The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-27
ROB
N yRMAIIER SCOTT


or for some other reason. had never
been admitted into orders.
II was Rashleigh, Frank soon learn
ed. whom his father had selected 70
take the desk In the great house or
osbaldfstone q Tresham, which the
merchants son had scorned.
Frank Withdrew early from the feast
in the "stun hail." and Diana gave him
tea in the old library. which spacious
and neglected apartment she had ap.
propriated to her own use. Frank had
seen the pretty huntress In all the
abandon of the chase, had seen her
| take q fiveabarred gate on the way
home and had heard her discourse OF
dogs and farriery, or faiconry and
hunting. Now he found that she was
well versed also In the classics and
other branches of learning which were
| unusual even to men of eSncation In
those days and generally sealed books
to all women Of the time.
OF the great world and of courts Df
Vernon knew nothing. and for conven-
tionalities she cared nothing. She had
| a strong. impefious win that dominat-
ed the household and made even the
| subtle Rashleigh stand in awe Of her.
| This beauty had wit that stung like
the lash of whip and a7sarcasm which
went as straight to its mark as did
the bullets which she. could shoot so
4
bow with unerring fight.
| uBt through al her with and joyous
ness, her Astounding wealth of youth
and health and beauty. there came ev-
cry now and then the minor chord of
the doom which awaited her. Marry
with one of Sir Hildebrand's sons she
would not; yet, as sne told Frank, she
felt that In convent she would beat
out her heart as bird sometimes beats
itself to death against the wires Of Its
cage.
All this she told young osbaldistone
with an engaging frankness- She put
him on his guard against Rashleigh.
Whether you do him an injury or
| favor, believe me. he will resent 1t and
seek revenge" she said. Rashleigh had
been her Instructor in learning, but
seeking 20 practice on her youth and
| inexperience, she had dismissed him. and
he-swas never allowed to enter the. IL
brary with her permission.
Frank was bewildered by the frank
| ness and beauty of Di Vernon. He
co,sld not analyze his own feelings, but
in a few days he found to his surprise
that he was beginning to feel furious
ly Jealous of any one on whom she
seemed to look with even passing
favor.
What Diana had not told him about
the family the young man learned from
!.
scotchman and true blue Presbyterian
who described his service at osbaldi-
stone Han as twenty years hght-
Ing with beasts at Ephesus.
He was a meddiesome Fellow. ex-
ceedingiy "canny ..,o,on osii .hst while
he would run his legs of to oblige
friend he would not give him shill-
ing to KEEP him from starving.
One day, to his indignation and sur
prise Frank was informed by Andrew
that he was accused OF having played
highwayman and robbed fellow trav-
eler named Morris, with whom he. had
iourneyed from London. OF a portman-
teau containing money and papers OF
political Importance.
He remembered the fellow we'll a
chickep-hearted NKnave who had insist
ed on attaching himself to Franks
company and who displayed such anx-
that everywhere along the road he
advertised the fact that 1t contained
something worth stealing.
Justice Inglewood was cen about
the issue warrant for his honor"
said Andrew complacently. Frank in
sisted on riding at once to the house
Of the justice. and Di Vernon insisted
on going along to show him the way.
Frank objected in the name of the pro-
prieties. but Di laughed his sermon
to scorn.
AS they entered the house of the
justice. Rahieigh Obaldistone was leav-
ing IT, and Diana, taking him aside,
held a long and animated conversation
with him In which she seemed to In
sist on something, and Rashleigh at
first to demur and then consent sui
lenly.
In the dining room they found the
portly Justice drinking his wine and
caroling a blithe stave while his clerk,
Mr.. Jobson. urge1 him to expedite the
business of the robber Osbaldistone.-
Norris, the plundered one. having
signed his complaint. sat there fidget-
ing under the jolly magistrates hos
pitality and anxious to be away again.
Frank and Di were received, as guests
to feast rather than as Corners to
court Of justice. But as Morris
swore that the young man before him
was the man who had robbed him, 1t
began to look as II Frank would really
have to so to prison in spite iof HIS
indignant protestations-in fact, even
the shadow of felon's. death began
to loom up before him.
Just then there entered another man
who had Travelled on the road from
London-a Mr.. Campbell, cattle drover
from Scotland. He had excited an un-
usual interest in Frank because OF his
commanding manner, his evident su-
periority to the usual men OF his call
ing In intelligence, as well as bv a
certain reticence with which he met
all inquiries as to his personal AFFAIRS.
Morris appeared thunderstruck at
the sight of Campbell His Jaw fell
Campbell produced a protection, or
letter Of recommendation, from the
Duke Of Argyll, the head OF hts clan.
Then he swore to the justice that he
had Witnessed the robbery of Morris
and that Frank Osbaldistone was not
the man who had done the deed. He
being a man of peace, he said, had
not interfered, but Morris. no doubt,
would now Withdraw his complaint.
he liked his stern and commanding
glance upon Morris and that weakling
took back all his charges. Then, COM
handing Norris to follow him, he left
the room. and the pair could be heard
IN the passage, Norris pleading in ter
ror and Campbell saying, II tell thee.
man, thou shalt not be harmed"
me Justice threw the writ against
bottle.
Rashleigh soon went IN London n
enter the counting room of osbaldi-
stone and freshman and Frank ling
cred on at osbaldistone Hail The rea-
son for his lingering he would NOT adj
NIT, even to himself, though In his
secret heart he knew that reason was
Di Vernon. Then one dav came iat-
ter from his fathers old CONFIDENTIAL
clerk. owen, telling him that the IA
nous house was in financial difflculties
His father had gone to Holland 10
collect money due him there, and
W IN