Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-09-11
cHAPTER xxI1-contInued.

A@NAAH a1aACSA ~ o
his hat again. You are right, man.!
Then he hurried on, not noticing
the messengers misSap. The tidings
he had heard seemed of such
importance, and he was so anxious to
tell them to his household-for the
greatest men have weaknesses, and
news such as his comes seldom In a
lifetime-that he STROBE on to the house
and over the ~drawbridge into the court
yard without looking behind him.
He loved order and decent obsery-
ance, but there are times when a cat,
TO get to the cream pan, VIII wet It's
feet. He stood now in the middle OF
the court yard. and raising his voice
shouted for his daughter. "Ho, Petro-
nilla, do you hear. girl. Father!
Father Carey! Martin Luther! Bald
win!" and go on until half the house,
hold were collected. DO you hear, all
OF you? The queen Is dead! God rest
her soul!'
"Amen!" said Father Carey. as be-
came him, putting In his word amid the
wondering silence which followed,
while Martin Luther and Baldwin, who
were washing themselves at the pump,
stood with their heads dripping and
their mouths cape.
"Amenl" echoed the knight. And
long live the queen! Long live Queen
Elizabeth" he continued, having now
got his formula by heart. And he
swung his hat.
There was a cheer, a fairly loud
cheer, but there was one who did not
join in It, and that was Petronilla.
She, listening at her lattice up stairs,
began at once to think. as was her
habit when n matter great or small
fell out, whether this would affect the
fortunes OF a certain person far away.
1t might, 1t might not. She did not
know. But the doubt so far entertained
her that she came down TO supper with
a heightened color. not thinking In
the least. poor girl, that the event might
rave dire consequences for others al
most as dear to her and nearer home.
Every year since his sudden de-
parture a letter from Francis Cludde
had come to Coton-a meage letter,
which had passed through many hands
and which reached Sir Anthony now
through one channel. now through an
other. The knight grumbled and swore
over these letters, which never con-
tanned an address to which an answer
could be forwarded. nor said much,
save that the writer was we'll and sent
his love and duty and looked to re-
turn, all being well. But, meager as
they were and loud as he swore at
them, he put them religfously away In
an oak chest In his parlor, and an
other always put away for her share
something else, which was invariably
inclosed-a tiny swallows feather. The
knight never said anything about the
feather, neither asked the meaning or
It's presence nor commented upon Its
absence when Petronilla gave him back
the letter. But for days after each OF
these arrivals he would look much at
his daughter, would follow her about
with his eyes, be more regular IN bid
ding her attend him in his walk and
more particular in seeing that h
had the tidbits OF the joint.
For Petronilla, II cannot be said,
though I think in after times she would
have liked 10 make some n believe
II, that she wasted away. But she did
take q more serious n ~thoughtfui air
in these days, which she never, God
bless her, lost afterward. There came
from Wootton Wawen and from Hen
ley In Arden and from Cookhill gem
tiemen OF excellent estate TO WOO her,
but hey all went away disconsolate
after drinking very deeply of Sir An
thongs ale and strong waters. And
some wondered th.at the good knight did
not roundly taxi the jade to task and
see her settled.
But he did not. So possibly even In
these days ne had other views. l have
beer told that, going up once to her
HITlp CnAlnDtT 10 SGth nCip AC AOdiiN
a very singular ornament suspended
inside her lattice. IL was no other thai
a common clay house martins nest. but
Il was so deftly hung In a netted bag
end so daintily swathed In moss always
green and the Christmas roses and
s~nowdrops and violets and doffodils
which deck ed IL In turn were always so
pure and fresh and bright-as the
knight learned by more h one
.~~ttt., ,tult a ft orxya ri that coming
down the steep steps, he could not see
clearly and stumbled against a cookboy
and beat lii soundly for getting In his
way.
TO return. however. The news Of the
queens death had scarcely been well
digested at Cotton, nor the mass for
her soul, which Father Carey celebrated
with much devotion. been properly
criticised. before another surprise fell
upon the household. Two strangers ar
rived, riding, late one evening. n
rang the great bell while all were at
supper. Baldwin n the porter went
TO see what II was and brought back
a message which drew the knight from
his chair as a terrier draws a rat.
you are drunk" he shouted. purple
In the face and fumbling for the stick
which usually leaned against his seat
ready for emergencies. How dare you
bring cock and bull stories to me?'
ut Is true enough" muttered Bald
win sullenly, a stout door man. not
much afraid OF his master, but loving
him exceedingly. II knew him again
myself"
Sir Anthony strobe firmly out of the
room. and IN the courtyard near the
great rate found a man and q woman
standing in the dusk. He walked up
TO the former n looked him In the
face. What do % here?" he said in
a strange. hard voice.
~ want shelter for a night for my
self and my wife. a meal and some
/ words with you-no more" was the an
swer. sGive me this" the stranger
! continued, (which every idle passerby
may claim at Cotton End. and You shall
see no more OF me, Anthony"
For a moment the knight seemed to
! hesitate. Then he answered, pointing
sternly with his hand: There is the
hall. and supper. Go and eat and drink
or stayl'' he resumed. And he turned
and gave some orders to Baldwin, who
went swiftly to the hall. and In a mo-
ment came again. Nov, go. What
you want the servants VIII prepare for
YOU"
Il want speech OF you." said the new,
ore.
Sir Anthony seemed about TO refuse
but thought better OF II. You car
come to my room when you have
supped." he said In the same ungrac.
ious tone. speaking with his eyes
averted.
And you'd you not take supper
80 A.x A,l-t<@I " --l1 -sI