The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-03-06
THE-
Storyof Francis Cludde
A Romance Of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN.
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN.

]. WEYMAN.
J, l turned. Now 1 saw only the water
{ and the dark line of trees which fringed
! the farther bank. But above these the
stars We're shining
J, Yet In my mind there was no star
light. There all was a blur of wild pas
sions n resolves. Shame and an
angry resentment against those who
had kept me so long In ignorance-eNen
against Sir Anthony-were my upper
most feelings. 1 smarted under the
thought that I had been living on his
charity. l remembered many q time
when I had taken much on myself, and
he had smiled. and the remembrance
stung me. l longed to assert myself
But should 1 accept the bishops Of
fer? 1t never crossed my mind to do
so. He had Inundated me, and l hated
him for 1t. Longing to cut myself off
from my old life, I could not support a
patron who would know and might cast
in my teeth the old shame. A third
reason. too. worked powerfully with me
viction that, apart from the glitter
which h old mans craft had cast
about 1t. the part that he would have
me play was that Of a py-an inforll-
er. A creature LIKE dared not say
like my father, yet 1 had him in my
mind. And from this. from the barest
suspicion OF this. 1 shrank as the
burned puppy from the fire-shrank
with fierce twitching of nerve and
sinew.
II Was clear 1 must fend for myself.
His threats meant as much as that. and
1 smiled sternly as found necessity at
one with inclination. ! would cave
Cotton End at once, and henceforth I
would fight for my own hand 1 would
have no name until I had made for
myself a new one.
This resolve formed. I turned and
went back to the house and felt my
way to my own chamber. The moon
light poured through the lattice and
fell white on my pallet. I crossed the
room n stood still. Down the middle
of the coyerlet-or my eyes deceived
me-lay a dark line.
l stopped mechanically to see what
this was and found my own sword
lying there, he sword which Sir An
thony had given me or my last
birthday. But how had it come
there? AS 1 took 1T up something
soft and light brushed my hand and
dropped from the hilt. Then I remem-
bered. A week before l had begged
Petronilla to make me a sword kno
of blue velvet for use on state occa-
sions. No doubt size had don it and
had brought the sword back this even
Ing and laid 1t there in token of peace.
sat down on my bed. and softer and
kindlier thoughts came to me-thoughts
of love and gratitude. in which the old
man Who had been a second father to
solved. but ! would return to them
when l had done a thing worth doing,
something which should efface the
brand that lay on me now. With gem
tie fingers l disengaged the velvet knot
and thrust it into my bosom. Then 1
tied about the hilt the Ole leather
thong. and began to make my prepar-
ations, considering this or that route
while hunted for my dagger and
changed my doublet and nose for
stouter raiment and long. Unframed
boots. l was yet in the midst of this
when q knock at the door startled me.
who is there?" l asked, standing
erect.
For answer Martin Luther slid in,
closing the door behind him. che fool
did not speak. but turning his eyes
first on one thing and then on another
nodded sagely.
"Well?" l growled.
You are off, MASTER" ne said. nod
ding again. II thought 30"
why did you think so?" l retorted
ut is tim. for the young birds to
~ 1-A LIZ SNNNSO OC6ll " SUI,
he answered.
understood him dimly and in part.
You have been listening" said
w%rathfully. my cheeks burning.
"And been kicked in the face like a
fool for my palms," he answered. "Ah,
well. it is better to be kicked by the
boot you love than kissed by the lips
you hate. But Master Francis. Master
Francis!" he continued in a whisper,
He said nc more. and I loked up. The
man was STOPPING slightly forward. his
pale face thrust out. There was a
teeth grinned in the moonlight. Thrice
he drew his finger across his lean
l1notted throat. Shall ~" he Kissed,
his hot breath reaching me. shall I?'
recoiled from him. shuddering. 1t
was a CHASTITY pantomine. and 1t seemed
to me thut l saw madness in his eyes
I'm heavens name. mol" l cried. "No!
Do you hear, Martin? MOI"
He stood pack on the instant, as q
dog might have done being reproved
But ! could hardly finish in comfort
after that with him standing there. all
seemed half asleep and his eyes were
dull n ishy as ever.
"One thing you can do" I said
b%rusquely. Then I hesitated, looking
round me. l wished to send something
to Petronilla. some word. some keep.
sake. But | had nothing tina woulc
serve a maids purpose and could thinl
Of nothing until my eye lit on a house
, martins nest, lying where l had cas-,
!, IT on h window sill. l had taken Il
down that morning because the drop.
, pings the last summer had fallen on thu
, lead work, n / would not have i
used when the swallows returned. I
was but a bit Of clay. and yet 1t would
serve. She would guess it's meaning.
. l gave it into his and Take this
!, I said. a give it privately to Mis-.
tress Petronilla. Privately. you under
: stand. And say nothing to any one
or the bishop will fay your back, Mar
tin"
CHAPTER III.
The first streak of daylight foun,
$ me already footing it through the for
e est by paths known to few save tn
woodcutters. but with which many
boyish exploration had made me ia
z miliar. From Cotton n the Londo,
t road lies plain and fair through STRAIT
n ~ford-on-Avon and Oxford. But m
plan, the better to evade pursuit. wa.
instead. to cross the forest in a north
I easterly direction, and passing BY Wa