Evening star., 1924-05-06
Mistress Wilding
By Rafael Sabafini
Author of "Scaramouche' captain Blood" ETC.
Copyright Mmin
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr

unconcerned by the fight OF time.
Mistress" said Wilding suddenly,
you have not yet told me in what you
seek my service. Indeed. we seem to
have talked to little purpose. My time
Is very short
'FWhere are you goingo" she asked
him, and fearfully she shot a sidelong
glance at the timepiecc. 1t was still too
soon, by at least five minutes
He smiled. but his smile was Singu-
lar. He began to suspect at last that
her only purpose-to what end he could
not Guess-waS to detain him.
Tis singulary sudden interest in
my doings, this" said he quietly.
reached for the hat he had cast upon
the table when they had entered. Tell
me briefly. ! may stay no longer
She rose, her agitation suddenly
increasing. afraid that after all he
o,n %@nd esfaPs shs sss5 her Whsre are are
and ! viii tell YOU why / came
Il am 10 sup at Mr. Newlington's S
in his majesty's company"
His majesty'S?"
king Monmouth's,' he explained
impatiently. Come, Ruth. Already
! am late
IF were to ask you not to Go,''
She said slowly, and she held out her
nus--and that was not actins-as she
raised IL to meet his own. would you
not stay to pleasure me-"
He considered her from under
frowning owning eyes %Ruth, he said and
something that do not understand.
What iS't YOU mean"
promise me that YOU will not go
to Eewlington. and will tell you"
"But what has Newlington to do
with? Nay. 2 am pledged already
to GO
She drew closer to him, her hands
upon his shoulder. Yet if | ask
almost won him to her will.
But suddenly he remembered an
other occasion on which, for purposes
"f her own. she had SO pleaded. He
laughed softly. mockingly.
] wooed you, would have none of
me-
She drew back from him. crimson
ing. 7 think | had better CO." said
she. You have nothing but mockery
for me. 1t was ever so. Who knows"
She sighed IS sh" took up her mantle.
Had YOU but observed more gentle
ways, you-Hou- She paused. need
ing to say no more. Good night
she ended. and made shift to leave.
She had gained the door when sud
denly he moved.
Wait" he cried She PAUSED and
turned Ia look over her shoulder. her
You shall not 20 until you have told
me why YOU besought me TO keep
away from Newlington's. What is
IT, he asked. and paused suddenly,
1ood OF, light breaking in upon his
mind. Is there some treachery
afoot?" he asked her. and his eye
went wildly To the clock. A harsh,
grating sound rang through the
room. What are you doing? he
cried. why have you locked the
n
bling desperately TO extract the key,
her hands all clumsy in her nervous
haste. He leapt at her. but in that
moment the key came away in her
erect. defiant almost.
Here is some devlltry." he cried.
-iive me that key"
He had no need for further ques-
tions. Here was a proof more elo-
ouent than words to his ready wit.
Sir Rowland or Richard. or both.
were IN some plot for the dukes
ruin-Perhaps assassination. Had not
her very words shown that she her
self was out of all sympathy with
Monmouth? He was oht OF sympathy
himself but not to he extent of
standin& ny 70 sec his throat cut
She would have the plot succeed
whatever ( might be-and yet that
he himself be spared. There his
thoughts paused hut only for Il mo-
r7cnt He saw suddenly in this not
p proof of concern born OF love, but
or duty toward him who had imper-
led himself ouce-and for all time,
indecd-that he might save her
brother and Sir Rowland
He told her what had been so sud
denly revealed to him, a5 ta5ins - her her
wits battling to find some way by
which she might Yet gain 4 few mo-
ments more. She would cling to the
key, and though he should offer her
at
without a struggle, and that struggle
must consume the little time yet
wanting to make ii too late for him
to save the duke and-what imported
rnore-thus save herself from betray-
ing her brothers trust. Another fear
Ieapt at her suddenly. If through
deed of hers Monmouth was spared
that night Blake. in his despair ana
rage. might slake his vengeance upon
Richard.
Give me that key" he demanded,
his voice cold and quiet. his face set;
mo. no" she cried. setting her hand
behind her. "Y0u shalI not CO. An
Il must" he insisted, still cold but
oh, so determined. My honor's in it
now that ! know.
"You1 60 to your death" she re-
minded him.
He sneered. What signifies a day
or SO? Give me the key.
IT love you, Anthony" she cried,
livid to the lips
tuously. 1.-The key"
mo, she answered. and her firmness
matched his cwn. 81 will not have
YOU slain"
IT'S not my purpose1-,not Just Just
forgive me # I offer violence to a
woman he added ''and lay rude
hands upon her. Do not compel RE
10 it He advanced rpon her, but
She. 1.-the and quick, cNaded him. ana
Sprarg for the middle Of the room
He wheeled about. his sejt-control all
Slinping from him now. Suddenly she
darted TO the window. and with the
hand that cienChed the key she Snote
a pane with all her might. There
vas a smash of shivering glass. fol-
lowed an instant later by faint
tinkle on the stone below, and the
hand that She still held out covered
itself all with blood.
90 Cod" he cried, the key and all
else forgotten. You are hurt"
ssRut YOU are saved" she cried.
cverwrought, and staggered, laugh
ing and sobbing, to a chair. sinking
smearing reckiessly her spotess.
He caught up chair by its legs,
and at a single blow smashed the
door-a frail barrier after an.
tossed the chair from him and van
ished into the adjoining room, to re-
appear a moment later carrying basin
and ever, and shirt of Trenchard
the first piece OF linen he could
find.
She was half fainting. and she let
him have his swift, nasterful way.
He bathed her hand, and was relieved
to find that the injury was none so
great as the flow of blood had made
him fear. He tore Trenchards fine
cambric shirt to shreds-a matter on
yvfTich Trencharu afterward COM
nrented in quotations from at least
three famous Elizabethan dramatists.
He bound up her hand. just as Nick
made his appearance at the splintered
dnnr. his mouth open, his pipe, gone