The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-05-28
Storyof Francis Cludde
ARomance of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY J. wEYMAN.
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN.

| or DrOteStati0n. Instead, with a glance
, of wonder and great scorn, with a sin
gle indignant widening OF her beautiful
eyes. she replied by a curt Dutch SEN
tence.
What does she say?" my lady ex-
claimed, eagerly.
She says" replied Master Lind
strCm, VINO was looking on gravely,
that ii is a base lie, madam"
On hat we became spectators. It
seemed to me. and l think to all OF us,
that the two girls stood apart from us
in a circle OF light by themselves, con-
fronting another with sharp
glances, as though a curtain had been
raised from between them and they
saw one another in their true colors
and recognized some natural antago-
nism, or IL might be some rivalry each
in the other. l think l was not peculiar
in feeling this, for we all kept silence
for a space, as though expecting some
thing to follow. In the middle of this
silence there came a low rapping at the
door.
One uttered a faint shrek: another
stood as II turned to stone The duch-
ess cried for her child. The rest Of
us looked at IL another. Midnight
was past. Who could be abroad, who
could want US at this hour? AS a rule
we should have been in bed and asleep
long ago. We had no neIghbors save
the Cotters on the far side OF the ISL
and. We knew OF no one likely to ar
rive at this time with any good in
tent.
Il will open," said Master Lind
strom, but he looked doubtfully at the
women folk as he said 1t.
One minute" whispered the Ouch
ess. THAT table Is solid and heavy.
Could you not .
Put IT across the door," concluded
her husband. Yes, we will" And 1t
was done at once, the two men-my
ing 1t that 1t prevented the loo being
opened to it's full width.
That Will stop a rush." said Master
Berthe, with satisfaction.
II did strengthen the position, yet
1t was a nervous momen when our
host prepared to lower the bar. who
is there?" he cried, loudly.
We waited, listening and looking at
n another, h fear of arrest and the
horrors OF the inquisition looming
large in the mind OF some Of us, at
least. The answer, when 1t came, did
not reassure us. 1t was uttered in a
voice so low and muffled that we
gained no Information and rather au-
CURED t~reachery the more. 1 remember
noticing how each took the crisis; how
Mistress Anne face was set hard and
her breath came in jerks; how Dymph-
ma, pale and trembling. seemed yet to
have eyes only for her father; how the
duchess faced the entrance like a queen
at bay. All this l took in at q glance.
Then my gaze returned to Master
Lindstrom as he dropped the bar with
a jerk. The door was pushed open at
once as far as Ii would go. A drift OF
cold air came In and with 1t Van Tree.
He shut the door behind him.
Never were six people so taken aback
as We were. But the newcomer, whose
face was flushed with haste and excite
ment, observed nothing. Apparently he
saw nothing unexpected even In our
presence down stairs at that hour,
nothing hostile or questioning In the
half circle Of astonished faces turned
toward him. On the contrary he seemed
pleased. All" he exclaimed, gutter
ally. 1T is well! You are upl You
have taken the alarm!"
1t was to me he spoke. and I was
so surprised by that and by his sud-
den appearance, so dumbfounded by his
easy address and the absence OF all
seIf-consclousness on his part, SO
struck by a change in him that I
stared in silence. I could not believe
that this was he same half shy, half
fierce young man who had flung away
a few hours before in a passion OF 3eal-
ousy.
My theory that he was the assassin
seemed on a sudden extravaganza,
though here he was on the spot. When
Master Lindstrom asked: alarm?
What alarm" / listened for his an
swer as l should have listened for the
answer of q friend and ally, without
hesitation, without distrust, for, in
truth. the man was transfigured-
changed by the rise of something to
the surface which ordinarily lay hid
in him. Before he had seemed churI-
ish. awkward, a boor. But In this
hour of our need and OF his op-
portunity he showed himself ias he
was. Action n purpose lifted him
above his outward seeming. I caught
the generous sparkle in his eye and
trusted him.
What" he said. keeping his voice
low. You do not know? They are
coming to arrest o Their plan Is to
surround the house before daybreak.
Already there Is a boat lying In the
river watching the landing stage"
Who are they coming to arrest? Pc
/ asked. The other We're silent, looking
at this strange messenger with mingled
feeling.
All, I fear" he replied. You, too.
Master Lndstrom. Some one has
traced your English friends hither and
informed against you, I know not on
what ground o are included. but I
fear the worst. There Is not a moment
to be lost If you would escape by the
bridge before the troop who are on the
way to guard IL arrives"
THE landing stage, you say, Is al
ready watched?" our host asked, his
phlegmatic GOODNESS showing at its
best. His eyes roved round the room,
and he tugged, as was his habit when
deep in thought, at his beard. I felt
sure that he was calculating which of
his possessions he could remove.
Yes" Van Tree answered. my
father got wind OF the plan In Arnheim.
An English envoy arrived there yes
terday on his way to Cloves or some
part of Germany. 1t IS rumored that
he has come out OF road way to inquire
after certain English fugitives whom
his government are anxious to seize.
But, come, we have no time to lose!
Let us gO!"
d you come. too?" Master Lind
strom said, pausing in the act OF turn
ing away. He spoke in Dutch, but by
some inspiration born of sympathy |
understood both his question and the
answe
Yes; 1 come. Where Dymphna goes
l go, and where she stops l stop
though 1t be at Madrid itself" the
Young man auSWared oaIIanfIu His