The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-04-24
And I sought leavs

a little homes,ck. And I sought leavs
10 retire early.
You are right" said the duchess.
Ing out in the air, you will sleep sound
~, and tomorrow you will be a new
man" with a faint smile. Believe me,
| am not ungrateful, Master Francis.
and l will diligently seek occasion to
repay both your gallant defense OF the
other day and your future service" She
gave me her land to kiss, and I bent
over 1t. Now" she continued. do
homage to my baby. and then 1 shall
consider that you are really one Of US
and pledged to our cause"
kissed the tiny fist held out to me.
a soft pink thing looking like some
dainty seashell. Master Bertie cordially
grasped N hand. M so under the
oil lamp in the neat cabin OF hat old
Dutch boat, somewhere on the Waal
between Gorcum and Nimuegen. we
plighted our troth TO ona another, and
IN d sense l became one Of them.
Went to my berth cheered and en-
Outraged by their kindness. But the
interview, satisfactory as ii was. had
set up no little excitement in my brain.
and II was long before I slept. When I
did. / had a strange dream. 1 dreamed
~''NN 't3 III VIZ itdii IL '-olo!l,
and that P%etronilla was standing on the
dais locking tixedly at me with gentle.
sorrowful eyes. | wanted to go to her.
but l could not move. Every dreaner
knows the sensation. ] tried to call to
her, to ask her what was the matter,
and why she so looked at me. But I
could utter no ound. And still she
continued to fix me with the same. sad,
reproachful eyes, In which | read a
warning. yet could not ask its mean
ing.
l struggled so hard that at las, the
spell was in a degree broken. Follow
ing the direction Of her eyes, / looked
down at myself and saw fastened to
the breast of my doublet the knot OF
l velvet which she had made for
my sword h!lt, and which l had ever
since carried in my bosom. More, l
saw. with a singular feeling of anger
and sorrow. that a hand which came
over my shoulder was Juggling hard at
the ribbon in the attempt to remove 1t.
This gave me horrible concern. yet at
the moment l could not move nor do
anything TO prevent it. Al last. making
a st%upendous effort. / awoke, my last
experience, dreaming, being of the
strange hand working at my breast.
My first waking idea was the same, SO
That threw out my arms and
l exclaimed, trembling in the in
tensity of my relief as l looked about
and welcomed the now familiar sur
~roundings. 1t was only a dream. 1t
WaS--"
stopped abruptly. my eyes falling
or a form lurking in the doorway. /
could see it only di.nly by the light Of
a hanging lamp, which smoked and
burned redly overhead. Yet 1 could see
II. II was real, ubstantial- walk
ing figure. Nevertheless a faint touch
or superstitious terror still chung to me.
Sypnn ! nncn 7 -t.~2 ~ -. ~. .y
1T Is only l." answered n soft voice,
well known TO me-Mistress Anne's.
II came in to see how you We're" She
continued. advancing a little, and
whether you were sleeping. L am
afraid awoke you. But you seemed"
she added, TO be having such painful
dreams that perhaps it was as well L
did"
was fumbling In my breast while
she spoke. ara certainly. whether in
my sleep l had uldone the fastenings
or mad ioosened them Intentionally be-
remember doing Sony doublet and
shirt We're open at the breast. The vel
vet knot was safe. however, in that tiny
nner pocket beside the letter. and I
preathed again. II am very glad you
did awake me-" 1 replied. looking
gratefully at her. II was having a nor.
rihle dream. But how good it was
of you to think of me. when you are
not we'll yourself, too"
oh, I am better she
her eyes. which g%listened in the light.
fixed steadily on me. Much better,
Now go to sleep again. and happier
dreams to YOU. After %tonight." she
added pleasantly. II shall no longer
consider you an invalid nor intrdue
upon YOU"
iterate my thanks. The door fell to.
and 1 was alone. full of kindlv faaI;,rs