Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-06-05

True. | had not thought OF that"
| answered. And 1t reminds me. |
have heard so much of Clarence
And seen some little; even that lit
tie more than was good for YOU
Yes, he has had the better of me on
both occasions" / allowed. But was
going to ask YOU" l continued. TO tell
me something about him. He was your
steward. | know. But how did he come
TO you? How was Il you trusted him.
I'VE are all fools ar times she an
swered. grinly. I'VE wanted to have
persons of our own faith about us. and
he was highly recommended TO us by
Professionals abroad as having seen SER
vice in the cause. He applied to us
just at this right moment too. And
at the first we felt a great liking for
him. He was so clever in arranging
things; he kept such excellent order
among the servants; he was so ready,
so willing, SO plausible! OH" she
added. bitterly. "he had ways that IN
abled him TO twist nine women III of
ten around his fingers! Richard was
fond Of him; | liked him; we had
talked more than once of how we
might advance his interests. And then,
Ike a thunderbolt OF a clear day, the
knowledge OF his double dealing fell
upon as. We learned that he had been
seen talking with a known agent of
Gardiner, and his at a time when the
bishop was planning II ruin. We had
him watched, and just when the net
had all but closed round us we dis
covered that ne had been throughout
in Gardeners pay
All" / said, ~viciously. The oldest
thing 10 me is the way he has twice es-
capped me when | had him at the
swords point
The third time may bring other
fortune, Master Francis she answered.
smiling. Yet be wary with him. He is
a good swordsman, as my husband,
who sometimes fenced with him, will
tell YOU
He can be no common man." / said.
He is not. He is well bred and has
seen service. He is at once bold and
cunning. He has a tongue that would
win most women and a hardihood that
would chain them to him. Women
love bold men," my lady added. naive
~. And she smiled on me, yet hui
morously, SO that / blushed.
There was silence for a moment. The
sail tapped, then filled again. How
this morning after that night,
this bright eXpanse after the dark,
sluggish channels, Far away in front
a great barge, high laden with a
mighty stack of rushes, crept along be-
side the bank. the horse that drew it
covered by a kind of knitted rug.
When my lady spoke next il was alb
rs ii Anne" she asked.
| knew quite we'll what she meant
md blushed again. | shook my head.
II think it was going 10 be" she said.
only Mistress Dymphna came
upon the scene. You have heard the
story OF the donkey hating between
bundles of hay, Master Francis?
And in the multitude of sweethearts
is safety"
Il do not think that was my case"
said. Instinctively my hand went to
breast in which P~etroniIIa's velvet
sword knot lay safe and warm. The
duchess saw the gesture and instantly
forward and mimicked 1t. "Ha!
la!" she cried, leaning back, with her
hands clasped about her knees and her
shining with fun and amusement.
Now l understand. You have left her
It home. Now, do not deny il, or l will
ell h others. Be frank, and l will
keep your secret, on my hor r."
she is nay cousin" said, ...y checks
not.
And her name?"
"Petronilla."
"Petronilla? my lady repeated,
shrewdly. THAT was the name of your
grandmother, them"
Yes, madam"
"Petronilla? Petronilla? ?" she re-
stroking her cheek with her
hand. "She would be before my time,
would she not? Yet there used to be
several P~etronillas about the court in
Queen Catherine of Aragon's days, /
remember. There was P%etronilla de
for n But, there, / guess at
Why do you not tell me more
about yourself. Master Francis? DO
not know me well enough now?."
There is nothing to tell, madam
said in a low voice.
Your family?' You come, am
sure, of a good house."
Il did, but 1t is nothing to me now.
[ am cut off from 1t. am building my
house afresh. And" l added, bitterly,
have not made much way with it
She broke, greatly to my surprise,
a long peal of laughter. 'Oh, you
vain boyi" she cried. You valiant cas-
tie builder! How long have you beer
about the work? Three months? Do
you think a house is to be built in a
Three months. indeed? Quite a
lifetime."
Was it three months? 1t seemed to
me to be fully three years. 1 seemed
to have grown more han three years
older since that February morning
when I had crossed Arden forest with
the first light and looked down on
Wootton Wawen sleeping In its vale
and reused the herons fishing in it's
bottoms.
Come. tell me about it," she said.
abruptly. What did o do to be cut
OFF,"
Il cannot tell you.' I answered.
A shade of annoyance clouded her
countenance. But 1t passed away al
most on the instant. Very WELL she
said, with a little nod of disdain and
a pretty grimace. $50 be 1t. Have your
own way, but I prophesy you will come
to me with your tale some day.
I went then and took Master Ber-
ties place at the ttller, and, he lying
down. / had the boat to myself until
noon and drew no little pleasure from
the placid picture which the moving
banks and the wide river presented.
About moor there vas a general up
rising, n coming Immediately aft
erward TO a little island lying close to
n bank we all landed To stretch our
legs and refresh ourselves after the
confinement on board.
we are over the border now and
close to Emmerich.' said Master
Lindstrom. though the mere line of
frontier will avail US little IL the Span
sish soldiers can by hook and crook
lay hands on us. Therefore we must
lose no time In getting within the
walls OF some town. We should be
fairly secur for a few days either in
Vessel or Santon.'
Il thought Vessel was the point we
We're making for" Master BERTHE said
in some surprise.