Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-05-09
THE
Storyof Francis Cludde
A Romance Of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY J. wEYMAN
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN.

ldO! DO you tnlnk all Int are
love with you? Because you have been
sitting with a pretty face on each side
| of you do you think you have only to
throw the handkerchief this way or
| that? If you do, open your eyes, and
you will find II is not so. My kinswom-
an can take care of herself, so we will
leave her out OF the discussion, please,
and for this pink and white Dutch girl"
my lady continued viciously, let me
| tell you that she thinks more of Van
Trees little finger than of your whole
body"
shrugged my shoulders, but still /
was mortified A young man may not
be in love with a girl, yet it displeases
him to hear that she is Indifferent to
| him.
The duchess noticed the movement.
| Don't do that" she cried in impatient
scorn. You do not see much I'm Master
Van Tree perhaps? | thought not.
| Therefore you think a girl must be Of
the same mind as yourself Well" with
a fierce little nod, you will learn some
| day that II is not so: that women are
not quite what men think them, and
particularly, Master Francis. that six
| feet of manhood and a pretty face on
top of IL do not always have their way.
| But, there, | did not bring you here to
tell you that. | want to know whether
| you are aware what you are doing"
| / muttered something to the effect
| that l did not know ! was doing any
harm
You do not call it harm, then" the
duchess retorted. with energy. ito en-
| danger the safety OF every one of us?
Cannot you see that il you insult and
offend this young man-which you are
doing out Of pure wanton mischief, for
| you are not in love with the glrl--he
| may ruin us?"
Ruin us?" l repeated incredulously
.
are, living more or less i'm hiding
through the kindness of Master Lind
strom-living In peace and quietness.
But do you suppose that inquiries are
| not being made for US? Why, / would
bet a dozen gold angels that Master
Clarence is in the Netherlands at this
moment tracking US"
was startled by this idea and she
saw l was. We can trust Master Lind
strom, were II only for his own sake"
she continued more quietly, satisfied
perhaps with the effect she had pro-
duced. And this young man, who is
the son of one Of the principal men OF
Arnheim, is also disposed to look kind
ly on us, as / fancy II Is his nature to
look. But If you make mischief be-
| tween Dymphna and him
Il have not" said.
Then do not" she replied sharply
Look to 1t for the future. And, more,
do not let him fancy 1t possible. JeaI-
ousy Is as easily awakened as IL is
hardly put to sleep. A word from this
young man to the Spanish authorities,
and we should be hauled back to Eng
land in a trice, if worse did not befall
US here. Now, you will be CAREFUL"
Il will" I said. conscience stricken
and little cowed
That Is better" she replied. smil-
ing. II think you will. Now GO"
In Nth
for thought-with some good intentions
too. But l was to find-the discovery
Is made by many-that good resolutions
commonly come too late. When went
down stairs. found my host and Mas
ter Berthe alone in the parlor The girls
had disappeared, so had Van Tree, and
/ saw at once that something had hap
pened. Master BERTHE was standing
gazing at the stove very thoughtfully.
and the Dutchman was walking up and
down the room with an almost conical
expression Of annoyance and trouble on
his pleasant face.
Where are the young ladies'"
asked
up stairs" said Master Bertie, not
looking at me.
"And-and Van Tree?' / asked me-
chanically. Somehow l anticipated the
answer.
"Gone!" said the Englishman curtIy.
Aye, gone, the foolish lad" the
Dutchman struck in, tugging at his
beard. What has come to him? He is
not wont to show temper. | have never
known him and Dymphna have a cross
word before. What has come to the
lad, I say, to go off in a passion at this
time OF night? And no one knows
whittier he has gone or when he will
come back again."
He seemed as he spoke hardly con-
cn{n nf bat
BERTHE turned and looked at me, and |
hung my head, and very shortly after
ward skunk out. The thought of what
l might have brought upon us all by
my petulance and vanity made me feel
sick. / Crept up to bed nervous and
fearful OF the morrow. listening to ev-
cry noise without and praying inwardIy
that my alarm might not be justified.
When the morrow came, went down
stairs as anxious to see Van Tree in
the flesh as | had been yesterday dis
appointed by his appearance. But no
Van Tree was there to be seen. Moth
ing had been heard OF him. Dymphna
moved restlessly about her cheeks pale,
her eyes downcast, and If | had ever
fiattered myself that l was anything to
the girl l was undeceived now. The
duchess shot angry glances at me from
time to time. Master Bertie kept look
ing anxiously at the door. Everyone
seemed to fear and to expect something,
but none Of them feared anG expected
IL as did.
He must have gone home. He must
have gone to Arnheim," said our host.
trying to hide his Vexation. He Will be
back in a day or two. Young men will
be young men,"
But / found that the duchess did
not share the belief that Van Tree had
gone home. for in the course of the
morning she took occasion, when we
were alone, to charge me to be careful
not to come into collision with him.
How can |, now he has gone? |
said meekly, feeling ! was in disgrace.
He has not gone far" replied the
duchess meaningly. Depend upon IL,
he will not go far out of sight unless
there is more harm done than I think
or he is very different from English
lovers. But If you come across him
pray you to keep clear of him. Master
Francis"
1 nodded assent.
But of what weight are resolutions,
with fate in the other scale? 1t was
some hours after this, toward 2 o'clock
indeed, when Mistress Anne came to
me- looking tiurried and vexed. Have
you seen Dymphna?" she asked
abruptly.
No" / answered. Why"
Because she is not In the house,
the girl answered, speaking quickly,
nor in the garden and the last time
saw her she was crossing the is-
land toward the footbridge. l think she
has gone that way to be on the look
out-you can guess for whom" with a
smile, but / am fearful lest she shall
meet some one else, Master Francis.
She is wearing her gold chain and one
of the maids says that she saw two
of the Spanish garrison on the road
near the end OF the footbridge this
morning That Is the way by land to
Arnheim, you know"
That is bad" l said. What is to
be done?"
You must go and look for her."
Anne suggested. She should not be