The Washington times., 1913-06-01
TIMES DAILY SERIAL
The Fighting Blade zzss= $1,000 gzz z@ 2@

slender. outworn figure. with face
turned toward the wall.
BY day or by night she was never
alone, for. even in her chamber. she
must endure the presence Of Charlottes
woman or Of EleanoTs.
Servants and attendants they were
given to be, but she knew them watch
ful jatlers. and herself a prisoner or
| state.
She lay with shut eyes. She was Wis
ioning how Won Kerstenbroock had sat
And what did did thy father call thee.
Little Deyilr.
Strange that she could think now on
his parting moment and not weep. while
| to recall words that were 30 slight, 30
| fond-too slight for q man SO dead
was to make the tears leap to her burn
ing eyes!
Perhaps she had slipped into the state
| between sleeping and waking-a state
now grown to her to be familiar, In
| which too often she heard her own lips
| speak the words that should make her
| wife to Staversham.
In any case. when she opened her
eyes again. tautened by custom, with
| terror Of what the wakening might
bring, she found the woman. her keep
bedside Of Eleanor, all silken, with her
Flow fan.
And how il 1t with thee. ThomsineT'
questioned Eleanor.
why. as thou hast thine eyes to see."
/, , spoke Thomsine dryly.
Child said Eleanor, all friendliness.
as was her wont. thou dost go Ill about
It. What and II thou didyt love this
Won Kerstenbroock?
nhss she SaS
in the hall. ".he was man well worth
woman's love whilst he was living.
But. believe me- thou wilt have little
delight in dead man. So let this'poor
and do thou take what comfort life
shall give. s'Tis none 90 terrible fate.
methinks, to be Countess of Staversham.
And. remember thou this, good my
father viii leave undone- to do thee
pleasure u 20 thou dost give him SON.
| Through all her body Thomsine shud-
dered.
And on the morrow thou wilt freely
give thyself in this honorable marriage
that is purposed?"
| Said Thomsine weariiy, rs 20 many
times she had said II:
"I will not wed with your father"
"'Tis thy last word?'' said Eleanor.
not angry. merely curious.
MY last word" Thomsine sighed. IT
viii not wed. Dost hear me speak? I
/ VIII not!
And ali throught the endless night. in
her waking moments, she repeated that
| brave saying; but in the moments Of
her fitful sleep she seemed. to hear her
self speak the words that should seal
She must have slept heavily at last.
| for when she opened her eyes she saw
| full daylight flooding the chamber that
she loathed. and at her bedside she saw
Eleanor's woman stand.
L ssN0rro NV ynfafrAoap
the woman urged. Sure. you would
not have the whole world to take ye
i thus unready. and on your marrige
| morn.''
Il viii not rise," Thomsine made an
| swer. burrowing among her pillows.
| Nor win I speak the words"
| The minutes passed. Afar the clock
struck g. Again the woman stood at
lie long as you list. good Mistress"
/ she Spoke kindly. 'Tis my lords bid
ding that you be not disturbed. But
/, meantime taste morsel to your COM
| fort.''
/ Thmsfne looked on the food and drink
/ that tUen 4enA9ed. She had no mind
to ekgs and collops. but she took the
/, pos1et cup and drank, and was re-
| freShed.
Again she sank among the pillows.
next to do. But not yet-not yet! Haply
made right.
Yes. she could surely feel soft drowsi-
| She was dreaming now-the night.
mare that was 30 old and 30 familiar
that she had almost ceased to fear 1t.
She found that the waiting women.
hands. were slipping q gown upon her.
I and the gown was silvery blue. and
melted like the dream.
Vaguely she felt them bind her hair.
and draw the shoes upon her feet Then
she was conscious of other folk that
She dreamed that Eleanor was there,
and Charlotte. and q gross man in q
surplice. and; clearest Of all. as he was
ershAm. She felt her hand taken into
his hand. and she tried to withdraw It,
70 hideously real In that second did she
md the dream.
Then she heard a droning of bees. or
maybe the voice Of the gross man. and
she heard her brother Wat. whom she
first realised was Of that misty COM
pany, say resoundingly. Il give this
WOMAN"
She heard questions asked. and she
thought to herself that would not an
swer. but. after all. II mattered little,
IL she did answer. when she knew this
all to be a dream.
Again she had glided into heavy slum-
Der. and she found herself once more
between waking and sleeping.
Through half-closed eyelids she saw
the light of high moon broaden in the
chamber. Afar she heard the clock
strike /. She thought upon the dream
the hideous dream In which she mad
SO often moved-the dream that. thanks
be to Heaven! was no more than dream.
She opened her eyes and let her gaze
travel along her body. and she saw
that she was clad in q gown Of silvery
blue.
Slowly ThomsiRe sat up on the bed,
and lifted her hands to her hair.
When she had slept she had let II
hang unbound. but. now she felt II
neatly dressed. Then some part OF that
dream she had not merely dreamed.
She had moved in reality-the reality
Of her fear. She felt that her head was
aching DULY. and her mouth was cloyed