The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-03-06

lne shadows thickened round the bee
behind him and closed in more nearly
on US, leaving his pale grim face te
confront me--his face which seemed
the Daler and grilnmer. the more satur-
nine and all mastering. for the dark
frame which set it off?
"He did this" he continued slowly
(which ann to light and blasted him
he asked as the price of his service in
betraying me his brothers estate"
"Impossible!" L stammered. why.
Sir Anthony
What Of Sir Anthony. you would
Ask" the chancellor replied. interrupt
Ing me. with savage irony. "Oh. he
was a papist. an obstinate papist! he
might go hang-or to Warwick jail
NAY. but this at least. my lord. is
false!" ] cried. "Palpablv false! If my
father had SO betrayed his own flesh
be Mt Cotton End? You say this hap
pencd eight years ago. Seven years
ago ! anne here. Would Sir Anthony
"Trlere are fools everywhere" the old
man sncered. when my Lord Hert-
ford refused your fathers suit. Ferd-
tnand began-it is his nature-to plot
against him. He was found out and
iexecrated by all, for he had been false
to all. He fled for his life. He left
O behind. and a servant brought you
to Cotton END. where Sir Anthony took
you in"
II J. OSGIS IVY JlCG. fAldS, i Dcllcteu
mimi! I. who had always been SO proud
OF my lineage, so proud of the brave
TRADITIONS OF the house and its honor.
SO proud of Cotton d and all that
belonged to IT! Now. IL this were
true, T could never. again AXE pleasure
In one or the other. l was the son
Of a mar branded as a turncoat and
an fnformer, Of one who was the
worst, of traitors! l san down on
the aettee behind me and hid my face.
Another might have thought less of the
blow. or, with greater knowledge Of
the world might nave made light of 1t
as a thing not touching himself. But
on me. young as 1 was, and proud. and
as yet tender, IL having done Moth
Ing myself. it fell with crushing force.
II was years since 7 had seen my
father. and could not stand forth
loyalty and fight his battles as a son
his fathers friend and familiar for
years might I'VE fought it. On the
contrary there WINS SO much which
seemed mysterious in my past life, so
accusation. hat 1 felt n dread of its
truth even before l had proof. Yet I
would have proof. Show me the let
iters!" 1 said harshly. Show me the
letters. my lord!"
You know your fathers handwrit-
ing?"
f. 81 do"
:. I knew 1t, not from any correspond
ence my father had held with me. but
because had more tina nee exam
5ined with natural curiosity the wrap
.spers OF the dispatches which at inter
walls of many months. sometimes of a
year. came from him to Sir Anthony.
! mad never known anything of the con-
tents of the letters. all that fell to
Z my share being certain formal mes
me. generally with a clouded brow and
q testy manner that grew genial again
only with the lapse of time.
Gardiner handed me the letters, and
l look them and read one. One was
enough That my father! Alas. alas!
No wonder that I turned my face to the
wall. shivering as with ague, and that
all o me. except the red glow of
the fire. which burned into my brain
seemed darkness! l had lost the thing
everything of which l was proud. The
treachery that could flush tina worn
lace opposite to me. lined as it wa
\ WITH statecraft. and betray the willy
tongue into passion seemed to me,
young and tmpulsive, a thing so vile
as to brand q mans children through
generations.
Therefore I hid my face in the cor
Aer OF the settle. while the chancellor
9azed at me awhile in silence, as one
! n q made an experiment might
watch the result.
You see now. my friend, he said at
( !ast. almost gently. that you may be
sSCasc born In more ways than one. But
De Of good cheer. You are young, and
what l have done Q may do. Think
naught. Think Of the old cardinal-my
master. Think OF the duke of SUFFOLK
Z Cnarles Brandon. I mean. He was a
plain gentleman. yet he married a
s. queen. More, the door which they had
70 open for themselves I will open for
you-only. when you are inside. play
the man and be faithful"
What would you have me dor" i
whispered hoarsely.
Il would ave you do this" he an
ing in the Netherlands. boy3great
changes. unless l am mistaken. I have
need OF an agent there, a man. stout,
trusty, and. in particular. unknown,
who Will keep me informed Of events
II you VIII be that agent. I can procure
myself-a post Of pay and honor in
the regents guards. What say YOU ia
that Master Cludde? A few weeks
and you will be making history. and
So.on n End VIII seem a mean place to
l was longing to be away and alone
with my misery. but I forced myself ts
reply patiently:
With your leave I will give you m,
answer tomorrow. my lord. II said a.
10 SOAi0s dItu i rose. SUI
keeping my face turned from him.
Very WE'LL" he replied, with appar
ent confidence. But he watched m,
keenly. as I fancied II know alread,
what your answer will be. Yet befor.
Q go I will give you a piece of ad
vice which in the new life you begi,
tonight will avail you more than sill
yer. more than gold-aye, more thai
steel-Master Francis. 1t is this. B,
prompt to think, be prompt to strike
be slow to speak! Mark it we'll! 1t /
q simple recipe. yet 1t has made M
what i am and may make you greater
Now go!"
He pointed to the little door openin,
on the staircase. and 1 bowed and wen
u closing it carefully behind me. O.
the stairs, moving blindly in the dark
i iell over some one who lay sleepin
there and who clutched at my leg.
shook him off. however, with an es
clanatton of rage. and stumbling dow
h rest of the steps gained the ope
air. Excited inc feverish. 1 shran
with aversion from the confinement q
my ROOM. and hurrying owe the draw
bridge sought at random the long ter
race by The fish pools. on which til
moonlight fell, a sheet Of silver. broke
only by the sundial and the shadows {
the rosebushes. The night air. weeK
Ing chill from the forest. famed m
rE ~6nAG~ -HT $500 -2-~ $500 -