The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-05-28
-THE-
Storyof Francis Cludde
ARomanoe Of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY J. EYMAN
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN.

lnlnu. l looked for an OGtbufSt of tears
| or protestation. Instead. with a glance
of wonder and great scorn. with a sin
gle indignant widening Of her beautiful
eyes, she replied by a curt Dutch sem
tence.
What does she say" my lady ex-
claimed,' eagerly.
She says" replied Master Lind
strofn. VINO was looking on sravely,
that II is a base lie, madam"
ON that we became spectators. 1t
seemed to me, and l think to all of us,
that the two girls stood apart from us
in a circle of light by themselves, con-
fronting one another with sharp
slances, as though a curtain had been
raised from between them and they
saw one another in their rue colors
and recognized some natural antago-
n!Srn, or 1t might be soaae rivalry each
in the other. l think l was not peculiar
in feeling this, for we ali kept silence
for a space. as though expecting some
thing to follow. In the middle of this
silence there came a low rappiug at the
door.
one uttered a faint shrek; another
stood as If turned 10 stone. The Ouch
ess cried for her child. The rest OF
us looked at one another. Midnight
was past. Who could be abroad, who
could want us at his hour? As q rule
We should have been III bed and asleep
long ago. We had no neighbors save
the cotters on the far side of the ISL
and. We knew of no one likely to ar
rive at this time with any good in
tent.
Il will open" said Master Lind
strorn. but he looked doubtfully at the
women folk as he said it.
"One minute" whispered the Ouch
ess- THAT table is solid and heavy.
Could you not"
Put it across the door," concluded
her husband. Yes, we will" And it
was done at once, the two en-m
lady would not let me help-so arrang-
ing it that it prevented the door being
opened to its full width.
That will stop a rush." said Master
Bertie, with satisfaction,
1t did the position, yet
1t was a nervous moment when our
host prepared to lower the bar. who
is there?' he cried, loudly.
We waited, listening and looking at
one another, the fear of arrest and the
horrors of the inquisition looming
large in the mind of some of us, at
least. The answer. when it came, did
not reassure us. 1t was uttered in a
voice SO low and muf1ed that we
gained no information and rather au-
cured treachery he more. I remember
noticing how each took the crisis; how
Mistress Anne's face was set hard and
her breath came In jerks; how Dymph-
ma, pale and trembling. seemed yet to
have eyes only for her father, how the
duchess faced the entrance like a queen
at bay. All this l tool in at a glance.
Then my gaze returned to Master
Lindstrom as he dropped the bar with
a jerk. The door was pushed open at
once as far as it would go. A drift Of
cold air came in and with 1t Van Tree.
he shut the door behind him.
Never We're six people so taken aback
as we We're. But the newcomer, whose
face was flushed with haste and excite
ment, observed nothing. Apparently he
saw nothing unexpected even in our
presence down stairs at that hour,
nothing hostile or questioning in the
half circle of %astonished faces turned
toward him. On the contrary he seemed
pleased. All" he exclaimed, gutter
ally. 1T is we'll! You are up! You
have taken the alarm!"
1t was to me he spoke. and was
SO surprised by that and by his sud-
den appearance, 50 d~umbfounded by his
easy address and the absence Of all
self-consciousness on his part, so
struck by a change in him that /
stared In silence. I could not believe
that this was the same half shy, half
fierce young mar who had flung away
a few hours before in a passion Of ieal-
ousy.
My theory that he was the assassin
seemed on a sudden extravaganza
though here he was on the spot. When
What alarm? ?" l listened for his an
swer as I should have listened for the
answer of a friend and ally, withou,
hesitation, without distrust, for, In
truth, the man was TRANSPORTED
changed by the rise of something te
IN him. Before he had seemed churl-
ish, awkward, Il boor. But in this
hour of u need and OF his op.
port1nity he showed himself as he
was. Action and purpose lifted hin
above his outward seeming. / cargh
the generous sparkle In his eye ant
J trusted him.
What. he said, keeping his vote,
low. You do not know? They ar,
coming TO arrest you Their plan is t.
Already there is a boat lying in tn,
river watching the landing stage"
! Whom are they coming to arrest p
! | asked. The other were silent, lookin,
at this strange messenger with mingled
feeling.
! All. I fear" he replied. you, toe
!, Master Lindstrom. Some one ha
! traced our English friends hither an,
informed against you. | know not OF
$ What ground you are included, but
! fear the worst. There Is not a mornen
: to be lost If you would escape by tn
: bridge before the troop who are on TIL
way to guard it arrives"
! The landing stage, you say, is al
ready watched?"" our host asked, hi
; phlegmatic cooiness showing at it
~ - - SySS " IN IOOII
and he tugged. as was his habit whe
= deep in thought. at his beard. I fel
z sure that he was calculating which 9
: his possessions he could remove.
5 Yes" Van Tree answered. IN
father got wind Of the plan in Arnhein
: An English envoy arrived there yes
= terday OF his way to Cieves or SON
part OF Germany. It Is rumored thu
he has come out of road way to inquil
after certain English fugitives whol
his government are anxious to ssiz
:, But, come. we have no time to LOSE
~ Let us got"
DO you come, too?" Master Line
strom said, pausing In the act OF tur,
Inc. away. He spoke in Dutch, but /
rs some Inspiration born of sympathy
understood both his question and Il
n answer.
Yes I come. Where Dymphna go
I go. and where she stops / sto
= though it be at Madrid ITSELF" II
re young man answered gal,antly. f,
he eyes kindled, and he seemed to gre
els taller and to gain majesty. The barri
nd Of race, which had hindered me fro
M, viewing him fairly before. fell IN