Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-07-03
-THE-
Storyof Francis C1udde
ARomance of Queen Mary's Reign.
By STANLEY j. wEYMAN
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN.

one exception, that Is. The man whC
struck the blow must be given up"
The man who struck the blowi'
repeated slowly. DO you mean--yot
mean the mar who cut the patro
down."
Yes" he said. He was peering very
closely az me as though he would learr
from my face who 1t was. And | stood
thinking. This was as much as VIC
could expect. / OWNED, and most truly
that but for the honest Dutchman's in
~iuence, promises, perhaps brides, such
terms would never have been offered
TO us by the men who, hours before
had driven us to hold as IL we had
been vermin. Yet give up Master Ber-
tie? What" | said, will be done Ia
him? The man who must be given up,
| meanY' Master Lindstrom shook his
head. 1T "a an accident" | urged,
my eyes on his.
He grasped my hand firmly. and
turning away his face seemed for
awhile unable to speak. AT last he
whispered; II must suffer for the
others, lad. ] fear SO. 1t is a hard
fate, a cruel fate, But | can do no
more. They will not hear me on this
IL is true he will be first tried by the
magistrate, but there is no hope. They
are very hard"
My heart sank. | stood irresolutc.
pondering on what we ought to do,
bordering on what / should say to the
wife who so loved the man who must
die. What could / say? Yet somehow
| must break the news. | asked Master
Lindstrom TO wait where he was while
| consulted the others. adding. You
will answer for IL that there will be no
attack while you are here, l suppose"
Il WILL" he said. / knew ! could trust
him, and l went in to the duchess, clos
ing the door behind me. A change had
come over the room since | had left II.
The moon had risen and was ninging
its cold white light through the twisted
and shattered framework OF the win
dow to fall In three bright panels on
the floor. The torches in the street had
for the most part burned out or been
eXtfnguished. In place of the red glare,
the shouts n the crash OF glass, the
atmosphere of battle N strife / had
left, ! found this silvery light and a
stiffness made more apparent by the
distant hum of many voices.
Mistress Anne was standing just
within the threshold, her face showing
pale against the gloom. her hands
clasped. The duchess was kneeling by
her husband, but she looked up as ]
entered.
They will let us all co. / said blunt
ly--it was the best to tell the tale at
once-"eXcept the one who hurt the
patrol, that is"
1t was strange how differently the
W women received the news. While
Mistress Anne flung her hands to her
face with a sobbing cry of thankful
and leaned against the wall cry
ing and shaking, my lady stood up
straight n still, breathing hard. but
saying nothing. | saw that she did
not need TO ask what would be lone to
the n who was excepted. She knew.
NO" she murmured at last, her hands
pressed to her bosom, 1--WE cannot do
It'll"
II fear we must" ] said gently, calm
ly, too, | think. Yet in saying it | was
quite myself. An odd sensation
was growing upon me in the stiffness
OF the room. | began on u sudden, |
did not know why, to thrill with eX-
element, To tremble with
such as would rather have become one
OF the women than a a My head
grew hot, my heart began 10 beat
quickly. / caught myself looking out,
listening, waiting for something to
happen, something 10 be said. 1t was
something more terrible, as IL seemed
to me. than the din and crash of the
worst moments of the assault. What
was il? What was it that was threat
ening my being? An instant n /
knew.
"oh. no. never!" cried the duchess
her voice quivering. her face full
of keenest pain. We will not give
you up. We will stand or fall togeth-
friend"
Give you up. Give you up! Ha! The
veil was lifted now. and | saw what the
something with the cold breath going
before il was. I looked quietly from
her TO her husband. and | asked-I
fancy she thought my question strange
ly irrelevant at that moment: How
Is he? is he better"
Much better. He knew me for q
moment" h answered. Then he
seemed to sink away again. but his eyes
We're quite clear"
l stood gazing down at his hin face,
which had ever looked so kindly into
mine. My fingers played idly with the
knot of my swovd. He will live?" |
asked abruptly. harshly.
She started at the sudden question;
but, brutal as ii must have sounded, she
was looking at me in pity so great and
generous that it did not wound her.
"Oh, yes" she said, her eyes still cling
ing TO me. Il think he will live, thank
heaven!"
Thank heaven, All, yes, thank
heaven!
turned and went slowly toward the
door, but before l reached Ii she was
at my side-nay, was on her knees by
me-clasping my hand. looking up TO
me with. streaming eyes. What are
you going TO do?" she cried. reading, l
suppose. something in my face.
Il will see IL Master Lindstrom can
not get better terms for us" i an
She rose, still OBTAINING me. You
are sure?' she said, still eying me
jealousy.
Quite sure I answered. forcing a
smile. II will come back and report to
you"
She let me go then, and | went out
and joined Lindstrom on the staircase.
Are you certain" ] asked, speaking
in a whisper. that they VIII; that the
town will keep its word and let the 9TH
ers go?"
Il am quite sure Of It," he replied.
nodding. They are Germans, and
and pitiless, but you may trust
them. Sc far l will answer for them"
Then we accept" l said gravely. Il
give myself up. Let them take me-"
CHAPTER XIV.
had not seen the first moonbeams
pierce the broken easement of the tower
room. but l was there TO watch the last
tiny patch of silver glide aslant from
wall TO sill and sill TO frame and so