The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-04-23
CHAPTER VIII

AS the day went on, therefore, /
looked eagerly for Mistress Anne's re-
turn, but she appeared no more, though
! maintained q close watch on the cab
In door. All the afternoon, too, the
kept away from me, and I
feared that 1 had seriously offended
her, so that it was with no very pleas
ant anticipations that, going into that
part of the deckhouSe which served us
Tor q common room, to see If the even
ing meal was set. l found only the
duchess and Master BERTHE prepared to
sit down to 1t. suppose that some
thing of my feelings vas expressed in
my face, for while / was yet half way
between door and table my lady gave
way to q peal of merriment.
Come, sit down and do not be
afraid" she cried pleasantly, her gray
eyes still full Of laughter. II vow the
lad thinks l shall eat him. Nay, when
all is said and done. l 1 k you the bet
ter, SIR knight Errant, for your
scruples. / see that you are determined
to act up to your name. Bus that re-
minds me-" she added In a more seri-
ious vein. I'VE have been frank with
you You must be equally frank with
US. What are we to call you, pray?"
L looked down at my plate and felt
my race grow scarlet. The wound
which the discovery Of my fathers
treachery had dealt me had begun to
heal. In the action, the movement, the
adventure Of the last fortnight, l had
well night lost sight Of the bio on my
escutcheon, of the shame which had
driven me from home. But the ques-
ton, What are we to call YOU ?' re-
ytved the smart, and revived 1t with an
added pang. 1t a been very well, in
theory, to proudly discard my old
name. 1t was painful in practice to be
unable to answer the duchess: IT am
a Cludde OF Cotton, nephew Of Sir An
thony, formerly esquire Of the body to
King Henry. I am no unworthy follow
er and associate even for you" and to
have instead to reply: II have no
name. / am nobody. 1 have all TO
make and win" Yet this was my i'll
fortuIe.
Her woman's eye saw my trouble as
1 hesitated, confused n doubling,
what 1 should reply. Come" she said
good naturedly, trying to reassure me.
You are OF gentle birth. or that we
feel sure"
l shook my head. May, 7 am of no
birth, madam" I answered hurriedly.
Il have no name, or at any rate. no
name that l can be proud of. Cali me
call me, If 1t please you, Francis
Carey"
1T Is a good name" quoth Master
Berte, pausing with his knife suspend
name!"
But I have no claim to it." I re-
Joined. more and more hurt. II have
all to make. / am a new man. Yet do
not fear" I added quickly as / saw
what took to be a cloud Of doubt
cross by lady's face. Il will follow
you no less faithfully for that"
WELL said the duchess, q smile
again transforming her open features,
i VIII answer for that, Master Carey.
DEEDS are better than names, and as
Tor being a new man, what with Pagets
ana C~aVendishes and Spencers, we have
naught b new men nowadays. So
cheer up" she continued kindly. And
we VIII poke no questions at you,
thongh l doubt whether you do not
possess more birth and breeding than
you would ave us think. And IL, when
We return to England, as / trust we
may before we are old men and women,
we can advanc your cause. then let us
nave your secret. No4one can saw that
Katherine WillOughby ever forgot her
friend ~ $50
or forgtVe her enemy overquickly,"
quoth her husband naively.
She raped his knuckles with the
back OF her knife for that, and ind
cover Of this small diversion / had time
to regain my composure. But the mat
ter left me sore at heart ana more than