The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-08-20
P xrx-continued.

T longed to tell Master Berthe and take
his advice, though the unknown had
enjoined me not to do so. But for the
time / refrained, and explaining my abb
1ence OF mind as well as i tcould 1
presently stole away on some excuse or
other and started In good time and on
foot into the city. i reached the rem
devious a quarter OF an hour before
the time named, and strolling between
the church and the bakers shop tried
TO look as much like a nance passerby
as / could, keeping the while a wary
lookout for any who might turn out to
be my correspondent.
The morning was cold and gray. A
hrizzling rain was falling. The passers
were few, n the appearance OF the
streets dirty and, with Uttered kennels,
was dreary indeed. I found 1t hard at
once TO keep myself warm and TO avoid
observation as / hung about Ten
O'clock had rung from more than one
nteeple, and / was beginning to think
myself a fool for my pains when q
woman of middle height, slender and
young in figure, but wearing a shabby
brown cloak, and with her head muffied
IN q hood, as though she had the tooth
ache or dreaded the weather more than
ordinary, turned the corner Of the bell
fry and made straight toward me. She
drew near and seemed about to pass
me without notice. But hen abreast
OF me she glanced up suddenly, her
eyes the only ~eatures ! could see.
FOLLOW me to the church," she mur
INJURED gently. and she swept on to the
porch.
L obeyed reluctantly-very reluctant
iy, my feet seeming like lead, for /
knew who she was. Though / had only
seen her eyes, / had recognized them
and guessed already what her business
with me was. She led the a reso-
iutely to a quiet corner. The church
nv xr,au arapfu md still with nOlU the
scent of incense In the air to tell ORA
recent service. 1t was no surprise to
me when she turned abruptly, and re-
moving her hood looked me in the
face.
what have you lone with him r.
she painted, laying her hand on my
arm. Speak, Tell me what you have
done With him7"
The question, the very question I
had foreseenl Yet / tried to fence
with her. / said. with whom"
with whom?" she repeated bitterly.
On thret years that you do not recog-
hize me?" X
'No: / know you" I said.
There was a hectic flush on her
cheeks, and It eemed to me that the
dark hair was thinner on her hin tenn
pies than when / had seen her last,
but her Eyes were the same.
'Then why ask with whom ?" h
cried ~passionately. What have you
done with the man you called Clar-
ence?"
Done with him?" 1 said feebIy.
AYE, Gone with him? Come, speak
and tell mel" she repeated In fierce ac-
cents. her hand clutching my wrist,
her eyes probing my face with mercf-
less glances. Have you killed him?
Tell me2"
KILLED him. Mistress Amer" I said
m~IIllnnlVo HNns~I haua nnf EfIIad him %
"He Is alive?" she cried.
FOR all / know, he is alive"
She glared at me FOR some seconds to
assure herself that / wal telling the
truth. Then she heaved a great sigh,
her hands fell from my wrists. the col
or faded out OF her face, and she low
cred her eyes. / glanced round with
o momentary Idea of escape, / so
ehrank from that which was to come.
But before I had well entertained the
notion she looked up, her face grown
calm.
Then what have you done with
Il have done nothing with him." I
answered.
She iaughed-a mirthless laugh.
bah" she said, d not tell me liesI
That Is your honor, I suppose-your
honor to you friends down in the cell
lar therei Do you think that 1 do not
know all about them2 Shall / give you
the list? He is a very dangerous con-
spirator, is Sir Thomas Penruddocke,
Is he not2 And that scented dandy,
Master Klngstonl Or Master Crewd-
son--tell me of himi Tell me of him,
i sayf" she exclaimed. with d sudden
return from irony to a fierce eagerness,
O GREATNESS Impotence. why did he
not come up last night? What have
you d with him?"
shook my head, sick and trembling
$50 LIOruH Onaald II NGlI. hAs0
II see" she said. You will not tell
me. But you swear he Is yet alive
Master Cludde? Good. Then you are
holding him for a hostage? Is that
it," with a piercing glance at my face
"or you have condemned him, but fol-
some reason the sentence has not beer
executedF She drew q long, deer
breath, for / fear my face betrayed me
THAT Is X. is it7 Then there is still
time"
She turned from me and looked to-
ward the end of the aisle, where a dull
red lamp hanging before the altar
giowed feebly in the warm, scented air
She seemed so 10 turn and so TO Iool
IN st~hankfulness as II the news she had
learned We're good instead OF what Il
was What is the hour fxed?" she
asked suddenly.
l shook my head.
You will not tell me? Well, II mat.
ters not" she answered briskly. HE
must be saved. DO you hear? He mus
be saved, Master Cludde. That Is you
business
Tshook my head.
You think II is not?' she said. We'll
I can show you 1t is! Llsten!"
She RID herself on a step of thu
fount ana looked me harshly in thu
face. tIf he be not given up to me SAT-,
and sound by sunset this evening,
will betray you ALI All I have tn,
list here" she muttered sternly, touch
ing her bosom. you, Master Berthe
Penruddocke. Fleming, Barnes-aI
Ali DO you hear? Give him up, o
you shall hang!"
you would not do it," I erie,
aghast, peering into her burning eyes
ssWould not do It? Fooll" she Missed
'Tf all the world but he had but on
head, i would cut 1t of to save his
He is my husbandi Do you hear? H
Is my husband-my all! DO you thin
have given up everything, friends an
honor and safety. for him to lose hir
now? Mol o say / would not do 1t
DO YOU know what / have done7 Yo