Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-05-02
Story Of Francis Cludde
A Romance of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY j. wEYMAN
CHAPTER VIu-Continued.
BY STANLEY J. wEYMAN.

little island green and low, Its banks
| trinity Set with a single row OF poplars
| IL was perhaps a quarter OF nile eV
| cry way, and channel one-fourth al
wide separated It from the nearer shore
| OF the river to which, however, a Ions
narrow bridge of planks laid on trestlei
gave access. On the outer side OF the
| island, facing the rivers course, stood
a low white house, before which was Q
| sloping green terrace, also bordereo
| with popiars, led down to tiny pier
| Behind and around the house were
meadows as trim and neat as a child {
toys. over which the eye roved with
pleasure until II reached the landward
side OF the island. and there detected
nesting among gardens, a tiny village
Of half n dozen cottages. 1t was a
scene OF enchanting peace and quietude
| AS we slowly plowed out way up 10
| the landing place / saw the rabbits
| stand 10 gaze at us, and then with a
flick of their heels, dart off TO their
| holes. / marked the cattle moving
| homeward in a string and heard the
! wild fowl rise in creek and pool with a
whir of wings. l turned with full
heart to my neighbory rs 1t not love
ly?" / cried with enthusiasm. is it
not a peaceful place-a very garden OF
Eden?"
I looked TO see her fall into raptures
such as women are commonly more
prone 10 than men. But all women
are not the same. Mistress Anne was
looking, indeed. when turned and sur
prised her! q Ihe scene which had so
moved me, but the expression OF her
face was sad and bitter and utterly
melancholy. The weariness and fatigue
! had often seen lurking in her eyes
had invaded all her. features. She
looked five years Older-no longer a
girl. but "A gray faced. hopeless woman,
whom the sights of this peaceful hayen
rather smote to the heart than filed
with anticipations of safety and re-
pose.
1t was but for n moment / saw her
so. Then she dashed her hand across
her eyes-though ! saw no tears in
them-and with pettish exclamation
turned away. Poor girl!" ] thought
She, too, is hOmesiCk. No doubt this
reminds her Of some places at home
or some other person" | thOught this
more than likely, as Master BERTHE
came from Lincolnshire, which, he said
had many Of the features of this
strange land, and II was conceivabl
enough that she should know Lincoln
shire, too. being related to his wife
| soon forgot the matter in the px-
cittment of landing. A few minutes of
hustle and il was over. The boat put
out again, and we four were left face
TO face with two strangers. an elderly
man and a girl. who had come down
10 the pier to meet US. The former.
stout, bluff and red faced. with thick
gray beard and a gold chain about his
neck, had the air of a man of posi-
non. He greeted us warmly. His com
panton, who hung behind him, some
"hat shyly. was as pretty Il girl as
one could find in "A month. A second
look assured me of something more
fnrnln1 a. o.,
plquant brightness and keen ViVaCity,
the dark hair and nervous features of
Mistress Anne For the Dutch girl
was falr and plump and OF perfect
complexion. Her hair was very light
almost faXen indeed. and her eyes were
softly and iimpidly blue-grave. inno-
cent. wondering eyes they were. re-
member. ! guessed ri~Ntly that she
was the elderly mans daughter. Later
l learned that she was his only child
ana that her name was Dymphna.
he was a Master Lindstrom, a mer-
chant OF standing in Arnheim He had
VISITED England and spoke English
lalrIy' and being under some obliga-
lions, 1t appeared to the duchess.
Katherine was TO be our host.
We all walked up the little avenue
together. Master Lindstrom talking as
he went 20 husband or wife. while his
daughter and Mistress Anne came next.
gazing each at each in silence as wom-
en- when they first meet will gaze, TAX
ing stock, / suppose, of a rivals weap-
ons. ! walked last, wondering why
they had nothing 10 say to one another.
As we entered the house the mys-
terry was explained She speaks no
English" said Mistress Anne. with
touch of scorn.
And we no Dutch" answered,
smiling. Here in Holland I am afraid
mat she Will have somewhat the best
of us. Try her with Spanish"
Spanish! ! know none"
We'll, ] do--a little"
What, you know SPANISH" Mis-
tress Anhe's tone of surprise amounted
almost TO increduity. and it nattered
me- boy that | was. dare say il
would have fiattcred many an older
head than mine. You know Spanish
Where did you learn il ." she continued
sharply.
AT home"
AT home. Where is that" And she
eyed me still more closely where is
your nome Master Carey? You have
never told me"
But l had said already more than I
Intended. and | shook my head. II
mean | explained awkwardly. that
learned II in home | once had. Now
my home is here. At any rate, l have
no other"
The Dutch girl. standing patiently
beside us. had looked first at one face
ana then at the other as we talked.
We were all by this time in a long, low
parlor, warmed by a pretty closed
fireplace covered with glazed tiles. on
The shelves of great armoire, or
dresser, at one end of the room, an
Deared a fine show of silver plate.
AT the other end stood a tall linen
press or walnut wood handsomely
carved, and even the gratings of the
windows ard the handles of the doors
were of hammered ironwork There
were no rushes on the floor. which was
made of small pieces of wood delicate
v joined and set together and brightly |
polished. But everything in sight was |
lean and trim to degree which |
would have shamed our great house
It Cotton, where the rushes sometimes
ay for a week unchanged. With each
glance round | felt a livelier satisfac-
ion. turned to Mistress Dymphna.
"Senorita." l said, mastering my no.
Dlest accent. "Beso los pies de usted!
Ha bia -usted Castillano?"
Mistress Anne stared, while the ef- |
cCt on the girl whom l addressed was
greater than | had looked for. but GER
ainly OF Il different kind. She started !
and drew back, an expression of Of |
tended dignity and of something like |
anger ruftiing her placid face. Did she |
lot understand? Yes, for after a mo-
nent's hesitation. and with a height |
med color, she answered. Isl, senor."
Her constrained manner was not prom |
sing. but | was going on to open |
conversation If could. for ii looked lit !
lie grateful of us to stand there speech |
ess and staring. when Mistress Anne |
What did you say to her? |
What was IL >" she asked eagerly
L asked her If she spoke Spanish. |
Fiat was ALL" | replied, my eyes on
face. which still betrayed !
r"uble of some kind, except that !
raid her the usual formal compliment. |
But what is she saying to her !
ather?"
II was like tie Christmas game of |
'vCss questions. The girl and | had |
spoken in Spanish. | translated what |
o Lnl I,r,crlIrL. |