The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-06-05

Clarence" she suggested, her face
gloomy, her brows knit.
True. I had not thought of that"
| answered. And 1T reminds me. 1
have heard SO much of Clarence
And seen some little; even thai lit
tie more than was good for you"
Yes, he has had the better of me on
both occasions" | allowed. But I was
going to ask you" l continued. ito tell
me something about him. He was your
steward. l know. But how did he come
to you? How was 1T you trusted him?"
We are all fools at times" she an
swered. grimly. w wanted to have
persons OF our w faith about US. and
he was highly recommended to US by
Protestants abroad as having seen SER
just at this right moment, too. And
at the first we felt a great liking for
him. He was so clever in arranging
things; he kept such excellent order
among the servants; he was SO ready.
so willing, 80 plausible! OH" she
added. bitterly. me had ways that en-
abled him to twist nine women out of
ten around his fingers! Richard was
fond Of him; 1 liked him; we had
talked more than once of how we
Ike a thunderbolt on a clear day, the
knowledge of his double dealing fell
upon us. We earne that he had been
seen talking with a known agent OF
Gardiner, and this at a time when the
bishop was planning our ruin. We had
him watched. and just when the net
al! but closed round us we dis
covered that he had been throughout
in Gardeners pay"
All" said. vtciously. THE oldest
thing to me is the way he has twice es-
capped me when l had him at the
swords point"
THE third time may bring other
fortune. Master Francis" she answered,
smiling. Yet be wary with him. He is
a good swordsman, as my husband,
VINO sometimes fenced with him, will
tell you"
He can be no common man." I said.
is not. He is we'll bred and has
seen service. He is at once bold and
cunning. He has a tongue that would
win most women and a hardihood that
would chain them to him. Women
love bold men," my lady added, naive
ly. AND she smiled on me, yet hui
morously. SO that I blushed.
There was silence for a moment. The
delicious this morning after that night,
this bright expanse after the dark,
sluggish channels! Far away in front
a great barge. high laden with a
mighty stack Of rushes. crept along be-
side III bank. the horse that drew it
ruptly. lis 1t AIMEE" she asked.
I knew quite well what she meant
and blushed again. I shook my head.
7 think It was going to be-" she said.
sagely. only Mistress Dymphna came
upon the scene. You have heard the
story of the donkey halting between
two bundles of hay. Master Francis?
n IN the multitude Of sweethearts
there is safety"
7 do not think that was my case"
I said. InstinctiveH my hand went to
my breast in which Petronilla's velvet
sword knot lay safe and warm. The
duchess saw the gesture n instantly
bent forward n mimicked it. "Ha!
nal. she cried. leaning back. with her
hands clasped about her knees n her
eyes shining with fun and amusement.
NOW understand. You nave left her
at nome. Now, do not deny it, or I will
tell the others. Be frank. and 1 will
keep your secret. on my honor
She is my cousin" I said, nv cheeks
hot.
And her name?"
"P%etronilla."
"~Petronil,a?" my lady repeated.
shrewdly. That was the name Of your
Spanish grandmother, them"
Yes, madam
"%Petronilla? P%etronilla" she re-
peated. stroking her cheek with her
hand She would be before my time,
would she not? Yet there used to be
several Petronillas about the court in
NNSSAi OI EAEdRON 8 GAYS. Il
remember. There was Petronilla de
vargas for one. But, there. 1 guess at
random. Why do you not tell me more
about yourself. Master Francis? Do
you not know me well enough now"
There is nothing to tell, madam" 1
said in a low voice.
Your family?' You come. I am
sure, of a good house"
Il did. but 1T is nothing to me now.
! am cut off from it. I am building my
house afresh. And.' I added, bitterly,
y nave not made much way with it
yet"
She broke. greatly to my surprise,
into a long peal of laughter. ooh. YOU
vain boy!" she cried. You valiant cas-
tie builder! How long have you been
about the work? Three months? Do
you hin a house is to be built in a
day? Three months. indeed? Quite a
lifetime!"
Was 1t three months? 1t seemed to
me to be fully three years. 1 seemed
to have grown more than three years
when I had crossed Arden forest with
the first light and looked down on
Wootton Wawen sleeping in its vale
and reused the herons fishing in it's
bottoms.
Come. tell me about it," she said.
Off %
II cannot tell you.' 1 answered.
A shade OF annoyance clouded her
countenance. But 1T passed away al
most on h instant. Very Well" she
said. with a little nod of disdain and
a pretty grimace. $50 be 1t. Have your
own way. but l prophesy you will come
to me with your tale some day."
went h and took Master Ber-
ties place at the tiller. and. he lying
down. I had the boat to myself until
noon and drew no little pleasure from
the placid picture which the moving
banks and the wide river presented.
About noon there was a general up
rising. and coming Immediately aft.
erward to a little island lying close to
one bank we all landed to stretch our
legs and refresh ourselves after the
confinement on board.
We are over the border now and
close to Emmerich." said Master
Lindstrom. though the mere line of
frontier will avail us little il the Span
!sh soldiers can by hook and crook
lay hands on us. Therefore we must
lose no time in getting within the
walls of some town. We should be
fairly secure for a. few days either in
Vessel or Santon."
Il thought Vessel was the point we
were making for" Master Berthe said
in some surprise.
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