Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-03-12

VII Us, HsdNlllS MS Vdlc GRIM luce 10
confront me-his face which seemed
the paler and grimmer. the more satur-
nine and all mastering. for the dark
frame which set it off?
He did this" he continued slowly.
(which came to light and blasted him
betraying me his brothers estate"
"Impossible.' l stammered. Why,
Sir Anthony
What of Sir Anthony. you would
ask"' the chancellor replied, interrupt
Ing me, with savage irony. oh, he
was a papist. AN obstinate papist! He
might go hang--or to Warwick Jail"
May, but this at least, my lord. is
false!" / cried. "Palpably false! If my
father had so betrayed his w flesh
and blood, should I be hereo Should 1
be at Cotton End? You say this hap
pened eight years ago. Seven years
ago | anne here. Would Sir Anthony
There are fools everywhere the old
man sneered. when my Lord Hert-
ford refused your fathers suit, F'erd-
lnard began-it is his nature-to plot
against him. He was GUN out and
execrated by all. for he had been false
to all. He fled for his life. He left
you behind. and IL servant brought you
to Cotton End. where Sir Anthony took
you In"
1 covered my face. Alas. 1 believed
him! 1, who had always been so proud
of my lineage. so proud of the brave
traditions of the house and it's honor,
belonged to 1t! Now. If this were
true. I could never again take pleasure
In one or the other. I was the son
of a man branded as a turncoat and
an informer, of one who was the
worst of traitors. I sank down on
the settee behind me and hid my face.
Another might have thought less of the
blow. or, with greater knowledge Of
tho world might have made light of it
as a thing not touching himself. But
on me. young as was. and proud. and
as vet tender. and having done moth
ing myself. 1t fell with crushing force.
1t was years since I had seen my
loyalty n fight his battles as a SON
his fathers friend and familiar for
years might have fought it. On the
contrary there was so much which
seemed mysterious in my past life, so
nue. that bore out the chancellor's
accusation, that l felt n dread of its
truth even before / had proof. Yet /
would have proof. Show me the let
ters!' I said harshly. SHOW me the
letters. my lord!"
'" Fl do.
knew 1t. not from any correspond
ence my father had held with me. but
because l had more than once exam
ined with natural curiosity the wrap
pers of the dispatches which at inter-
walls of many months. sometimes OF q
year. came from him to Sir Anthony.
! had never known anything of the con-
tents of the letters. all hat fell to
my share being certain formal mes
sages, which Sir Anthony would give
me. generally with a clouded brow and
a testy manner that grew genial again
only with the lapse of time
Gardiner handed me the letters, and
l O them and read one. One was
enough That my father: Alas, alas!
NO wonder that ! turned my face to the
wall. shivering as with ague. and that
all about me. except the red glow Of
the hre. which burned into my brain
seemed darkness! I had lost the thing
1 valued most. I had lost at a blow
everything of which I was proud. The
treachery that could flush that worn
rae opposite to me. lined as it was
with statecraft. n betray the willy
tongue Into passion seemed to me,
young and fmpulsive. a thing SO vile
as to brand a mans children through
generations.
Therefore I hid my face in the cor
ner OF the settle. while the chancellor
gazed at me awhile In silence, as one
who had made an experiment might
watch the result.
You see now. my friend" he said at
last. almost gently. that you may be
pasc born In more ways than one. But
n nts o. good cheer You are young. and
what l have done Q may DO. Think
OF Thomas Cromweil-his father was
naught. Think Of the old cardinal-my
master. Think of the duke Of Sufoik-
CHARLES Brandon. I e He was a
plain gentleman. yet he married a
queen. More. the door which they had
70 open for themselves I will open for
~you-only. when you are inside. play
the man n be faithful"
what would you have me do?" Il
whispered hoarsely.
y would have o do this" he an
swered. There are great things brew
ing IN the Netherlands, boy-great
changes. unless I am mistaken. I have
need OF an agent there, a man. stout.
truSty. and, in particular. unknown.
who Will keep me informed OF events.
II you will be that agent, 1 can procure
1or you-and not appear in the matter
myself-a post of pay and honor in
the regents guards. What say YOU to
that, Master Cludde? A few weeks.
and you will be making history. and
Cotton End will seem a mean place 10
you. Now, what do you say?"
!! was longing to be away and alone
with my misery. but I forced myseIf to
reply patiently:
With your leave I will give you my
answer tomorrow. my lord, II said AZ
steadily as I could, n 1 rose. still
keeping my face turned from him.
Very WE'LL" he replied. with mar
ert confidence. But he watched me
keenly, as I fancied II know ALREADY
what your answer will be. Yet before
you &c !! will give Q a piece Of adj
vice which In the new life You hecfn
tonight will avail you more than En-.
Yer, nor than gold-aye, mora than,
steel-Master Francis. It Il this. Tse
prompt to think. be prompt to strike.
be flow to speak! Mark IL wei! It IL
e ssmpfa recipe. yet It has made me