Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-10-09
CHAPTER XIV.

had thrown him. Il VIII SEM aIter hei'
She shall be brought back. Ho! Bald
win, Martini" he cried loudly. Send
Baldwin hither. BE quick there!
out Of the ruck Of servants IN and
| about the hall Baldwin came rushing
presently, wiping his lips as he APP
preached. A single glance at u a C
sobered him. send Martin down to
the milf" Sir Anthony ordered curt
ly. bid him tell my daughter II she
be there TO come back, and do you sad
die a couple Of horses and be ready to
ride with Master Francis to Watney's
farm and or to Stratford II 1t be neces-
sary. Lose not a minute. My daugh-
ter is with Master Ferdinand. MY order
is that she return"
The fool had come up only a pace
or two behind the steward. ID you
hear, Martini" l added eagerly, turning
to him. My thoughts, busy with the
| misery which might befall her in their
| hands, maddened me. You will bring
her back if you find her, mind you"
He did not answer, but his eyes gilt
tered as they met mine, and L knew
that he understood. AS he fitted ST.
lently across the court and disappeared
under the gateway | knew that no
hound could be more sure. l knew
that he would not leave the trail until
he had found Petronilla, though he
had to follow her for many a mile. We
might have to pursue the fugitives to
Stratford, but / felt sure that Martins
lean figure and keen dark face would
be there 10 meet us.
Us? No. Sir Anthony indeed said to
me, You will go, of course?" speak
ing as if only one answer were posi-
BILE.
But IL was not to be so. NO l said;
you had better go, sir. Or Baldwin can
be trusted. He can take two or three
of the grooms. They should be armed
l added in a lower tone.
My uncle looked hard at me n then
gave his assent, no longer wondering
why l did not go. Instead, he babe
Baldwin do as | had suggested. In
truth, my heart was so hot with wrath
and Indignation that | dared not fol-
low, lest my father, in his stern, mock
ing way should refuse to let her go,
and harm should happen between us.
IL / were right in my suspicious, and
he had capped his intrigue by deliber-
etely getting the girl / loved into his
hands as q hostage, either as a surety
that / would share with him If / sue
ceeded to the estate or as a means of
eXtorting money from his brother. then
/ dared not trust myself face to face
with him. If l could have mounted
and ridden after my love, l could have
borne it better, but the curse seemed TO
cling to me still. My worse foe was
one against whom / could not lift my
hand.
But what" my uncle asked, his voice
quiVering, though his words seemed in
tended to combat my fears, what can
he do, lad? She is his niece"
"What?' / answered, with q shudder.
II do not know. but / fear everything.
If he should elude us and take her
- I--- Ia lii l,@A H. [A,, -y.f
He will use her somehow to gain his
ends-or Kill her
Sir Anthony wiped his brow with a
trembling hand. Baldwin will over
take them" he said.
Let us hope So" I answered. Alas,
how far fell fruition short OF antici-
patton! This was my time of triumph.
You had better go in, sir" I said
presently, gaining a little mastery
over myself. II see Sir Philip has re-
turned from settling his men for the
night. He and Greville will be wonder
ing what has happened"
And your" he said.
II cannot" / answered, shaking my
head.
After he had gone / stood awhile in
the shadow on the far side of the court
listening to the clatter OF knives and
dishes, the cheerful hum Of the ser
wants as they called to one another,
the hurrying footsteps Of the maids
A dog crept out and licked my hand
as II hung nerveless by my side. Sure
ly Martin or Baldwin would overtake
them. or IL not 1t still was not so easy
TO take a girl abroad against her win.
But would that be his plan? He must
have hiding places In England to which
he might take her, telling her any wild
story of her athcr's death or flight or
even perhaps of her own danger IL her
whereabouts were known. | had q
experience of his daring, Of his cum
ming. his plausibility. Had he not taken
in all with whom he a come into
contact, except by some strange fate
myself? TO be sure, Anne was not alto
gether without feeling of conscience,
but she was his-his entirely, body and
soul. Yes. If / could have followed, /
could have borne ii better. 1t was this
dreadful inaction which was killing
me.
The hustle and voices of the servants.
who We're in high spirits. so irritated
me at last that l wandered away, going
first TO h dark, silent gardens, where
l walked up and down in a fever Of
doubt and fear. much as I had done
on the last evening l had spent at
Cotton. Then a fancy seized me. and
turning from the fshpond / walked
toward the house. Crossing The moat.
y iilddt IOE Tie tluItD uOOT ana trIeQ
it. 1t was unlocked. / went in. Here
at least in the sacred place I should
find quietness and unable to help N.Y.
self in this terrible crisis might get help
from one to whom my extremity was
but an opportunity.
/ walked up The aisle. and finding all
In darkness, the moon at the moment
being obscured. felt my way as far as
Sir Piers fiat monument and sat down
DOT ii. / had been there scarcely a
minute when a faint sound, which
seemed rather a sigh or an audible
shuGder than any articulate word.
came out Of the darkness i'm front OF
me. My great trouble had seemed TO
make superstitious fears for the time
impossible. but at this sound / started
n trembled, and holding my breath
felt "A cold shiver run down my back.
Motionless / peered before me and vet
could see nothing. AL! was gloom. the
only d~istinguishable feature being the
cast window.
What vas that? A soft rustic as OF
ghostly garments moving I'm the aisle
was succeeded by another sigh which
made me rise from my seat, my hair
stiffening. Then / saw the outline OF
the east window growing brighter and
brighter. and / knew that the moon
was about to shine clear OF the clouds
and longed 10 turn and fly yet did not
dare to move.
Suddenly h light fell on the altar