The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-03-05
Story Of Francis Cludde
A Romance Of Queen Mary's Reign.
nv STANuE v 7 wEvMAN> @-. 8. un
BY STANLEY J. wEYMAN.

L turned. Now I saw only Tho water
, n the dark line of trees which fringed
the farther bank. But above these the
stars were shining.
Yet in my mind there was no star
light. There all was a blur OF wild pas
sions and resolves. Shame and an
angry resentment against those who
had kept me SO long In ignorance-even
against Sir Anthony--were my upper
most feelings. I smarted under the
thought that / had been living on his
charity. 1 remembered many a time
when I had taken much on myself, and
he had smiled, and the remembrance
stung me. / longed to assert myself
and do something to wipe off the stain.
But should / accept the bishops Of
fer? 1t never crossed my mind to do
so. He had Inundated me, and I hated
him for 1t. Longing to cut myself off
from my old life, / could not support a
patron who would know and might cast
in my teeth the old shame. A third
reason, too, worked powerfully with me
as 1 became cooler. This was the con
viction that. apart from the glitter
which the old mans craft had cast
about 1t, the part that he would have
me play was that of a spy-an inform
er. A creature like-I dared not say
like my father, yet / had him in my
ullnu. anu ITOIn lIllb, ITOIu the pdTHSL
suspicion Of this, / shrank as the
burned puppy from the fire-shrank
with fierce twitching of nerve and
sinew.
Yet If I would not accept his offer
it was clear l must fend for myself.
His threats meant as much as that, n
I smiled sternly as found necessity at
n with inclination. / would leave
Cotton End at once, and henceforth /
would fight for my own hand. I would
have no name until / had made for
myself a new one.
This resolve formed, / turned and
went back to the house n felt my
way to my wi chamber. The noon
light poured through the lattice and
room and stood still. Down the middle
OF the coverlet-or my eyes deceived
me-lay q dark line. -
/ stopped mechanically to see what
this was and found my own sword
lying there, the sword which Sir An
thony had given me On my last
birthday. But how had 1t come
soft and light brushed my hand and
dropped from the hilt. Then / remem-
bered. A week before l had begged
Petronilla to make me q sword Knot
Of blue velvet for use on state occa-
sions.' No doubt she had done it and
had brought the sword back this even
ing and laid it there in token of peace.
I sat down on my bed, and softer and
kindlier thoughts came to me--thoughts
of love and gratitude, in which the old
man who had been a second father to
me had part. ! would &c as / had re-
solved, but l would return to them
when / had o a thing worth doing,
something which should efface the
brand that lay on me now. With gen
tie fingers i disengaged the velvet knot
and thrust it into my bosom. Then I
tied about the hilt the old leather
thong, and began to make my prepar-
ations, considering this or hat route
while / hunted for my dagger and
changed my doublet and hose for
stouter raiment and long, Unframed
boots. / was yet in the midst Of this
when a knock at the door startled me.
Who is there?" 1 asked, standing
erect.
For answer Martin Luther slid in,
closing the door behind him. The fool
did not speak, but turning his eyes
first on n thing and then on another
nodded sagely.
"Well?" / growled.
You are off, MASTER" he said, nod
ding again. Il thought So"
why did you think SOP" I retorted
impatiently.
IL 10 tllIS AOI Tx yOuhB ulTuS 10
fly when h cuckoo begins to STIR"
he answered.
understood him dimly and in part.
You have been listening" I said
wrathfully, my cheeks burning.
And been kicked In the face like
fool for my palms." he answered. "Ah,
well, it Is better to be kicked by the
boot you love than kissed by the lips
you hate. But Master Francis. Master
Francis!" he continued In a whisper.
He said no more, and / loked up. The
man was STOPPING slightly forward, his
pale face thrust out. There was a
strange CLEAN in his eyes and his
teeth grinned in the moonlight. Thrice
he drew his finger across his lean
knotted throat. Shall II" he Kissed,
his hot breath reaching me, shall II"
/ recoiled from him, shuddering. It
was a CHASTITY pantomine, and 1t seemed
to me that l saw madness in his eyes.
In heavens name, mol" / cried. mo!
Do you hear, Martin? Mol"
He stood back on the instant, as q
dog might ave done being reproved.
I could hardly finish in comfort
after that with him standing there, al
though when / next turned to him he
seemed half asleep and his eyes We're
dull and fishy as ever. .
"One thing you can do" / said
brusquely. Then / hesitated, looking
round me. / wished to send something
to Petronilla, some word, some keep
sake. But l had nothing that would
serve a maids purpose and could think
Of nothing until my eye lit on a house
martins nest, lying where ] had cast
1t on the window sill. I had taken 1t
down that morning because the drop
pings the last summer had fallen on the
lead work, and l would not have 1t
used when the swallows returned. 1t
was but a bit of clay, and yet 1t would
serve. She would guess its meaning.
I gave 1t into his hands. "Take this"
I said. '"and give 1t privately to Mis-
tress Petronilla. Privately, you under
stand. And SAL nothing to any one,
or the bishop will fay your back, Mar
tin"
CHAPTER III.
The first streak of daylight found
me already footing 1t through the for
est by paths known to few save the
woodcutters, but with which many a
bOViSh aXOlOratiOn had mazda ma IA