The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-10-02
CHAPTER xxlv-continuea.

10 hHIn, the knight walked steadily back
INTO the courtyard and took his stand
there. He dispatched the women
SONS of the to lay out a meal
In The hall. bur it was noticeable that
the men went reluctantly. and that all
VINO could find any excuse to do so
fingered round Sir Anthony as If they
could not bear to n him. as IL.
even at the last moment, they had some
vague notion of protecting their master
at all hazards. A score of lanterns shed
a gloomy, uncertain light-only in
places REINFORCED by the glow from
the hall windows-upon the group. Sell
dom had q Cotton moon peeped over the
gables at a scene stranger than that
which met the sheriff's Eyes as with
his two packers he passed under the
gateway.
II surrender 70 you. Sir Philip" the
knight said. with a dignity. stepping
forward Il pace or two. land call you
To witness tina 1 might have made re-
quiet in their homes. and only my SER
wants are present. Father Carey is not
here nor in h house. This is Baldwin
Moor, nv steward. but I beg for him
nothing save by my command"
Sir Anthony. believe me that / will
do all l cam" the sheriff responded
gravely, '.but''--
Put to set at naught the queens
proclamation and order!" struck in a
third voice harshly-it was Sir Thomas
Greville's-"and she but a month on the
throne! For shame. Sir Anthony! 1t
srnacks to me Of high treason. And
many a man has suffered for less, let
me tell you"
a she been longer on the throne"
the sheriff. put in more gently. land
were the times quiet, the matter would
have been of less moment. Sir Anthony,
and might not ave become a state
matter. Blu just now"-
Things are in q perilous condition."
Greville said bluntly. land o have
done your little to make them worse"
The knight. by a great effort, swal-
lowed his rage and humiliation. what
will you do with me. gentlemen" he
asked. speaking With at least the APP
pearance of calmness.
Tha is to be SEEM Greville said,
roughly overriding his companion. FOL
tonight we must make ourselves and
DIR men comfortable here"
'Certainiy-With Sir A~nthony's leave,
Sir Thomas Greyiile." quoth a voice
from behind. Tut only SOL"
More than one started violently, while
the Cludd servants almost to u nan
epIn round at the sound of the voice
tiny voice, Francis Cludde's though in
The darkness no one knew me. How
shah I ever forget the joy and lively
gratitude which filled MY heart as L
spoke,. which turned the night into day
and that fantastic scene of shadows
into a festival, as l felt that the ambi-
ion OF the last four years was about
to be grntiflcd? Sir Anthony, who was
sne OF the first to turn. peered among
the servants Who spoken he cried,
= sudden disconDosurc in his voice and
manner. VIII spoke there?"
AYE. sir. Anthony. who did," Gre
vile said h%nughtily, Some one APP
Parectly who does not quite understand
his place or the state of affairs here.
stand back. my men, n let me sec
him. Perhans we ma teach him a use
ful lesson"
Tie challenge was welcome. for I
feared a scene and to be left face to
face with my uncle more than any
Thing. Now. ns the van with u
loud ,rurlnur of surprise and recogni-
tion fell back and disclosed me stand
ing by Martins side. I turned a little
from Sir Anthony and faced Greyiile.
NJ this time. I think. Sir Thomas"
I said. giving him back glance for
glance. II have learned my lesson from,
sonac who have Jared farther and seen
more than YOU. from men who have
stood by their cause in foul weather
hs we'll ats fair. and were not for mass
one Cay and a sermon the next"
what Is this?" he cried angrily.
Sir Anthony cludde's dutiful n
loving nephew" I answered.. with a
courteous bow. Come back, 1 thank
heaven, In time to do him a service. Sir
Thomas"
Master Francis! Master Francis!"
CIop on exclaimed in remonstrance.
be had known me in old days. MY
uncle meanwhile gazed at mo in the
utmost astonishment, and into the SER
wants faces there flashed a strange
light, while many of them hailed me In
q ton which told me that I had but
70 give the word, and they would fall
Francis" Sir Philip Clopton repeated
graNely. IF you would do your uncle a
service. this Is not the way to go
about 1t. He has surrendered and is
matters"
I laughed out loudly and merrily.
d you know. Sir Philip 1 said, with
something of the old boyish ring in nv
voice. II have been since I saw you
ana po,, Helsln n and Germany-aye,
think l have come back a fool?'
= do not know what to think of
you." he replied dryly. but you had
Keep q civil tongue in your head,
my friend" said Greville, with harsh
ness. "and yourself our OF this bust
ness!!"
1T is just this business 1 have come
to get into. Sir Thomas" I answered
thony. show them that" I continued.
and l drew out a little packet of parch-
Inent with q great red seal hanging
from It by a green ribbon-just such a
So kl& 10 NAAN AN \ "a SlOlGII. ITOln
IN bishops apparitor nearly -four years
back. "A lantern here!"sI cried. iHU1d
1t steady. Martin, that Sir Anthony
may read. Master sheriff wants his
rere supper"
I ave the packet into the Knights
hand, my w shaking. Aye, shaking
for was not this the fulfllment of that
boyish vow I had made in my little
room in the gable yonder, so many
years ago? A fulnllment strange and
timely. such as none but a boy in his
teens could have hoped for. nor any
but a man who had tried the chances
and mishaps of the world could fully
enjoy as was enjoying it. l tingled
with the rusis through my veins of tri.
umph and gratitude. Up to the las,
moment I had 5feared lest anything
should go wrong, lest this browning
happ'Ie-is should be withheld from me
Now l stood there smiling. watching
Sir Anthony. as with trembling finger.
he furnbled with the paper. INC there
was only one thing, only one person
wanting to my joy. I looked ant
locke again, but I could not anywher,
see Patronllla.
.sNyba, &c, IL ~, Cir Apthonv eofd soob