The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-09-18
Storyof Francis Cludde
ARomanee Of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY J. wEYMAN
CHAPTER XIII.
By STANLEY ]. wEYMAN.

nOuSG. the cnurCn staHuia6 w!efA.ii ~
moa Isolated as h sacred heliidlng
therefore, Is from the outer world by
the wid spreading chase and close
massed with the homestead. Sir An
thony had- come excuse Tor consloer-
Ing 1t as much, % part OF MI, dernesne
as tho saiit or the smithy. In words
he would nave been willing to- admit @
distinction. but In thought fancy ne
Bumped 1t with the rest of his posses
Aions.
It was with a lowering eyes that on
this Sunday morning he watched from
his o over the gateway the ususual
church. Pcrchance he had in his mind
other Sundays-sundays when he mac
walked out at this hour. light OF heart
list. md his glove dangling, and his
dog at his heels. and, free from care.
had taken pleasure in each bonnet
dotted and each old wife's God bless
We, Sir Anthony" Well. those days
..sYeresEsnc.. Now. the rain ,dripped from
the eavcs1for a thaw nae come in the
.night-and the bells that could on oc-
caston ring 80 checrily sounded sad and
forlorn. His daughter. when she came.
according to custom. bringing MS great
service book, could scarcely look him
In the face. l know not whether even
then his resolution to dare oil might
not at sound of q word from her or at
sight OF her face have melted like yes
tcrday'a ice. but before the word could
be spoken or the eyes meet another
Brother Ferdinand entered.
'"They are here!" he said In n low
voice. "Slx OF them. Anthony, and stur-
dy fellows, as all Clopton's men are.
&c you do o think your people VIII
stand by YOU
;.Tbe night fred at this suggestion.
What he burst out, turning from
the wIpdosv. III Cludde n1el,r cannot
meet Clopton men. the times are In
deed gone mad! Make way and let me
again in Cotton church, 1t shall be said
today" And he swore a great oath.
He strobe down the stairs and under
the gateway. where We're arranged, &C
cordtng to the custom of the house on
wet days, all ilie servants, with Bald
win and Martin Luther at their head.
The knight stalked through them with
q gloomy brow. His brother followed
MIN. a faint smile fickering about the
corners of his Mouth Then came Fer
with her hood drawn close about her
face: Anne. with her nh in the air and
her eyes aglow. "It is not q bit of q
hustle will scare her!" Balwin muttered
as he fell In behind her and eyed her
back with no great favor.
mo. 80. long as 1t does not touch
her" Martin replied in a cynical whisp-
er. She Is we'll mated-well mated
and Ill fated! Ha, hat"
Silence. fool!" growled his compan-
Aye. It ls!s Martin aretorted swiftly,
though with the same caution. for.
when wise men turn fools, fools are put
to 1t to act up to their profession! You
see. ~brother?" And he deliberately cut
q His eyes were glistening, and
.tWitched oddly. Baldwin looked at
him aud muttered that Martin vas go
ing to have one of his mad fits. What
has grown on the fool OF late?
The knight reached the church porch
ard passed through the crowd which
awaited him there. Save for it's un-
usual size md some. strange faces to
he seen on. its skirts. there WAS no. NJ
dlcalions OF trouble. He walked, tap
ping his stick on the pavement a little
more loudly han usual. to his place In
the front pew. The household. the vii
layers. the strangers. pressed In behind
him until every seat was filled. Even
the table of Sir Piers
Cludde. which stood l%engthwise in the
aisle. was seized upon. and II the two
similar monuments which stood to right
and left below the nance steps had
not been under the Knights eyes they.
too. would have been invaded. Yet all
was done decently n In order, but no
6crambling OF ill words. The Clopton
men were there. Baldwin had marked
them well. and SO had a dozen stout
fellows. sons of Sir Anthony's tenants.
But they behaved ~discreetly, and amid
such silence as Father Carey never re-
mernbored to have faced he began the
Roman service.
The December light fell family
through the east window ON the father
at his Manifestations. on his small
acoIytes. on the four Cludde brasses
on gray dusty walls buttressed by gray
totnbs which left but a narrow space in
tho middle of the chancel. The mar
BILE crusader to the left matched the
canopicd bed Of Sir Anthony's parents
on the right. the abbess' tomb In the
mex row faced the palmer
of Sir Anthony's wife, a vacant place
by her side awaiting his own eff1gy, and
there were others. The chancel was so
small-nay, the church.. too-so small
tonbs5 were "a massive that they ell
etboWed one another. The very dust
which rose as men stirred was the dust
OF Guides. Sir Anthony's brow re-
Taxed, He listened gravely and sadly.
And then the interruption came. II
'protest!"s a rough voice in rear Of the
crowd cried suddenly, ringing harshly
and strangely above the fathers ac-
cents and the solemn hush. Il protest
against this service!"
The crowd. n nll rose. Every man In
Che church turned round, Sir Anthony
among; the first. and looked in the d.
rection OF the voice. Then 1t was seen
hat h Clopton men had massed
themselves about the door in the south
west corner a strong position. when re-
treat was easy. Father Carey, after a
momentary glance, went on as II he
/, had not heard. but HIS voice shook, and
all still waited with their faces turned
.toward the west end.
81 protest in the name OF the queen!"
the same man crier sharply. while his
fellow raised O murmur SO that the
priests voice was drowned.
Sir Anthony stepped into the aisle.
his face lnfamed with anger. The in
Interruption taking place there. in
that place. seemed to him a double
proclamation.
WHO Is that brawler?' he said. his
hand trembling on his staff. and all the
old danes trembled too. Let him stand
cut"
The sherir's spokesman was so con
Cealed by his fellows that he could no
be seen. but he answered civilly
enough.
II am no brawler." he said. II only
require the law to be observed, and that
yOuatknpW. sir. am here on behalf OF
theoshariff, and I warn all present that
Q continuation of this service will ex-
n0aarfhem tn rrtevOIya mains and non