Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-03-26
THE
Storyof Francis C1udde
Romance Of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN.
BY TANLEY J. wEYMAN.

disgust IL W8S IulI OF people. 6aly a
dozen travellers n IS many townsfolk
briskly over their draft. Yet I had NO
choice. was hungry. and the thing
had to be done. and I staggered In.
something Of the sneak no doubt peep
Ing through my bravado. l remarked.
as [ took my seat by the fire and set to
drying myself. that I was greeted by
n Monentary silence. n then two or
three OF the company began to eye me
s~uspiciously.
There was n man. who sat on the
settle M the warlneSt corner of the
chimney. who seemed in particular to
resent my damp neighborhood. His
companions treated him with SO much
reverence, and he snubbed them so reg
ulaIly, that L wondered who he was.
and presently. listening to the CONVEX
sation which vent on round me, I had
my curiosity satisfied. He was no less
a parsonage than the bailiff OF st. Al
bans, n his name befitted such a
for IT seemed to indicate that he
thought himself heir to all the powers
OF h old abbots under whose broad
thumb his father and grandfather had
groaned.
My conscience pricking Yne, I felt
some misgiving when I saw him, after
staring at me and whispering TO two
or three Of his neighbours. beckon the
ot0 LIS Okk lOu1l0 lace dllO
burly figure gave him g. general like
ness to bluff King Hal. and he ap-
peared to be aware OF this himself and
to be inclined to q the stout kings
ways, which. I have heard my uncle
say. were eve ways heavy for others
toes. For awhile. however. seeing my
supper come in. I forgot him. The bare
armed girl who brought 1T to me and
In whom my draggled condition seemed
to provoke feelings OF q different ma
ture lugged up q round table to the
fire. On this she laid my meal, not
scrupling to set aside ome OF the snug
dry townsfolk. Then she set a chair for
arms In her apron stood to watch me
fall to. 1 did so with a will. and with
each mouthful Of beef and draft OF ale
spirit II strength came back to me.
The cts round me might sheer and
shake their heads and the travellers
smile at my appetite. In Ave minutes
I cared not a whit. I could give them
back Joke for joke and laugh with the
best of them.
Indeed / had clean forgotten the bail
if when he stalked back to his place.
But the M u eyes met I guessed
there was trouble afoot. The landlord
came with him and stood looking at
In her ear. and / felt under his y an
uncomfortable consciousness hat my
purse was empty. Two or three late
arrivals, to whom I suppose master
bailiff had confided. his suspicious, took
their stand also In q half circle ana
scanned me ,queeriy,, Altogether it
struck me suddenly that / was in q
tight place and had need Of my wits.
"Ahem!" said the bailiff abruptly.
taking skillful advantage Of a lull in
the talk. Where from last. young
MANI" He spoke In a deep. choky
voice, and II / were not mistaken he
winked one OF his small eyes in tho d.
rection of his friends, as though to say.
Nov see me pose hint"
But I only put another morsel in my
mouth. For h ONE indeed the
temptation to reply "Towcester." see
ing that such q journey over a middling
road was something to brag OF before
the highway law came in. almost over
am me. hut in time 1 bcthought Of
Stephen GARDENERS maxim. BE slow to
speak" and / put another morsel in
my mouth.
The bailiffs face grew red. or rather
red'ler. Come young man, did you
hear me. speak??" he said pompously.
Where from last?"
From the road. sir" I replied. turn
ing to him as II I had not heard him
before. And q very wet road 1t was"
A man who sat next me chuckled.
being apparently a stranger like my
self. But the bailiff pulled himself into
q still more striking likeness to King
Henry, and including him in his scowl
shouted at me: 'Sirrah. don't handy
words with me. Which way did you
come along the road" I asked.
1t was on the tip Of my tongue to
answer saucily. The right way!" But
reflected that I might be stopped,
and to be stopped might mean to be
hanged ut worst. and something very
unpleasant at best. SO I controlled my
self and answered. though the mans
arrogance was provoking enough: II
have come from Stratford, and / am
going to London. Now you know az
much az I do"
do II" he said with a sheer and a
wink Mt the landlord.
Yes. I think So" l answered patient
ly.
Well. I don't" he retorted in vulgar
that o have come from London"
1 went ON with my supper.
ID you hear?" he asked p%ornpously,
sticking his arms akimbo and looking
round for sympathy. You will have
to give an account OF yourself, young
man. We Will have no penniless rogu
n sturdy vagabonds wandering about
st. Albans."
"Penniless rogues do not go a horse
back" l answered. But it was won
derful how my spirits sank under tina
word "penniless." 1t hit me hard.
Wait a Bit" he said. raising his
finger to command attention for for his
next question. What is your religion
young MANI"
Oh" I replied. putting down m,
knife and looking open scorn at him
you are an inquisitor. are you?' At
winch words of mine there was q kind
of stir. You would burn me an I hea1
they burned Master Sandars at Gov.
entry last week. would you? The,
were talking about 1t down the road
"You Will come to a bad end. youne
man. he retorted vtciously. his out