The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-05-14
Storyof Francis C1udde
ARomance Of Queen Mays Reign.
BY STANLEY ]. wEYMAN.

1.-THE next roll call In this city, his deatn
may not be proved or traced TO this
= neighborhood. In that case the storm
will blow over n things be no. worse
than before"
~ fear there Is no likelihood OF
that I said, 'for / am told he had q
companion. One OF the maids noticed
them lurking about the end OF the
bridge more thai nee this evening"
Our hosts face fell.
THAT is bad" he said, looking at me
In evident CONSERVATION. Who told
your"
Mistress Anne. And one of the
maids told her. 1t was that which led
me to follow your daughter"
The old ma got up for about the
fortieth time and shook my hand. while
the tears stood in his eyes and his
lip trembled. lea bless you, Mas
ter Carey" he said. But for you my
girl might not have escaped"
He couldn't finish. His emotion choked
him, and he sat down again. The event
of the morning--his daughters danger
n my share in averting II had
touched him as nothing else could have
touched him. / met the duchess eye
and they, too, were soft and shining,
wearing an expression very different
from that which had greeted me On
my return with Dymphna.
"Ah. well, she is safe!" Master Lind
4 ONA NShtllC ilClI AC q CSaAAiC
his composure. Thanks to heaven and
your friend, madam! Small matter now
if house and lands go!"
still let us hope they will not" Mas
ter BERTHE said. do you think these
miscreants were watching the island on
our account: that some information
had been given as to our presence,
and they were sent to learn what they
could?"
"No, no." the Dutchman answered
confidently. ut was the sight of the
girl n her -gewgaws yesterday
brought them-the villains! There is
nothing safe from them and nothing
passed up In the boat. you remember
but, then, ~supposing the worst to
come to the worst 2"
I'VE must escape across the frontier
to Vessel, in the duchy OF Cleves," re-
piled Lindstrom in a matter OF. fact
tone, as IL he had long considered and
settled the point. 1.-The distance Is not
great. and In Wesel we may find shelter
at any rate for a time. Even there IL
pressure be brought to bear upon the
government to give us up. / would not
trust 1t, yet for a time it may do
And you would leave all this?' the
duchess said in wonder, her eyes travel
ing round the room, so clean and warm
and comfortable. and settling at length
4 APONA. NANS IA va pAnNCs II
happened to be opposite her. You
would leave all this at a moments no.
tica p"
Yes, madam, all we could not carry
with us" he answered simply. Honor
n Hfe--these come. first. And I thank
heaven that 1 live here within reach
OF a foreign soil and not in the in
terror, where escape would be hope
less" -
But IL the true facts were known"
the duchess urged, would you still be
in danger? Would not the magistrate
protect you? The lschout and schepen,
as you call them? They are Dutch
men,"
Against a Spanish governor and a
Spanish garrison?" he replied, with
emphasis. AYE, they would protect
me as one sheep protects another
against the wolves. No! / dare not
risk IL. Were / in prison, what would
become of Dymphna?"
Master Van Tree?"
H has the will to shelter her. no
doubt. and his father has influence, but.
such as mine--a broken reed 10 trust
to. Then Dymphna is not all. Once
In prison., whatever the charge there
would he questioning about religion
perhaps,a with q faint smile, question
II sur1ose o know best" said the
duchess, with a sigh. but / hope the
worst will not come to the worst"
Amen to that!" he answered quite
cheerfully.
Indeed it was strange that we seemed
10 feel more sorrow at the prospect OF
leaving this haven Of a few weeks than
our host OF quitting the home OF a life
time. But the necessity had come upon
us,Euddenly, while he had contemplated
IL for years. So much fear and hui
mutation had mingled with his enjoy
meEt OF his choicest possessions that
this long expected moment brought
with IL a feeling akin to relief.
Fol myself, l had a present trouble
that outweighed n calamity of to-
morrow. Perforce, since I alone knew
the spot where the man lay, / must be
one OF the burying party. NV nerves
had not recovered srom the blow which
the sight Of the Spaniard lying dead at
my feet had dealt them SO short a
time before, and I shrank with a nat
ural repulsion from the task before
me. Yet there was no escaping IT, no
chance of escaping 1t, I saw
None h less. throughout the silent
meal to which we four set down to-
gether, neither the girls nor Van Tree
appearing, were my tho .ghts taken up
with the business which was to follow.
i heard u host, who was to go with
me, explaining that there was a. water
way right UP to the dixie, and that
we would go by boat. and heard him
with Upathy. What matter how we
went, II such We're the object of u
journey? l wondered how the mans
face would look when we came to turn
him over n pictured 1t in all ghast-
Hest shapes. l wondered whether I
should ever forget the strange spas
modic twitching of his leg, the gurgle
half oath, half cry-which had come
with the blood from his throat. When
Lindstrom said the moon was UP and
babe me come with him to the boat,
1 Went mechanically. No one seemed to
suspect me OF fear. / suppose they
thought that. as 1 had not feared to
Kill him, l should not fear him dead.
and In the general silence and moodi-
ness / escaped notice.
ITS a good night for the purpose"
the Dutchman said, looking about when
we were outside. IT'S light enough for
us. yet not so light that we run much
risk OF being seen"
l assented ~shiyering. The moon was
almost at the full, and the weather was
dry. but scud after scud of hin clouds,
sweeping across the breezy sky, OBJ
Il GRlIHnH thn Iirhf P-ne. 49,