The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-03-12
Storyof Francis Cludde
A Romance of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN

elu 4 pIdycu lily punt opO"S LS 90
half minded to give him a little prod
by way OF earnest. Make up your
mind"
"Yes!" he shrieked out, suspecting
my purpose and bouncing about In ms
saddle like a parched pea. Yes, say!
he roared. DO o hear me-? You go
your way, and l will go mine
THAT Is a bargain" l said quietly
and mind you keep to It,"
/ put up my sword with my face
turned from him. lest he should see the
curl OF my lip and the light in my eyes:
In truth, l vas uncommOnly wen
pleased with myself and was thinking
that If ! came through all my advent
ures as well ! should do merrily. out
wardly, however, I tried to ignore my
victory and to make things as easy as
I could for my friend-if one may call
a man who will not fight him a friend,
q thing / doubt. (which way are you
going?' l asked amicably-'to STRAIT
rord?"
He nodded, for he was too sulky to
speak,
aAIi right" I said ch~eerfully, feel
Ing that my dignity could a k care
OF itself now. Then so far we may
60 together. Only do you remember
the terms. After dinner, each goes his
own way"
. He nodded again, and we turned n
went on in silence, cycling one mother
askance. like two i'll matched dogs
coupled together. But luckily our
forced companionship did not last long,
q quarter of a mile and a bend in the
road bringing us to the first low, gray
houses Of Stratford. A long, struggling
village 1t seemed, made up or inns
streWn along the road. like beads
dreaded on a rosary. And, to be sure,
20 complete the likeness. we came pres
emily upon an ancient stone cross
standing on the green. I pulled up in
front of this with a sigh of pleasure,
for on either side Of 1t, one facing the
other, was an inn OF the better class.
well" I said, which shall 1t be
the Rose and Crown, or the Crown
without the rose2"
CHOOSE for yourself" he answered
churlishly. Il go to the other"
IL shrugged my shoulders. After all,
you cannot make a silk purse out OF a
eow's ear, and If a man has not courage
he is not likely to have good fellow
ship. But the words angered me new
ertheless, for a shabby, hulking fellow
lounging at my elbow overheard them
and grinned. A hiccoughing, blear
eyed man he vas as l a ever met,
with a red nose and the rags OF q tat
tered cassock about him. l turned
away In annoyance and chose the
Crown at hazard. and pushing my way
through the knot of horses that stood
tethered at the doOr went in, leaving
the two to their devices.
I found a roaring fire IL h great
room and three or four yeoman stand
ing about 1t. drinking ale. But l was
20 from walking, so after saluting
them and ordering my meal 1 went and
sat for choice on a bench by the win
dow away from the fire. The window
was one Of a kind common In War
wickshire houses, long and low and
beetle browed. the story above PROJECT
ing over It. l sat there a minute look
ing idly out at the inn opposite, a
heavy stone building with a walled
courtyard attached to 1t, such an Inn as
was common enough about the time of
the wars Of the roses, when wayfarers
looked rather for safety than comfort.
Presently l saw a boy come out Of it
and start up the o at a run. Then,
q minute later, the ragged fellow l had
seen on the green came out and lurChed
across the road. He seemed to be max
ing. though uncertainty. for my inn,
and, Ire enough, just as my bread and
bacon-the latter hot and Kissing
were put before me, he staggered into
the room, bringing a strong smell of
ale and onions with him. Pa VObis-
cum!" he said, leering at me with tipsy
solemnity.
I guessed what he was-a monk, one
of those unfortunateS still to be found
here n there up and down the Coun-
try, whom King Henry, when he put
down the monasteries, had made home
less. / did not look on the class with
much favor, thinking that for most Of
them the cloister, even If the queen
succeed In getting the abbeys on their
legs again, would have few attractions.
But l saw that the simple farmers re-
ceived his scrap Of Latin with respect,
and l nodded Civilly as l went on with
my meal.
I was not to get off so easily how
ever. He came and planted himself
opposite to me.
Paw vobiscum my son." he repeat
ed. THE ale Is cheap here and good"
so is the ham, good father" 1 re-
piled cheerfully, not pausing in my at
tack on the victuals. Il will answer
for so much"
well, WELL" the knave replied, with
ready wit, II breakfasted early. / am
content. Landlord, another plate and a
full tankard. The young gentleman
would have me dine with him"
/ could not tell whether to be angry
or to laugh at his impudence.
THE gentleman says he will answer
for I'll" repeated the rascal, with a
twinkle In his eye, as the landlord hes
iIdISu. ne WIS Dy no means SO drunk
as he looked.
mo, 10, father" I cried, joining in
the general laugh into which the farm
ers by the fire broke. "A cup Of ale is
In reason, and for that l will pay, but
for no more. Drink it and wish me god
speed"
y II will do more thar that, lad" he
answered. Swaying to and fro my cup,
which he had seized in his grasp, he
laid his hand on the window ledge be-
side me-, as though to steady himself,
and stopped until his coarse, puffy face
was but a few inches from mine. More
than that" he whispered hoarsely, and
his eyes. peering into mine, were now
sober and full OF meaning. IF you do
not van to be put in the stocks or
worse. make tracks! Make tracks.
iad!" he continued. Your friend over
there--he is a niggardly oaf-has sent
for the hundredman and the constable,
and you are the quarry. So the word
Is, Go! That" he added aloud, standing
erect again, with a drunken smile. lis
for your cup OF ale, and good coin too"
For half a minute l sat quite still.
taken aback and wondering, while the
bacon cooled on the plate before me.
what l was to do. | did not doubt the
monk was telling he truth. Why