" he said at
last, almost gently, that you may be
base born in more ways than one. But
be OF good cheer. You are young, and
what l nave done you may do. Think
OF Thomas Cromwell-his father was
naught. Think of the old c~ardinal-my
master. Think of the duke of Suffolk
Charles Brandon, I mean. He was a.
plain gentleman, yet he married a
queen. More, the door which they had
to open for themselves I will open for
you-only, when you are inside. play
the man n be faithful"
What would you have me do?" 7
whispered hoarsely.
Il would have you do this" he an
swered. There are great things brew
ing in the Netherlands, boy-great
changes, unless / am mistaken. I have
need Of an agent there, a man, stout,
trusty, and, in particular, unknown,
who Will keep me Informed Of events.
If you will be hat agent, I can procure
for you--and not appear in the matter
myself-a post of pay and honor in
the regents guards. What say you to
that, Master Cludde? A few weeks,
and o will be making history, and
Cotton End Will seem a e place to
you. Now, what do you say?"
/ was longing to be away and alone
with my misery, but I forced myself to
reply patiently:
With your leave I will give you nv
answer tomorrow, my lord, IT said as
steadlly as L could, and / rose, still
keeping my face turned from him.
Very WELL" he replied, with appar-
ent confidence. But he watched me
keenly, as 1 fancied. II know already
what your answer will be. Yet before
you go l will give you a piece of ad-
vice which in the new life you begin
tonight will avail you more than sill
YER. more than gold-aye, more thar
steel-Master Francis. It is this. Be
prompt to think, be prompt to strike,
be slow to speak! Mark it well! 1t is
a simple recipe, yet it has made me
what l am and may make you greater.
Now go!"
He pointed to the little door opening
on the staircase, and 1 bowed and went
out. closing it carefully behind me. On
the stairs. moving blindly in the dark
l fell over some n who lay sleeping
there and who clutched at my leg. j
shook him off, however, with an ex
clamation of rage, and stumbling down
the rest of h steps gained the oper
air. Excited and feverish, I shranl
with aversion from the confinement o.
INV TennFN anI $500 -