The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-09-10
CHAPTER xX11-Continued.

~ ~ oiI $780, ~
his hat again. You are right, mani!
Then he hurried on. not noticing
the messengers misSap. The tiding
he had heard seemed of sucI
Importance, he was so anxious I
tell them to his household-for tn
greatest men have weaknesses. AM
news such as this comes seldom IN
lifetime-that he strobe on to the hous,
and over the d~rawbridge into the cour
yard without looking behind him.
He loved order and decent observ
ance. but there are times when a cat
to get to the cream pan. Will wet 1t:
feet. He stood now In the middle o
The court yard, and raising his vote,
shouted for his daughter. "Ho, Petro'
nilla, do you hear. girl! Father
Father Carey! Martin Luther! Bald
win!" and 80 on until half the house
hold were collected. Do you hear, al
OF you? The queen is dead! God res
her SOUL"
"Arnen." said Father Carey, as be
came him, putting in his word amid the
wondering silence which followed
while Martin Luther and Baldwin, who
were washing themselves at the pump
stood with their heads dripping and
their mouths agape.
"Amen!" echoed the knight. ".And
long live the queen. Long live Queen
Elizabeth" he continued. having now
got his formula by heart. And he
6" 4 iIS %
There was a cheer, a fairly loud
cheer. but there was n who did not
join in it. and that was Petronilla.
She, listening at her lattice up stairs.
began at once to think as was her
habit when any matter great or small
fell out. whether this would affect the
fortunes OF a certain person far away.
1t might, 1t might not. She did not
know. But the doubt SO far entertained
her that she came down to supper with
a heightened color. not thinking in
the least. poor girl. that the event might
have dire consequences for others al
most as dear to her and nearer home.
Every year since his sudden de-
parture a letter from Francis Cludde
had come to Coton-a meager letter,
which had passed through many hands
and which reached Sir Anthony now
through one channel, now through an
other. The knight grumbled and swore
over these letters, which never con-
tanned an address to which an answer
could be forwarded, nor said much,
ave hat the writer was well and sent
his owe and duty n looked to re-
turn, all being well: But. meager as
they were and loud as he swore at
them, he put them re~ligtously away In
an oak chest in his parlor, and an
other always put away for her share
something else. which was invariably
inclosed-a tiny swallows feather. The
KNIGHT never SdlQ anything ABOUT Tic
feather, neither asked the meaning OF
its presence nor commented upon its
absence when Petronilla rave him back
the letter. But for days after each of
these arrivals he would look much at
his daughter. would follow her about
with his eyes. be more regular In bid
ding her attend him in his walk and
more particular in seeing that h
had the tidbits OF the joint.
For Petrontlla, 1t cannot be said,
though I think in after times she would
have liked to make some one believe
1t. that she wasted away. But she did
take a more serious and thoughtful air
in these days, which she never, God
bless her. lost afterward. There came
from Wootton Wawen n from Hen
ley in Arden and from Cookhin gen
tlemen of excellent estate to WOO her,
but they all went away d~isconsolate
after drinking very deeply of Sir An
thongs ale and strong waters. And
some wondered that the good knight did
not roundly take the jade to task and
see her settled.
But he did not. So possibly eve In
these days he had other views. I have
been tol that, going up nee to her
little chamber to seek her, he found
a very singular ornament suspended
inside her lattice. 1t was no other than
a common clay house martins nest, but
1t was SO deftly hung in a Melted bag
and SO daintily swathed In moss always
green and the Christmas roses and
snowdrops inc violets and doffodils
which decked 1t in turn We're always 8 o
pure and fresh n bright-as the
knight learned by more than one
stealthy visit afterward-that, coming
down he steep steps, he could not see
clearly and stumbled against a cookboy
and beat him soundly for getting in his
way.
To return. however. The news of the
queens death had scarcely been well
digested at Cotton, nor the mass for
her soul, which Father Carey celebrated
with much devotion. been properly.
criticised, before another surprise fell
upon the household. Two strangers ar
rived, riding, late one evening, and
rang the great bell while all were at
supper. Baldwin and the porter went
to see what 1t was and brought back
a message which drew the knight from
his chair as a terrier draws a rat.
You are drunk" he shouted, purple
In the face and fumbling for the stick
which usually leaned against his seat
ready for emergencies. How dare you
bring cock and bull stories to me?"
ut Is true enough!H muttered Bald
win sullenly. a stout door man, not
much afraid of his master, Ii loving
him exceedingly. Il knew him again
myself,
Sir Anthony strobe firmly out Of the
rOOfIl, ana n the courtyard near the
great gate found a man and a woman
standing in the dusk. He walked up
to the former and looked him In the
face. What do you here 2" he said In
a strange, hard voice.
IT want shelter for a night for uy-
self and my wife. a meal and some
words with you-no MORE was the an
swer. Give me this the strange
continued, which every Idle passerby
may claim at Cotton End. and you shall
see no more of me, Anthony,
Forsa moment the knight seemed to
hesitate. Then he answered, pointing
sternly with his hand There is the
hall, and supper. Go and eat and drink,
or stay!. he resumed, And he turned
n gave some orders to Baldwin, who
went swiftly to the hall, and i a mo-
ment came again. Now. go. What
you want4the servants will prepare for
you.''
s. want speech of YOU said the new.
core.
! Sir Anthony seemed about to refuse
but thought better of 1t. You car
come to my room when you have
supred,' he said In the same ungrac.
! ious tone. speaking with his eyes
/. averted.
And you-do you not take PIPER?
have finished" said the KNIGHT
! albeit he had eaten little Ana IL