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VOL. XV. t;;.: stojy of FRANCIS CLUDDE. By STANLEY jJ^WEYMAN. [Copyright. pal, cy Cassell Publishing Co All rt„h!s reserved I SYNOI'SH. Cliidile -\f |ry is qiie-n of England. Francis is living with trs uncle, Mr Anthony, and hi*cousin Petronilla, Sir Anthony’s daughter. Gardiner, bish op of Winchester, pays a visit to Sir Anthony, arid being a Catholic is dis¬ liked by Franc'*, who is at heart a Frot38ta.it. CHAPTER li.-Gsrdi ner tells Francis who his father is. that [jo j, a traitor and informer, and offers t „ make the young man’s fortune if he will enter his service ns a spy. Francis asks for time to reply and runs away, iiit“nding to carve out hie own fortune. 111 .—He is overtaken by Clirence, an am-nt-d' Gardiner, against whom he in¬ ches the mob by telling them tne man is a press rang leader, and escapes on Clarence’s hoise and with his dispatches ]V.—Francis goes to an inn at St. Al¬ bans. and showing the dispatches i? thought to be a queen’s courier. Cla¬ rence arrives, and he escapes with the aid of a waiting maid. V. and VI.— He reaches London and renders aid to two women. He and the women escape in a boat, arc attacked, and Francis is stun ned. VII.—They are re'cuml and put in board a vessel bound for Holland. One of the women proves to be the Ouch ess of Stiff >lk, who has married a man named Bertie. The other is a kinswo¬ man named Anne Brandon. Bertie is on beard too. Being P. otestants, they were fteeing from England. Francis tells them his name is Carey. VIII — They ascend tiie river Rhine in a boat and reach the house of a friend named Lindstrom. IX, X and XI.—Carey saves Pymphna, Landstrom's daughter from tiie violence of a soldier and kills the man. They decide to bury the Spaniard, but Carey sees a ghost. Van Tree, Dymphna’s Hover, warns them that they are discovered, and they flee. XII.—They reach Emmerich bv boat. The Dutchman’s party go to Santon, while Carey, Bertie and the two women start for Wesel on hors back. XIII They are delayed by floods, and tiie Sp niards, led by Clarence, come up with them. Carry disperses them. The rivers berng flooded, they turn toward Santon. Bertie by mistake kills one of the town guard. CHAPTER XIV. What wa3 to ho done? That was tho question, ami a terrible question it was. Behind us we had the inhospitable coun¬ try, dark and dreary, tho night wind sweeping over it. In front, whero the lights twinkled and the smoke of tho town wont up, wo wero liko to meet with a savage reception. And it was no time for weighing alternatives. The choice had to be made—made in a moment. I marvel to this day at tho quickness with which I made it for good or ill. “We must get into tlio town!” I cried imperatively, “and before tlio alarm is given. It is hopeless to fly, Master Bertie, and we cannot spend another night in the fields. Quick, madam!” I continued to the duchess as she camo up. I did not wait to hear his opinion, for I saw he was stunned by tlio catastrophe. “Wo liavo hurt one of the town guard through a mistake. Wo must get through the gnto before it is discovered!” I seized her rein and flogged up her horse and gave her no time to ask ques¬ tions, but urged on tho party at a hard gallop until the gate was reached. Tho attempt, I know, was desperate, for tho two men who had escaped had ridden straight for tho town, but I saw no other resource,, and it seemed to mo to bo better to surrender peaceably, if that were pos¬ sible, than to expose the igomen to anoth¬ er night of such cold and hunger as tho last. And fortune so far favored us that when we reached the gate it was open. Probably, the patrol having ridden through to got help, no ono had thought fit to close it, and, no one withstanding us, we spurred our sobbing horses under the archway and entered the street. It was a curious entry, and a curious scene we camo upon, I remember now how strango it all looked. The houses, leaning forward in a dozen quaint forms, clear cut against the palo evening sky, caused a darkness as of a cavern in tlio narrow street below. Here and there in the midst of This darkness hung a lantern, which, making tlio gloom away from it seem deeper, lit up the things about it, throwing into flaring prominence peering somo barred window with a scared face from it, some corner with a puddle, a slinking dog, a broken flight of steps. Just within tho gate stood a brazier full of glowing coal, and besido it a halbert rest¬ ed against the wall. I divined that the watchman had run into the town with tho riders, and I drew rein in doubt, lis¬ tening and looking. I think if we had ridden straight on then all might havo been well, or at least we might have been allowed to give ourselves up. But wo hesitated a moment and were lost. No doubt, though we saw but one there were a score of people watching us, who took us for four men, Master Bertie and 1 being in front, and these, judging from the boldness of our entry that there _ nioro hehir tbB was «* J'lirjiv «w! upon thf* r.«wn. At .*uy rai tii.’y in.-rant advantage *»f • Hir mu, u whir an item pot came bur ding past ins,and mistiog tho duchess by a hand's breadth went clanking under tho gatehouse. That served for a signal. In a moment aq alarm of hogtiio cries rose all round us. An arrow whizzed between my horse's feet Half a dozen odd mis siles, snatched up by hasty hand* came raining in on ua out of tiie gloom. The town S"cmetl to be rising as one mad- A bell be sail to rim* and a hundred yards in front where the street branched off to Tisrlit and lefr the war seemed suddenly alive from w-iii to wall with light-’ and 'to / / v CONYERS, GA„ SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 1895. propose W uvcfTJC nb Tty.-OAfr ttr inter¬ pret. It was a horriblo moment, the rX-aro horrible that I had not expected this fury and was unnerved as well as taken aback by it. Remembering that I had brought my companions here, and that two were women, one was a child, I quailed. How could I protect them? There was lio mis taking the stern meaning of those erics, of that rage so much surpassing anything I bad feared. Though I did not know that ilie man we had struck down was a bridegroom, and that there were those in tiie crowd in whose ears tho young wife’s piercing scream stili rang, I yet quailed before their yells and curses. As I glanced round for a place of refuge my eyes lit on an open doorway close to rue, and close also to the brazier and hal hurt. It was a low stone doorway, beetle browed, with a coat of arms carved over it. I saw in an instant that it must lead to the tower abovo us—the gatehouse— and I sprang from my horse, a fresii yell from the houses hailing the act. I saw that, if we were to gain .a moment for parleying, wo must take refuge there. I do net know how I did it, hut somehow I made myself understood by tho others and got the women off their horses and drag¬ ged Mistress Anne inside, where at once wo both fell in tho darkness over the low¬ er steps of a spiral staircase. This hin¬ dered the duchess, who was following, and I beard a souffle taking place behind us. But in that confined space—the stair¬ caso was very narrow—I could give no help. I could only stumble upward, drag¬ ging tho fainting girl after me, until wo emerged through an open doorway at tho top into a room. What kind of room I did not notico then, only that it was empty. Notice! It was no time for tak¬ ing notice. Tho hell was clanging louder and louder outside. Tho mob wore yelling like hounds in sight of their quarry. The shouts, tho confused cries and threats and questions deafened me. I turned to learn wliat was happening behind me. The oilier two had not coiuo lip. I felt my way down again, one hand on the central pillar, my shoulder against the outside wall. Tho stair foot was faint¬ ly lit by the glow from outside, and on tlio bottom step I camo on somo one, hurt or dead, just a dark mass at my feet. It was Master Bertie. I gavo a cry and leaped over his body. The duchess, bravo wife, was standing before him, the lialbert which she had snatched up presented at the doorway, and tho howling mob out¬ side. Fortunately tho crowd had not yet learned liow few wo were, nor saw, I think, that it was but a woman who con¬ fronted them. To rush into the low door¬ way and storm tho narrow winding stair¬ case in the faco of unknown numbers was a task from which the bravest veterans might have flinched, and the townsfolk, furious as they wero, hung back. I took advantage of tho pause. I grasped tho halbert myself and pushed tlio duchess back. “Drag him up!” I muttered. “If you cannot manage it, call Anne!” But grief and hard necessity gave lior strength, and despite the noise in front of me I heard her toil panting up with her burden. When I judged she bad reached tho room above, I, too, turned and ran op after her, posting myself in the last angle just below tho room. There I was shel¬ tered from missiles by the turn in the staircaso and was further protected by the darkness. Now I could hold the way with iittla risk, for only one could come up at a time, and Jio would boa brave man who should storm the stairs in my teeth. All this, I remember, was done in a kind of desperate frenzy in haste and confusion, with no plan or final purpose, but simply out cf tlio instinct of self preservation, which led me to do, from moment to mo ment, wlint I could to save our lives. i did not know whether there was another staircase to tho lower, nor whether there were enemies above us, whether indeed enemies might not swarm in on us from a dozen entrances. I luid no time to think of moro than just this—that my staircase, of which I did know,*must bo held. I think I had stood there about a min¬ ute, breathing hard and listening to the din outside, which came to my ears a lit¬ tle softened by the thick walls round me —so much softened, at least, that 1 could hear my heart beating in the midst of it when the duchess came hack to tlio door above. I could'scc her, there being a cer¬ tain amount of light in the room behind her, but she could not see me. ••What can I do?” she asked softly. I answered by a question, “Is lie alive?” I muttered. “Yes, but hurt,” sho answored, strug¬ gling with a sob, with a fluttering of the woman’s heart sho had repressed so brave¬ ly. “Much hurt, I fear! Oh, why, why did we coiuo bore?” She did not mean it as a reproach, but I took it as one and braced myself more firmly to meet this crisis—to save her at least if it should be any way possible. When she asked again, “Can I do any thing?” I bade her take my pike and stand wkere I was for a moment. Sinco no en omy had yet made Ids appearance above the strength of our position seemed to hold out some hope, and it was the more essential that I chould understand it and know exactly what our chances were. I sprang up the stairs into the room and looked round, my eyes seeming to take in everything at once. It was a big bare room, with signs of habitation only in ono corner. On the side toward the town was a long, low window, through which a score of the diamond panes were broken already—the flare of the besiegers’ torches fell luridly ou the walls and vaulted roof, By the dull embers of a wood fire, over which hung a huge black pot. Master Ber it.. I-- H' . ,»o on f’lio ■ i'\:H*t? 3 m-11- iijftill', ,5 iiiii . : , . „ (uiiLV'Cd , pH nn lij-- ti*.'* !»• >-■ hidden^ el^d will • ing in her rnp. A glance round assured me that there was no other s taircase, and that on the side toward tho country the wail was pierced with no window bigger than a loophole or aa arrow slit, with no opening which even a boy ccuid enter, i or the present, therefore, unless the top of tho lower should bo cscaiaded tiom the »oja cent houses—nnd I could do nothing to pro vide against that—we had nothing to fear except from the staircase and the window I have tuefitioned. Every moment, bow r SSifiSI cliTld war:: - ar.v —o- ,-rrr sartTrr rr r abjeet terror. Those sqvago yells might well make a woman blanch. They carried 11,010 te;u ' ; < n<t <lr°«d to my heart than did l ^ 10 Iv; d danger of our position, desperate fli l ~ "’ as - And yet it was so desperate that for a moment I leaned against tlio wall dazed and hopeless, listening to the infernal til mult without and within. Had -Bertie been by my side to share the responsibility and join in the risk, I could hove borne it better. 1 might have felt then somo of the joy of battle and tiie stern pleasure of the one matched against tiio many. But I was alone. How was I to save women and that poor child from the yell iug crew outside? How indeed? I did not know tho enemy’s language; I could not cmnmunicate with him, could not explain, could not even cry for quarter for tho women. A stone which glanced from one of the nnillions and grazed my shoulder roused me from this fit of cowardice, Which, I trust and believe, had lasted fi*m few scc ends only. At the sumo moment an un¬ usual volley of missiles tore through tho window us if discharged at u given signal. Wo wero under cover, and they did ns no harm, rolling for the most part noisily about tho floor. But when the storm ceased and a calm as sudden followed 1 heard a dull, regular sound close to the window—a thud! thud! thud!—and on tho instant divined the plan and tho dan¬ ger. My courage camo back, and with it my wits. I remembered an old tale I had heard, and dropping my sword whero I stood I flew to the hearth and unhooked tho great pot. It was heavy, half full of something—broth, most likely, but I reeked nothing of that. I boro it swiftly to the window, and just as the foremost man on the ladder had driven in the load work beforo him with his ax flung tho whole of tho contents—they wero not scalding, hut they wero very hot—in his face. Tho fellow shrioked loudly, and blinded and taken by surprise lost his hold and fell against his supporter, and both tumbled down again moro quickly than they bad come up. Sternly triumphant, I poised tho great pot itself in my hands, thinking to fling it down upon the sea of savage upturned faces, of which I had a brief view, as the torches flared now on one, now on an¬ other. But prudence prevailed. If no ^Sjr •f m rf#P|r A- k-E r y m v\ w I bore it swiftly to she window. moro blood wero shod, it might still bo possiblo to get somo terms. I laid tlio pot down by the side of tho window ns a weapon to lio used only in the last resort. Meanwhile the duchess, posted in tho dark, had heard the noise of the window being driven in and cried out pitifully to know what it was. “ Stand firm! ” I shout¬ ed loudly’. “Stand firm. Wo are safe as yet!” seemed Even the uproar without to abate a little as the first fury of tlio mob died down. Probably their leaders wero con¬ certing fresh action. I went and knelt lie side Master Bertie and made a thorough examination of his wound. Ho had re¬ ceived a nasty blow on the back of the head, from which the blood was still ooz¬ ing, and ho was insensible. His faco looked very long and thin nnd deathlike; but, so far as I could ascertain, tlio bones wero uninjured, and lio was now breath¬ ing more quietly. “I think lie will recov¬ er,” I said, easing his clothes. Anne was crouching on the other side of him. As sho did not answer, I iookod up at her. Her lips were moving, but the only word I caught was “Clarence!” I did not wonder she was distraught. I had work enough to keep my own wits. But I wanted her help, and I repeated loudly, "Anne, Anne!” trying to rouse her. She looked past me, shuddering. “Heav¬ en forgivo you!” she muttered. “Y'ou have brought mo to this! And now I must die! I must die here! In tho net they have set for others is their own foot tak en!” She was quite besido herself with ter ror I saw that she was not addressing me, and I had not time to mako sense of j ier wanderings. I left her and went out to s p C -k to tlio duchess. Poor woman! j£ vcn ], e r brave spirit was giving way. I f e ] t j,cr c0 ; f | hands tremble as I took the halbert from her. “Go into the room a wliile,” I said softly. “Ho is not serioos hurt, I am sure. I will guard this. If al) y one appears at tho window, scream.” .she went gladly, and I took her place, having now to do double duty. I had been there a few minutes only, listening, with m y sou i j n ]n y cars, to detect the first 6 jg ns of attack, either below me or in the room behind, when I distinguished a strange rustling sound on tho staircase. It appeared to come from a point a good deal helow mo, and probably whoever made it was just within tho doorway. I peered j nto t j )0 gi 0O1 a l hut could see no one as y ot _ “Stand!” I cried in a tone of warn ing “Who is that?’ The sound ceased abruptly, but it left Could they be eoing to blow u,, n * : 1 * v J . tiny would Vi . ........ not «•:••*£ • to . >4 ruin ti • '^"auU the tower wa^umig.' It would not lie easy to Mow it up. Yet in a short time the noise Organ again, aud my fears returned with it “Stand!” I cried savagely, ‘ or take care Q f y ourself!" The answer was a flash of bright light. which for a second showed tho rough stone walls winding away at my feet, a stunning report and too pattering down Q f half a dozen slugs from tbo root. laughed, my first start over. You will have to conic a little higher tip. L cried tauntingly as I smelled toe fumes. ,,y niu~~T.::, irpiirtssra, <nui -niyr.iCTifterns seven feet long, so that I could reach as far ns I could see. I had had time, too, to grow cool. After this there was comparative quiet for another space. Every now and then a stone, or, more rarely, the hall of an nrque bus, would come whizzing . into . the room above, hut 1 did not. fear this. It was easy to keep under cover, And their shouting no longer startled me. 1 began to sec a glimpse of hope. It was plain that the townsfolk were puzzled how to coiuo at us without suffering great loss They were unaware of our numbers, and, as it proved, believed that we had three uninjured men ntioast. I he staircase was impracticable ns a point of assault, and tlio window, being only tbreo foct in height and ItO from the ground, was not much bettor, if defended, as they expocted it would be, by a couple of desperate swordsmen. I was not much astonished, therefore, when the rustling sound, beginning again at tho foot of the staircaso, came this time to no mora formidable issue than a hail in Spanish. “Will you surrender?” tho en¬ voy cried. “No!” I said roundly. “Who nro you?” Was tho next quostion. “Wo aro English!” I answered. Ho wont then, and there for tho time the negotiations ended. But, seeing tho dawn of hope, I was tho more afraid of any trap or surprise, undt I cried to the duchess to bo on her guard. For this rea¬ son, too, the suspense of tho next few min¬ utes was almost more trying than any¬ thing which had gono before. But tlio minutes camo at last to an end. A voice below cried loudly in English: “Holloa! Are you friends?” “Yes, yes,” I replied joyfully beforo the words had well ceased to rebound from the walls, for the voico and accent were Master Lindstroiu's. A cry of relief from the room behind mo showed that there, too, tho speaker was recognized. The duchess came running to tho door, but I begged her to go back and keep a good lookout, and she obeyed. “How come you here? How has it hap¬ pened?” Master Lindstrom asked, his voice, though ho still remained below, be¬ traying his perplexity and unhappiness. “Can I not do something? This is tirri bio indeed." “Yon can come up, if you like,” I an swered after a moment’s thought. “But you must camo alone, and 1 cannot let even you, friend as you aro, see our tie fonses.” As ho camo up I stepped back and drew the door of the room toward me, so that, though n little light readied tho head of tho stairs, he could not, standing there, see into tho room or discern our real weak ness. I did not distrust him—heaven for hid!—but ho might have to tell all ho saw to his friends below, and I thought it well, for his sake ns well as our own, that ho should he able to do this freely and without hurting us. As lie joined mo 1 held up a finger for sllenco and listened keenly. But all was quiet below. No one had followed him. Then I turned and warmly grasped his bauds, and wo peered inlo one another's faces. I saw he was deeply moved; that he was thinking of Dymplum and how I had saved her. He held my hands as thouph ho would never loose them. “Well,” I said as cheerfully as I could, “have you brought us mi offer of terms? But let ino tell you first,” I continued, “how it happened.” And 1 briefly ex plained that we had mistaken tlio captain of tho guard and Ids two followers for Clarence and tho two Spaniards. “Js ho dead?” I continued. “No; he is still alive,” Master Lind strom answered gravely. “But tho towns folk nro furious, and tho seizuro of the tower has still further exasperated them Why did you do it?” “ Because we should liavo been torn to pieces if wo had notdone it,” I answered dryly. “You think we are in a strait place?” think yourself?” he “Do you not so said, somewhat astonished. 1 laughed. “That is as may lie,” I an swered, with an affectation of reckless ness. “Tho staircase is narrow and tho window low. We shall soil our lives dear¬ ly, my friend. Yet for tho sake of the women who are with us we are willing to surrender if the citizens offer us terms. After all, it was an accident. Cannot you impress tbis on them?” I added eagerly. Ho shook his head. “They will not hear reason,” ho said. “Then,” I replied, “impress tho other thing upon them. Toll them that our swords sharp and wo are desperate. ” aro “I will see what lean do,” ho answered slowly. “Tho Duke of Cloves is expected hero tomorrow, and tho townsfolk feel they would bo disgraced forever if lie should find their gate held by a party of marauders, as they consider you.” “The Duko of Cieves?” I repeated. “Perhaps ho may bo better affected to¬ ward us.” “They will overpower you beforo ho comes, ” Master Lindstrom answered de¬ spondently. “I would put no trust in him if I were you. But I will go to them, and, believe me, I will do all that maD can do.” “Of that I am sure,” I said warmly. And then, cautioning mo to remain strict¬ ly on the defensive, he left me. Before his footsteps had ceased to echo on tho stairs the door beside me opened, and Mistress Anne appeared at it. I saw at onco that liis familiar voice had roused her from tlio stupor of fear in which I had last seen her. Her eyes were bright; her whole frame was thrilling with excite¬ ment, hope, suspense. I began to under¬ stand her, to discern beneath tho disguise thrown over it in ordinary times by a stron {dVTUJh ” »‘‘ ?fl D OF li'^piilMlI; v 'll - ’ll i 1? . vt I - ii # so kc/idv “vcrvtiiii-* ur i> ^touched iLelf. “VS ell?” the cried, “Patience’ Patience!” I replied rather sharp i v I could not help comparing her cccduct r .; th that of t[K . duchess and bj an3 j n g j, cr no $ f or her timidity, but for ’ had betrayed in the selfishness which she ^ f( . ar r r , ol i(d fancy PetronilM treni w ^utterly an<J a co war<l. hut not despairing, nor cast down, nor useless when othcrg , !W . ( | c ,i nor wrapped in her OTn terOT to the very exclusion of rea so[) -p a ii e ncc!” I said. “He is coining ji c and his friends will do ail they f or Mgt We must wait awhile and 1 , an jitii-uft lim'fcnTonr t,r.j s~;p~r dqx r.) me and closed it bohind her. This made the staircase so dark that I could no longer distinguish her face, but, I judged from her tone that her fears were regaining pos¬ session of her. ‘'Clarence, ” she muttered, her voice low and trembling. "Have you thought of him? Could not ho help us? He may have followed us here and may ho hero now. Now! And perhaps ho docs not know In what danger wo are.” ‘‘Clarence!” 1 said, astonished and al¬ most angry. 'Clarence help us? Co hack, girl, go back. You aro mad. Ho would ho moro likely tocomplotouurruln. Go in and nurse the baby,” I added bit¬ terly. What could sho mean? I asked myself when she had gone in. Was there any¬ thing in her suggestion? Would Claronco follow us hither? If so, and if ho should come in time, would ho luivo power to help us, using such mysterious influence, Spanish or English, ns ho scorned to pos¬ sess? And, if ho could help us, would it ho bettor to fall Into his hands than into those of tlio exasperated Santoncsc? I thought the duchess would say ‘‘No!” So it mattered not what I answered my¬ self. I hoped, now Master Lindstrom had appeared, that the women would bo allowed to go freo, and it seemed to me that to surrender to Clarence would ho to hand over flic duchess to her enemy sim ply that the rest of us might escape. Master Lindstrom returned while I was still considering this, and observing the same precautions as before I bade him join me. ‘ Well,” Isold, not so impetu¬ ously, 1 hope, as Mistress Anno, yet I dare say with a good deal of eagerness, “well, what do they say?” For ho was slow to spook. “I hnvo bad nows,” ho answered gently. “Ah,” I ejaculated, a lump which was duo as much to rage as to any other emo¬ tion rising in my throat. “So they will give us'no terms? Then so bo it! Let them conic and take us.” “Nay, ” ho hastened to answer. “It is not so had ns that, lad. They are fathers and husbands themselves, and not lauz knechts. They will suffer the women to go freo mid will even let ino tnko charge of them if necessary.” “They will!” I exclaimed, overjoyed. I wondered why on earth tint lio had hesitated to tell me this. “Why, is the main point, friend.” “Yes,” lie said gravely, “perhaps so. More, tho men may go, too, if the tower surrendered within an hour—with one exception, that is. Tho man who struck tlio blow must ho given up.” “Tho wan who struck tho blow!” I ro peated slowly. “Bo you mean—you mean tlio man who cut tlio patrol down?” “Yes,” he said. lie was peering Tory closely at mo, as though ho would learn from my faco who It was. And I stood thinking. This was as muoh as we could expect. I divined, and most truly, that hut for tho honest Dutchman's influence, promises, perhaps bribes, such terms would nevor have been offered to us by the moil who, hours before, had driven us to hold as if wo had been vermin Yet give up Master Bertie? “What," I said, “will be done to him.? The limn who must ho given up, I mean?” Master Lindstrom shook his head. “It, was an accident,” I urged, my eyes on his. He grasped ids my hand firmly, and turn log away face seemed lor awhile tin »hio to speak. At lust ho whispered: “lie must suffer'for the others, lad. I fear so. it is u hard fate, u cruel futo. But lean do no more. They will not hoar mo on tills. It is trim he will ho first tried by the magistrate, hut there is no hopu. They are very hard. i ■ My heart sank. I stood irresolute, pon dering on wliat wo ought to do, pondering on wliat I should say to the wifo who so loved the man who must dio. What could I say? Yet somehow I must break the news. I asked .Master Lindstrom to wait where he was while I consulted the others, adding, “Y’on will answer for it that there will he no attack wliilo you aro hero, 1 suppose?” “I will," ho said. I knew I could trust him, and I went in to tho duchess, closing the dour behind me. A change had come over tho room since I had left it. The moon had risen and was dinging its cold white light through tho twisted and shat¬ tered framework of the window to full in three bright panels on the door, The torches in the street had for tlio most part burned out or been extinguished. In place of tlio red glare, the shouts and the crash of glass, tlio atmosphere of battle and strifo I had left, I found this silvery light, and a stillness made more apparent by the distant hum of many voices. Mistress Anne was standing just within tlio threshold, her faco showing palo against tlio gloom, htir hands clasped. The duchess was kneeling by her husband, but sho looked up as I entered. “They will lot us all go, ” I said bluntly— it wa3 best to toll tlio talo at once—"ex¬ cept the one who hurt tho patrol, that Is.” It was stratigo iiovv differently the two women received tho news. While Mistress Anno dung her hands to her face with a sobbing cry of thankfulness and leaned against the wall crying and shaking, my lady stood up straight and still, breathing hard, but saying nothing. I saw that she did not need to ask what would bo done to tlio ono who was excepted. She knew. “No,” she murmured at last, her hands pressed to her bosom, “wo cannot do it!” “I fear wo must,” I said gently, calmly, too, I think. Yet it. saying it I was not quit© myself. All odd sensation was grow ing upon mo III tlio stillness of tlio room. I began on a sudden, I did not know why to thrill with excitement, to tremble with nervousness, such as would rather have become one of tho women than a man. My ho ..nd t/1 v I -< o 11 ■ brc:t‘i i 'll quick 1 ; 1 |j Uijr.-».if looking otjj., ii tv’jiu i v;. * * i t*i* rsotilv -t iilti'* tn ’ P 1l Wfcjj c-UIaJO* tccmca to nw> than tho din and crash cf the worst mu ments of tho assault. What was it? What j was it that was threatening my being? An Instant and I knew. j "Oh, no, never!” cried tho duchess again, her voice quivering, her faco full of keenest pain. “Wo will not give you up. We will stand or fall together, friend.” Give you up! Give you up! Ha! The veil was lifted now, and 1 saw what tlio something with the cold breath going be fore It was I looked quietly from her to her husband, and I asked—I fancy she sai NO. mm ! fell! ffl °jl§ Ip ir ^REGULATOR Mmm Are yon taking Simmons Liver Reg¬ ulator, the “Kino of Liver Medi¬ cines?” That ia what our readers want, and nothing but that. It ia the same old friend to which tho old folks pinned their faith and were never dis¬ appointed. But another good recom¬ mendation for it is, that it iB better than Tills, nover gripes, never weak¬ ens, but works in such an easy and natural way, just like nature itself, that relief comes quick and sure, and one feels new all over. It never fails. Everybody needs take a liver remedy, and everyone should take only Sim monB Liver Regulator. I5e sure you get it. The Bed Z is oh the wrapper. J. H. Zeilin & Co., lMiilndelphia. • f ‘Much better. He knew mo for a mo¬ ment, " shu answered. "Then ho seemed to sink away again, but his eyes wero quite clear.” 1 stood gazing down at his thin fnce, which had ever looked so kindly Into mine. My lingers played idly with tlio knot of my sword. “Ho will live?” 1 asked abruptly, harshly. Sho started at tho sudden quostion; but, brutal as It must hnvo sounded, she wns looking at mo in pity so great and gener¬ ous that it did not wound her. “Oh, yes," sho said, her eyes still clinging to mu. “I think ho will livo, thank heaven!" Thank heaven! All, yes, thank henvnnl I turned and went slowly toward the door, hub beforo I reached it sho was at my side—nay, was on lior knees by me— clasping my hand, looking up to mo with streaming eyes. “What are you going to do?” sho cried, reading, I suppose, some¬ thing In my faco. "I will seo if Master Lindstrom cannot get better terms for us," I answered. She rase, still detaining mo. "You nro sure?” she said, slill eying nio jealously. “Quito sure,” 1 answered, forcing a smile. “I will come back and rujiurt to you. ” She let mo go then, nnd I wont out and joined Lindstrom on tho staircase. “Are you certain,” 1 asked, speaking in a whisper, “that they will; that the town will keep its word mid let the others go?” ' f <im quite suroof it, ” lie replied, nod dim- They are Germans, and hard and pitih V but you may trust them. So far I will answer for them.” ‘‘Then wo accept," I said gravely. "I give myself Lot them take ino. ” I [TO BE CONTINUED.J W, L. Douglas S3 SHOE riT IS THE rOR A REST. KING. V S3. CORDOVAN, ENAMELLED CALF. I FRENCH J. m Ji *3 50 Fmt Cali KKmkm msm m $ 3 A° POLICE ,3 SOLES. A • LADIES* ■n MS&teSSHatXa. WVfi* BRoefrroKjtACA. Over One Million People wear the W. L. Douglas $3 & $4 Shoes All our shoes are equally satisfactory ? ss ?;r.,’c h £ . v £o u j un«urpa«»e4. riielr wearing uniform,—atamped qualities arc on ooie. The prices are saved over other makes. From *i to supply Sola Of If your dealer cannot you we can. An agent wanted; as soon as one it secured th* name will appear heie. $ 1800.00 GIVEN AWAY TO INVENTORS. $150.00 every month given away to any one who ap¬ plies through us for the most meritorious patent during Uic month preceding. the best patent, for emr _ clients, __ Wo secure oflcr inventor* and the object of this is to encourage to keen track of their bright public ideas. the At the that sum. now w. wisn to impress upon the fact IT’S THE SIMPLE, TRIVIAL INVENTIONS THAT YIELD FORTUNES, such as the “car-window” which can be easily slid up and down without collar-button, breaking M the "nut-lock,*' passenger’* “boofa- back* Jg;‘352X35 “saucc-pan,” “ invrcntions lire the ones that brin^g largest return* to th« author. Try to think of something to invent. JT ,g NQT sQ HARD AS IT SEEMS, Patents taken out through published us receive ipefal Washington, notice ks the" National Recorder," published *t in Amencn D. C., which is the t>e« newspaper We furor.h in'.Vint ! V interest c f inventor-. «jf tou!!«fjr a year’s cSiect*. errb srn ( >-t'>n l*o__■ journal, free of »he cost, iaventkM each Wc j* - ?. . cost, hundred" hundred oi _ t’tor. thorj ' r/hich wins our $*30 $130 "National “National prize, prize, and and Recorder,’’ Recorder." . 01 contain* containing *i «* of copies of the e m sketch of the winner, and a description of hi* invention, will be scattered throughout the United States among captt2list3 and msnufacturas, thus bringing to their attention the merits of the invention. AW communication* regarded *tnctiy con fi d ent ial. Address JOHN WEDDERBURN & CO.. Solicitors of American and Foreign Patent., 618 ' F Street, N. W„ _ Washington, D. C. - “* hefmnce—tdltiyr*fHittffer. so-f«s‘famfkltt, FREE. Wriu/rr * y u..»i:matihm intievea w* tvhy i*r. Miles’ Nerve Plasters. - • •