Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-05-23
Storyof Francis Cludde
A Romance Of Queen Mary's Reign.
SrANIT wEvMAN
BY STANLEY J. wEYMAN.

1T Is Just this! The woman certainly
was not Dymphna. In the first place,
she would not be out at night. In the
second place, what could she know of
your Clarence, an Englishman and a
stranger? In the third pla2e, l will
warrant she has been I'm her room all
the evening. Then IL Master Francis
was mistaken in the woman, may he
not have been mistaken in the man?
That is the point"
NO" ! said boldly. Il only saw her
back. / saw his face"
Certainly that is something" Master
Lindstrom admitted reluctantly.
But how many times had you seen
him before?" put in my lady very peril
nently. "Only once?"
In answer to that could do no more
than give further assurance OF my GER
tainty on the point. 1T was the man
! saw in the boat at Greenwich / de-
clared positively. why should imag
inc it?"
"All the same. trust you have" she
rejoined, for II II was indeed that arch
scoundrel we are undone."
Imagination plays us queer tricks
sometimes Master Lindstrom said,
with a smile of much meaning. but
come, lad, / will ask Dymphna. though
l think it useless to do so, for whether
you are right or wrong as TO your
friend / will answer for it you are
wrong as to my daughter"
He was rising to go from them for the
purpose when Mistress Anne opened the
door and came in. She looked some
what startled at finding US all in con-
clave. II thought heard your voices"
she explained timidly, standing between
us and the door. II could not sleep"
She looked indeed as If that were
so. Her eyes were very bright,
and there was a bright spot of
crimson IN each cheek. What is
it?" she went on abruptly, looking hard
at me and shutting her lips tight
ly. There was so much to explain that
no one had taken it in hand to be-
gin.
1T is just this" the duchess said.
opening her mouth with a snap. Have
you been with Dymphna all the time?"
Yes, of course" was the prompt an
swer.
What is she doing?"
Doing" Mistress Anne repeated in
surprise She is asleep"
Has she been out since nightfall?"
the duchess continued. "Out Of her
room? Or out of the house,"
out? Certainly not. Before she fell
asleep she was in no state TO go out.
as you know, though | hope she will
be all right when she awakes. Who
says she has been out? Anne added
sharply. She looked at me with a
challenge in her eyes, as much as to
say is ii you?"
II am satisfied" | said. that | was
mistaken as to Mistress Dymphna. But
i am just as sure as before that | saw
Clarence"
"Clarence? Mistress Anne repeated.
starting violently and the color for an
instant fleeing from her cheeks. She
sat down on the nearest seat.
You need not be afraid. Anne" my
lady said. smiling. She had a wonder
fully high courage herself. Il think
Master Francis was mistaken, though
he is so certain about it,"
But where-where did he see hjm?"
the girl asked. She still trembled. Once
more | had to tell the tale. Mistress
Anne, as was natural. listening to il
with the liveliest emotions. And this
time so much Of the ghost story had
to be introduced, for she pressed me
closely as to where / had left Clar-
ence and why | had let him go that
my assurances got less credence than
ever.
Il think | see how il is" she said
with a sauCy scOrn that hurt me not
little. Master Carey's nerves are
in much the same state tonight as
Dymphna's. He thought he saw a ghost
and he did not. He thought he saw
Dymphna and he did not. And he
thought he saw Master Clarence and he
did not"
Not so fast, child" cried the duCh-
ess sharply seeing me vince. Your
tongue runs too freely. No one has had
better proofs of Master Carey's courage
for which | will answer myself-than
we have"
Then he should not say things about
Dymphna! the young lady retorted.
her foot tapping the floor and the red
spots back in her cheeks. Such rub
bish j never heard"