The Washington times., 1913-05-14
CHAPTER Xv.
Vain ImaEinings.

CHAPTER XV.
Vain Imaginings.
sas ven to ss's b. hence s:sss ss .sa .ss
nor sorry. Thomsine watched
the days pass. while she listen
ed to the rumors with which every
breeze seemed fraught that blew
through Kings Stayersham.
She heard that strange force of
rebel horse lay at Friar's Sulgrave.
some five leagues distant. under COM
M.and Of her old acquaintance, Colonel
Pierrepoint.
She heard that General. Cromwell
hung like a child of menace on .he
Eastern horizon. She heard. finally,
that reinforcements were marching
from Oxford. 50 perilous and import.
they were led by Colonel Aubrey.
WAS 1t Col Jack Aubrey Thom-
sine made haste to question Eleanor.
''Oh, yes, the same. The useful xins.
Eleanor, with a sneer >quite lost on
simple Thomsine, who knew nothing
of old enmity between Lewchester and
And watts friend. Lord Trevor"
aeded Eleanor. would profit by this
ding, and with him Ned Borlass.
'Tts to the wedding. doubtless. Bor-
lase comes" limited Charlotte. with
malice.
answer, the while her eyes launched
death at Charlotte. She still dwelt
Her lawful mate, Sir Francis vyvyan.
was upon affairs Of state, this time IN
the Low Countries. but with the usuai
Others than the folk in the great
house had had word Of Aubrey's com
ing. Up in the loft where Fielding
troopers lay on pallets. packed sardine-
wise. Friedel Strandiger sat, Inendias
Of a pen. while he listened to his COM
rades' gossip Of the tidings.
He did not hold his knife at pause for
one second nor alter a line OF MS IN,
different face, but he felt his heart and
brain alike in commotion, and that
night he law wakeful on his hard PAL
let, amid his snoring mates.
Why, a. twenty devils name, and
Jack Aubrey come laundering hither at
this moment? The risk! The deadly
He was no coward, but burst he haz-
ard It. For he knew that Jack, his
friend. was no blind fool like Erisey or
One chance in two that. in the swarm
ing garrison. he. ono man Of 800 might
But II he came thus face to face? Be-
fore his eyes presented itself. unpleas-
antly clear, the image of the gallows
beside the ancient keep and thereto
the distorted features Of the sutier that
he himself had aforetime hanged.
But to take to his heels now-to seek
his safety. while he had It in his power
to seek-was to forfeit such a prize as
he had hardly dared name. even to him.
self
For in Kings Staversham. ruled by
Erisey. mere disgruntled courtier turn
ed soldier, and Staversnam, a diplomat,
but never fighting man. Won Kcrsten-
brock had found matters ripe beyond
expectation to his hand.
By dint of paying cautious court to
or suffering court be paid him hy-the
porter's buxom daughter, who had been
born and bred in the castle, he had
learned the ins and outs of the place.
BY dint Of fond acquaintance with the
woman. he had learned the turns and
corners. .staircases and passages Of the
great house itself.
He knew his ground as IL he had had
the map spread out before him. He
knew the very angle Of the wall over
very doorway by which, at need. he
might burst in upon the mansion house
He knew that Erisey's musketeers,
long unpaid and restive, deserting when-
ever tney WOulQ
fight half-heartedly or even turn their
coats.
Moreover, with his life in his hands,
he had sounded one Of Erisey's cap
tains. Geoffrey Langdon. carding. des-
perate, needy fellow. and in him he was
on the eve of securing a perfect instru-
ment to the betrayal of the castle.
And not a days march distant lay
Cromwell. and. under Cromwell. his own
well-loved old regiment, and lads of his
training that he could trust
There, in the dark. Won Kerstenbroock
clinched furious hands.
curse light on Jack Aubrey! Had
he but stayed away three days-nay.
two days-longer, he would have
the incredible.
He could have delivered Kings Stav-
ersham into Cromwell's hands. royal
price TO pay for his colonelcy.
With impish shift OF mood, he thought
on Erisey and Musgrove. He had his
code, this man who had beaten the
sword from Dormer's hand and run
him through without remorse.
He would not have laid one added
rigor either on the man who had insult
ed, him, or the man who had tricked
him of his just revenge, in case he held
them prisoners. But he felt that he
should enjoy hugely the sight Of their
faces in the hour when they knew him
master, Of Kings Staversham and of
their fate.
Then he thought of Musgrove's sister,
the girl so soon to be wedded-the girl
with the gallant eyes who had slept
against his shoulder at Little Engsleigh
on that almost forgotten night.
Uneasily he shifted on his pallet. He
knew that here in this strange Eng
land a woman stood i'm little danger.
even in a pitched assault. unless she
were fool enough to run In the way OF
a bullet.
But he must try somehow to shelter
Thomsine. when no took Kings Staver-
sham.
When?
What a plague! OF course he was not
going to give ever SO thriving project.
He was not to be frightened from his
purpose by a man of-straw.
Let old Jack come then-a thousand
devils claim him! He would stay on I'M