Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-05-16
THE
Story Of Francis Cludde
A Romance Of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY J. wEYMAN
BY STANLEY ]. wEYMAN.

/ He couldn't finish. His emotion choked
| him, and he sat down again. The event
of the morning-his daughters danger
! and my share in averting ii had
touched him as nothing else could have
| touched him. 1 met the duchess eyes
wearing an expression very different
from that which had greeted me on
my return with Dymphna.
| Ah, well, she Is safe!" Master Lind
strom resumed when he had regained
his composure. Thanks to heaven and
| your friend, madam! Small matter now
If house and lands go!''
still let us hope they will not" Mas
ter BERTHE said. do you think these
miscreants were watching the island on
our account; that some information
had been given as to our presence,
and they were sent to learn what they
could?"
mo, MOI" the Dutchman answered
confidently. 1T was the sight of the
girl and her gewgaws yesterday
brought them-the villains. There is
nothing safe from them and nothing
sacred to them. They saw her as they
passed up i'm the boat, you remember" I"
But, then, supposing the worst to
come to the worst?"
We must escape across the frontier
to Wesel, in the duchy of Cleves," re-
piled Lindstrom in a matter of fact
tone, as If he had long considered and
settled the point. The distance is not
great, and In Wesel we may find shelter
at any rate for a time. Even there If
pressure be brought to bear upon the
government to give us up, l would not
trust 1t, yet for a time II may do"
And you would leave all this?' the
duchess said in wonder, her eyes travel
ing round the room, so clean and warm
and comfortable, and settling at length
upon the great armoire of plate, which
happened to be opposite her. You
would leave all this at a moments no.
tice?"
Yes, madam, all we could not carry
with US" he answered simply. "Houor
ana lite-these come first. And thank
heaven that / live here within reach
of foreign soil and not in the in
terror, where escape would be hope
less"
But If the true facts were known"
the duchess urged, would you still be
in danger? Would not the magistrate
protect you? The schout and schepen,
men"
Against a Spanish governor and a
Spanish garrison?" he replied. with
emphasis. Aye, they would protect
me as one sheep protects another
against the wolves. No! l dare not
risk it. Were in prison, what would
become of Dymphna?"
Master Van Tree"
He has the will to shelter her no
doubt, and his father has influence but
such as mine-a broken reed to trust
TO. Then Dymphna is not all. Once
IN prison., whatever the charge there
would be questioning about religion
perhaps" with faint smile, question
ing about my guests"
en- L.,
duchess, with sigh. But / hope the
worst viii not come to the worst ="
Amen to that" he answered quite
cheerfuIly.
Indeed II was strange that we seemed
to feel more sorrow at the prospect of
leaving this haven of a few weeks than
our host of quitting the home of a life
time. But the necessity had come upon
us suddenly, while he had contemplated
it for years. So much fear and hu-
initiation had mingled with his enjoy
ment OF his choicest possessions that
this long expected moment brought
with 1t feeling akin to relief.
For myself, l had a present trouble
that outweighed any calamity of to-
morrow. Perforce, since ] alone knew
the spot where the man lay, l must be
one OF the burying party. My nerves
had not recovered from the blow which
the sight of the Spaniard lying dead at
my feet had dealt them so short
time before, and l shrank with nat
ural repulsion from the task before
me. Yet there was no escaping it, no
chance of escaping it, 1 saw.
None the less. throughout the silent
meal to which we four set down to-
gether, neither the girls nor Van Tree
appearing, were my tho Ights taken up
with the business which was to follow.
] heard our host, who was to go with
me, explaining that there was a water
way right up to the dixie, and that
we would go by boat, and heard him
with apathy. What matter how we
went, If such were the object of our
journey? / wondered how the mans
face would look when we came to turn
him over and picture it in all ghast-
liest shapes. l wondered whether |
should ever forget the strange spas
modic twitcHing of his leg, the gurgle
half oath, half cry-which had come
with the blood from his throat. When
said the moon was up and
bade me come with him to the boat
went mechanically. No one seemed to
suspect me of fear. | suppose they
thought that. as | had not feared to
kill him. l should not fear him dead
and in the general silence and moodi-
ness l escaped notice.
It's a good night for the purpose"
the Dutchman said looking about when
we were outside. It's light enough for
us yet not so light that we run much
risk of being seen"
| assented shivering. The moon was
almost at the full, and the weather was
dry. but scud after scud of thin clouds,
sweeping across the breezy sky. OBJ
scured the light from time to time and
left nothing certain. We loosened the
smallest boat in silence. and getting in
pulled gently round the lower end of
the island, making for the fringe of
rushes which marked the line of diyis-
ion between river and fen. We could
hear the frogs croaking in the marsh
and the water tapping the banks and
gurgilhg among the tree roots and
making hundred strange noises to
which daylight ears are deaf. Yet as
long as / was in the open water felt
bold enough. / kept my tremors for
the moment when we should brush
through the rustling belt of reeds. and
the willows should whisper about our
heads, and the rank vegetation, and
mysterious darkness of the mere should
shut us in.
For a time was to be spared this
Master Lindstrom suddenly stopped
rowing. we have forgotten to bring
a stone, lad" he said in low voice.
"A stone?' / answered, turning. I
was pulling the stroke oar. and my
back was toward him. DO we want a
stone?'
ITO sink the body" he replied. I'VE
cannot bury 1t in the marsh. and If we
could II We're trouble thrown away.
We must have a stone"
What is to be done?" asked, lean
ing on my oar and shivering as much
in impatience as nervousness. "Must
we go back?"
NO; we are not far from the cause-
way now" he answered, with Dutch
Goolness. There are some big stones.
! fancy, by the end of the bridge r.
not. there are some lying among the
cottages just acress the bridge. Your
eyes are younger than mine. so Won
mad better go. l will pull on and land