Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-03-06
THE-
Storyof Francis Cludde
A Romance Of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY J. YMA
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN.

| turned. NOW l saw only the WAFER
and the dark inc of trees which fringec
the farther bank. But above these the
stars were shining.
Yet in my mind there was no star
light. There all was "A blur of wild pas
sions and resolves. Shame n an
angry resentment against those who
had kept me so long I'm ignorance-even
against Sir Anthony-were my upper
most feelings. / smarted under the
thought that | had been living on his
charity. / remembered many a time
when / had taken much on myself, and
he had smiled, and the remembrance
stung me. 1 ionged to assert myself
and do something to wipe of the stain.
But should ! accept the bishops Of
fer? 1t never crossed my mind to do
so. He had Inundated me, and / hated
him for it. Longing 10 cut myself off
from my old life. | 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 l became cooler. This was the con-
viction that, apart from the glitter
which the old mans craft had cast
about 1t, 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 had him in my
mind And from this, from the barest
suspicion of this, / shrank as the
burned puppy from the fire-shrank
with fierce twitching of nerve and
sinew.
Yet if / would not accept his offer
il was clear / must fend for myself.
His threats meant as much as that, and
| smiled sternly as found necessity at
one with inclination. / would leave
Cotton End at once, and henceforth I
would fight for my own and / would
have no name until l had made for
myself a new one.
h resolve formed, / turned and
went back to the house and felt my
way to my w chamber. The moon
light poured through the lattice and
fell white on my pallet. | crossed the
room and stood still. Down the middle
Of the coverlet-or my eyes deceived
me-lay a dark line.
/ stopped mechanically to see what
this was and u my own sword
lying there, the sword which Sir An
thony had given me on my last
birthday. But how had ii come
there? AS / took it up something
soft and light brushed my hand and
dropped from the hilt. Then / remem-
bered. A week before / had begged
Petronilla to make me a sword knot
of blue velvet for use on state occa-
siOns. No doubt she had lone it and
had brought the sword back his even
ing and laid 1t there in token of peace.
/ sat down on my bed, and softer and
kindlier thoughts came to me-thOughts
of V and gratitude, in which the old
man who had been a second father to
me had part. | would go as l had re-
solved, but | would return to them
when l had lone a thing worth doing,
something which should efface the
brand that lay on me now. With gem
tie fingers | disengaged the velvet knot
and thrust 1t into my BOSOM. Then
tied about the hilt the old leather
thong, and began to make my prepar-
atoms, considering this or that route
while / hunted for my dagger and
Lrhcnged my doublet and hose fo,c
s~toiteerr rai2aent and long. uHtahned
boots. l was yet in the nrSfsG of this
when a knock at the door startled me.
who is there" / asked, standing
erect.
For answer Martin Luther slid in.
| closing the door behind him. The fool
did not speak, but turning his eyes
first on one thing and then on another
nodded sagely.
"WelI?" | growled.
You are off. master" he said. nod
ding again. Il thought SO"
why did you think so?" l retorted
impatiently.
1T is time for the young birds to
fly when the cuckoo begins to STIR"
he answered.
| understood him dimly and in part.
"You have been listening" l said
wrathfully, my cheeks burning.
And been kicked in the face like a
fool for my pains" he answered. "Ah,
well. it is better to be kicked by the
boot you love than kissed by the lips
you hate. But Master Francis, Master
Francis!" he continued in a whisper.
He said no more, and l loked up. The
-.... NAA.t~ .It-lt1y f~r,,n II LII.
pale face 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 Missed,
his hot breath reaching me. shall I?'
/ ~recoiled from him, shuddering. 1t
was a CHASTITY pantomine. and II seemed
to me that | saw madness In his eyes.
I'm heavens name, no." l cried. mo!
Do you hear. Martin? MOI"
He stood back on the instant, as q
dog might have lone being reproved.
But l could hardly finish in comfort
after that with him standing there, al
though when l next turned to him he
seemed half asleep and his eyes were
dull and fishy as ever.
zone thing you can do" l said
b~rusquely. Then i hesitated. looking
round me. / wished TO send something
to Petronilla, some word. some keep
sake. But l a nothing hat would
serve a maids urpo and could him
of nothing until my eye lit on a house
martins nest, lying where l had cas-
IL on the window sill. / had taken II
down that morning because the drop
pings the last summer had fallen on the
lead work. and ] would not have II
used when the swallows returned. II
was but a bit of clay, and yet 1t would
serve. She would guess It's meaning.
/ gave Ii into his hands. Take this.
I said, land give IL privately to Mis-
tress Petronilla. Privately, under
stand, And say nothing TO any one
or the bishop will fay your back. Mar
tin"
CHAPTER III.
The first streak OF daylight founs
me already footing IL through the for
est by paths known to few ave TIN
w~oodcutters. but with which many (,
boyish exploration had made me ia
miliar. From Cotton End the Londol
road lies plain and fair through STRAIT
ford-on-Avon and oxford. But m
plan. the better to evade pursuit, was
, instead, TO cross the forest in a north
easterly direction, and passing by War
wick to strike the great north roal
, between Coventry and Daventry
!, which, running thence southeastwart
( would take me as straight as q bir
might fly through Dunstable, st. AL
IN nc and Rarpaf RI Inpdau Nv Hag