The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-10-01
Storyof Francis Cludde
IA Ronanceo Of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY j wEYMAN.
By STANLEY ]. wEYMAN.
CHAPTER xXIv-continued.

AnlD lae courtyard auQ TOOK MS blthiu
there. He dispatched the wome and
soma of The servants TO lay out a meal
m the hall. but it was noticeable that
the. men went reluctantly, n that all
who could hnd any excuse TO do so
fingered round Sir Anthony as IL they
could not bear to abandon him, as AZ,
even az the last moment, they had some
vague notlon OF protecting their master
at all hazards. A score of lanterns shed
a. gloomy uncertain lightr-only IN
plnces REINFORCED by the glow from
the hall wfndows-upon the group. Sell
dom had a Cotton moon peeped over the
gables at a scene stranger than that
which met the sherlff's eyes as with
his two hackers he passed under the
gateway.
Fl surrender to you. Sir Philip" the
knight ,safd. with a dignity, stepping
forward a pace or two, and call you
% witness that I might have made re-
sistanee ard have not. Ny tenants are
quiet In their homes, and my ser
wants are present. Father Carey Is not
here nor Ia the house. This is Baldwin
Moor, my steward, but / beg for him
your especial offices, since he a done
nothing save by my command"
Sir Anthony. believe me that will
do all I cam the sheriff responded
ttBut to set at naught the queens
proclamation and order!' struck in a
third voice harshly-it was Sir Thomas
Greville's--.and she but a mont on the
thronel For shame, Sir Anthony! II
Bnnaclxs to me OF high treason. And
many a MAJ has suffered for less, let
me tell YOU"
Had she been longer on the throne"
the sheriff. put ia more gently, .and
were tho times quiet, the matter would
have been OF less moment, Sir Anthony.
and might not have become a state
matter But Just now
Things are In a perilous condition, =
Greville said bluntly, "and you have
done your little to make them worse"
The knight. by "a great effort, swal-
lowed his rage and humiliation. What
viii You do with me. gentlemen" he
asked. speaking with at least the ap-
pearance OF calrnness.
THAT is to he seem" GreVille said,
roughly overriding his companion. For
Tonight we must make ourselves and
pdr men comfortable here"
W "Certainiy-wfth Sir Anthony's leave,
Z Sir Thomas Greyille." quoth a voice
from behind, but only SOL"
More than one started violently, while
the Cludde servants almost TO a man
spun uun az the sound OF the voice
my voice. Francis Guides though In
the DARKNESS no one knew me. How
shall ! ever forget the joy and lively
gratitude which nlled my heart as I
NJ FPQACt MAlttli IultGN the HiEnL lllO Qay#
and that fantastic scene OF shadows
into q festival, as ! felt that the ambi-
lion Of the last o years was about
10 be gratiiied? Sir Anthony, who was
Dne OF the first to turn, peercd among
the ~seryaFlta, Who spoken" ne cried,
q sudden discomposure In his voice and
manner. who spoke there?"
Aye. Sir Anthony, who did," Gre
vile said haughtily. Some one APP
parently who does not quite understand
his place or the state of affairs here.
stand back. my men, and let me see
him. Perhaps we may teach him 4 use
tui lesson"
Tiie chailenge was welcome, for I
feared a scene and to be left face to
lace with my uncle more than any
thing. Now, as the servants with 81
loud murmur of surprise and recogni-
ton fell back and disclosed me stand
ing BY Martins side, i turned a little
from Sir Anthony and faced Greville.
MOT this time. i think, Sir Thomas"
] said, giving him back glance for
glance. II have learned my lesson from
some who haY Jared farther and seen
more than Won, from men who have
2 stood by their cause I'm foul weather
Hs Well as fair. and were not for mass
one day u sermon the next"
What is this?" he cried angrily.
WHO are your"
@Sir Anthony Guides dutiful and
loving nephew I answered. with a
courteous bow. Come back, I thank
heaven, In time to do him a service, Sir
Thomas
Master Francisl Master Francisl"
Clop'on exclaimed in remonstrance.
He had known me In old days. NV
uncle meanwhile gazed at me I'm the
utmos establishment, and into the SER
wants faces there flashed a strange
light, while many of them hailed me In
III a TINA Nuhirh fnl1 ,,...NIaA~ H - 49,
to give the word, and they would fall
on the very sheriff himself. Master
Francis, Sir Philip Clopton repeated
grayely, IF o would do your uncle a
service. this is not the way to go
about IL. He has surrendered and Is
our prisoner. Brawfing' will not mend
Matters T
laughed out loudly ard merrily.
DO you know, Sir Philip I said, with
something Of the old boyish ring in my
voice, II have been since | saw you
last 10 Belgium mt Germany-aye,
and Poland and Hamburg? DO you
think I have come back a fool?"
II do not know what to think of
you. he replied dryly, but you had
keep q civil tongue in your head.
my friend said Greville, with harsh
ness, and yourself out OF this BUSH
1T IS just this business I have come
TO get into, Sir Thomas I answered
with increasing good humor. Sir An
thony, show them that" 1 continued,
and 1 drew out a little packet of parch-
ment with a great red seal hanging
from ii by q green ribbon-tust such n
packet as that which I had stolen from
the bishops apparitor nearly four years
back. "a lantern here." | cried. ssHold
1t steady, Martin. that Sir Anthony
may read Master sheriff wants his
rere supper"
7 gave the packet into the knights
hand. my own shaking. Aye, shaking
for ives not this the fulillment of thai
boyish vow / had made In my little
room in the gable yonder, so many
years ago2 A fulfiilment strange AND
timely, such as none but a boy I'M his
teens could have hoped for, nor any
but a man who had tried the chance.
and mishaps Of the world could fully
enjoy as | was enjoying IL, Igtinglee
!. with the rush through my veins OF trit
umph and gratitude. Up to the las
m / had feared lest anythini
should go wrong, lest this crowninl
happiness should be withheld from me
Nov I stood there smiling, watching
Sir Anthony, as with trembling finger
he fumbled with the paper. And ther,
was only one hing, only one person
wanting to my JOY. / looked an,
looked again, but l could not anywhev
see Petronilla.
exVhaf IL N 2" Sir nthon said feeh