Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-04-04
THE
Story Of Francis Cludde
A Romance Of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY J. wEYMAN
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN.

Listen and be silent. l shall go with
these ladies. and I promise this-if they
are stopped or hindered on their way.
or If evil happens to them at that
wharf whose name YOU had better for
get, II will be the worse for you Do
you hear? You will suffer for it,
though there may be a dozen guards
about you. Mind you" | added. Il
have nothing to lose myself, for l am
desperate already"
He vowed. the poor craven, with his
suffering tongue, that he would be
But ! saw that his eyes did not meet
mine. They glanced instead at the
knife blade, and / knew even while /
pretended to trust him that he would
betray us. Ny real hope lay in his
fears and in this--that as the fugitives
knew the way TO the wharf, and II
could not now be far distant, we might
reach IT and go on board some vessel
! had gathered they were fleeing from
the country-before this wretch could
recover himself and get together force
to stop US. That was my real hope.
and In that hope only | left him.
We went as fast as the women could
walk. did not trouble them with ques-
tions. Indeed | had myself no more
leisure than enabled me to notice their
general appea rance, which was that of
comfortable tradesmen's women folk.
Their cloaks and hoods were plainly
fashioned and of coarse stuff: their
shoes were thick and no jewel or scrap
of lace peeping out betrayed them.
Yet there was something I'm their car
riage that could not be hidden, some
thing, which TO my eye. told tales, so
that minute by minute | became more
sure that this was really an adVen-
ture worth pursuing, and that London
had kept a reward in store for me be-
sides cold n a
streets.
The city was beginning TO rouse itself.
As we fitted through the lanes and
alleys which lie between Cheapside and
the river we met many people. chiefly
of the lower classes. on their way to
work. Yet in spite Of this we had no
need to fear observation, for. though
the morning was fully come, with the
light had arrived such a thick. choking
yellow fog AS !, being for the most
part. country bred, had never eXper-
fenced. 1t was so dense and binding
that we had difficulty in keeping to-
gether and even hand in hand could
scarcely see one another. In my won
der how my companions found their
way ! presently failed to notice their
condition and only remarked the dis
treSS and exhaustion which one OF them
was suffering when she began, notwith-
standing all her efforts, 10 lag behind.
Then | sprang forward, blaming my
self much. Forgive me" | said. You
are tired and no wonder. Let me carry
the child, mistress"
Exhausted as she was. she drew
away from me jealousy.
NO. she painted. We are nearly
there. | am better now" And she
strained the child closer to her. as
though she feared | might take It from
heI by force.
We'll IL you will not trust me, an
swered, "let your friend carry IL for a
time. ] can see you are tired out"
Through the mist she bent forward
and peered into my face. her eyes
scarcely "A foot from mine The scrut-
my seemed to satisfy her. She drew a
long breath and held out her burden.
NO she said You shall take him.
| will trust you
| took the little wrapped up thing as
gently as | could. You shall not re-
pent il II ! can help 1t, Mistress
"Bertram," she said.
Mistress Bertram."I repeated. Now
let us get on and lose no time"
A walk of a hundred yards or so
brought us clear OF the houses and re-
Vealed before us, in place of all else.
a yellow curtain OF fog Below this
at our feet, yet apparently long way
from us, was strange. pale line OF
shimmering light, which they told me
was the water At first ! could hardly
believe this. But, pausing a moment
while my companions WHISPERED to-
gether, dull Creakings and groa nings
and uncouth shouts and cries. and AT
last the regular beat of oars. came to
my ears out Of the bank of vapor and
convinced me that We really had the
river before us
Mistress Bertram turned to me
abruptly. Listen" she said. and de-
eide for yourself. my friend. We are
close to the wharf now. and in a few
minutes shall know our fate. It is
possible that we may be Intercepted at
this point, and II that happens it will
be bad for me and worse for any one
aiding me. You have done us gallant
service, but you are young. and ! am
lOath to drag you into perils which
do not belong to you. Take my ad-
vice. then, and leave us now. | would
| could reward you she added hastily.
but that knave has my purse"
l put the child gently back into her
arms. "GOodby," she said with more
feeling We thank you. Some day
may return to England and have ample
power
Not SO fast" answered stiffly.
Did you think ii possible, mistress
thar | would desert you now? | gave
you back the child only beCauce it
with you. Come. let us on at once to
the wharf"
You mean it?" she said.
"Of a certainty" | answered set
Ting my cap on my head with per-
haps a boyish touch of the braggart
At any rate. she did not take me at
once at my word, and her thought for
me touched me the more because
judged her-I know not exactly why
a n L.
of others. do not be reckless" she
said slowly. her eyes intently fixed on
mine. Il should be sorry to bring evil
upon you. You are but boy"
And yet I answered smiling. there
is as good as a price upon my head
already. | should be reckless If ! staid
here. IF you will take me with you,
let us go. We have lOitered too long
already"
She turned then. asking no questions,
but she looked at me from time to
time in a puzzled way, as though she
thought she ought 70 know meas
though | reminded her of some one.
Paying little heed TO this then, | hur-
ried her and her companion down to
the water, traversing a stretch Of fore
shore strewn with piles of wood and
stacks of barrels and old rotting boats,
between which the mud lay deep. For
tunately ii was high tide and We had
not far to go. In a minute or two l
distinguished the hull of a ship loom
ing large through the fog, and a few
more steps placed us safely on float
ing raft, on the far side OF which the
vessel lay moored.
There was only one man to be seen
loungtng on the raft, and the neighbor-
hood was quiet. My spirits rose as I
looked round. is this the Whelp?"
the tail lady asked. / had not heard
the other open her mouth since the
encounter in the court.
Yes, il is the Whelp. madam" the
man answered, saluting her and speak
ing formally and with a foreign ac-
cent. You are the lady who is ex-
pected?"