The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-03-05

Yet in my mind there was no star
light. There all was a blur of wild pas
sions and resolves. Shame and an
angry resentment against those who
had kept me SO long in ignorance-even
against Sir Anthony-Were my upper
most feelings. L smarted under the
thought hat 1 lac been living IN his
charity. | remembered many a time
when ] had taken much on myself, and
he had smiled, and the remembrance
stung me. | longed to assert myself
and do something to wipe off the stain.
But should L accept the bishops Of
fer? 1t never crossed my mind to do
SO. He had Inundated me, and I hated
him for it. Longing to cut myself off
from my old life, l could not support a
patron who would know and might cast
in my teeth the old shame. A third
reason, too. worked powerfully with me
as became cooler. This was the con
Viction that, apart from the glitter
which the old mans craft had cast
about it. the part that he would have
me play was that of a spy-an inform
er. A creature like-I dared not say
like my father, yet l had him in my
mind. And from this, from the barest
suspicion of this, l shrank as the
burned puppy from the fire-shrank
with fierce twitching Of nerve and
sinew.
Yet if I would not accept his offer
~ ''o SiO"i l. JUS I'll "
His threats meant as much as that, and
l smiled Sternly as found necessity at
one with inclination. l would leave
Cotton En- at once, and henceforth 1
would fight for my hand. l would
nave no name until / had made for
myself a new one.
This resolve formed, I turned and
went back to the house and felt my
way to my own chamber. The moon
light poured through the lattice and
fell white on my pallet. l crossed the
room and stood still. Down the middle
me-lay n dark line.
L stopped mechanically to see what
this was and found my own sword
lying there, the sword which Sir An
thony had given me on my last
birthday. But how had it come
soft and light brushed my hand and
dropped from the hilt. Then L remem-
bered. "A week before L had begged
Petronilla to make me a sword knot
of blue velvet for use on state occa-
sions. No doubt she had done it and
had brought the sword back this even
ing and laid it there in token of peace.
l sat down on my bed. and softer and
klndlier thoughts came to me-thoughts
of o and gratitude, in which the old
man who had been a second father to
me a part. l would go as I had re-
solved, but l would return to them
when | had done a thing worth doing
something which should efface the
brand that lay on me now With gen.
tie fingers L disengaged the velvet knot
and thrust it into my bosom. Then l
tied about the hilt the old leather
thong. and began to make my prepar-
atoms, considering this or that route
while I hunted for nay dagger and
changed my doublet and hose for
stouter rai1nent and long, Unframed
boots. l IA yet in the. midst of this
when a knock at the door startled me.
Who is there" L asked, standing
erect.
For answer Martin Luther slid in.
closing the dooF behind him. The fool
did not speak, but turning his eyes
first on n thing and then on another
nodded sagely.
"Well?" | growled.
you are off. MASTER he said, nod
ding again. "f thought So"
Why did You think so?" I retorted
irnpatiently.
1T is time for the young birds to
fly when the cuckoo begins to STIR
he answered.
] understood him dimly and in part.
You " been listening" said
wr~athfully, my cheeks burning.
And been kicked in the face like a
fool for my palms." he answered. "Ah,
well, 1t is better to be kicked by the
boot you love than kissed by the Inns
you hate. But Master Francis. Master
Francist" he continued in a whisper.
He a no more, and 1 loked UP. The
man was STOPPING slightly forward, his
pale a thrust out. There was a
strange CLEAN in his eyes, and his
teeth grinned In the moonlight. Thrice
he drew his finger across his lean
knotted throat. Shall II" he Kissed,
his hot breath reaching me-, shall II"
@ 4 v~nnnftn1 f~0r, L3~, - n
was a CHASTITY pantomine, n it seemed
to me that I saw madness in his eyes.
I'm heavens name, mol" 1 cried. mo-!
Do o hear, Martin? MOI"
He stood back on the instant. as a
dog might have done being reproved.
after that with him standing there, all
though when l next turned to him he
seemed half asleep and his eyes were
duh and f1shy as ever
One thing you a do" I said
brusquely. Then I hesitated, looking
to P~etronilla, some word. some keep
sake. But l had nothing that would
serve q maids purpose I'M could think
of nothing until my eye lit on a house
martins nest. lying where l had cast
1t on the window sill. I had taken it
down that morning eau the drop
pings the last summer q fallen on the
lead work. and I would not have 1t
used when the swallows returned. It
was but d bit of clay, and yet 1t would
serve. She would guess It's meaning.
1 gave 1t into his hands. Take this"
I said. and give 1T privately to Mis-
tress Petronilla. Privately, you under
stand. And say nothing to any one,
or the bishop will fay 0 u back. Mar
tin"
CHAPTER III.
/ The first streak of daylight found
me already footing 1t through the for
est by paths known to few save the
woodcutters. but with which many a
boyish exploration had made me ia
miiiar. From Cotton End the London
road lies plain and fair through Strait
ford-on-Avon n Oxford. But my
plan, the better to eyade pursuit, was.
instead, to cross the forest in a north
easterly direction. and passing by War
wick to strike h great north road
between Coventry and Daventry,
which, running hence s~outheastward
would take me as straight as a bird
might fly through Dunstable, st. Al
bans and Barnet to London. My bag
gage consisted only of my cloak, SWORD
and dagger, and for money l had blu
a gold angel and a few silver bits OF
doubtful value. But l trusted that this
store, slender as 1t was, would meet m,
charges as far as London. Once there
must depend on my wits either To-
49, IN A--L.