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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 29, 1902)
10 THE OMAHA DAILT HEEi SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 1002. up xj d arbara B; (Copyright, 1301, by Mas Pmbrton.) CHAPTER IV. Towered cltle pleat us then. And the bu.y hum of men. -Milton. Thar wr majy stranger In bondon ta th flrtt year of Mary's rslgn, for such f the old nobles aa Crammer had driven out nocked In again upon her accession, tnd. opening their bousea. they aought tn rare display to make good the darker yeara of banishment, priests, too, had come from the Spanish court, and. the prtaona being opened and th old ecelealaatlca aet tree, the city wore the air almoat of a foreign capital. "You paaa," sav the chronicle, "as many Spaniard aa Englishmen when you walk from Tempi Dar to raul's. while west ward at St. James' and la th Minster precincts you may well think yourself a subject of Emperor Charlee." Thus It befell that th city wore th air of gayety wakened and never waa the feast more splendid nor th display of wealth mor ostentatious. Imitating the fashion of Franc, newly built coaches began to roll and flounder In th muddy strets by West minster. There wer soldiers not a few, both of that army which bad been raised gainst Northumberland's endeavor and of others accessary to b employed against th Bew conspiracies and the unabated mood of treason. Biahopa, too, desired to renew a tyl strange to them since Henry's reign ad much pomp and ceremony atoned for Lutheran neglect. In all the places of public disputation, on 'change by the cross at St. Paul's, about the city's gates, many spoke In unmeasured words of th changes which must be. of th new edicts against th heretics, of times of doubt and trial which no lover of th aider order might cap. There were even demagogues to proclaim the queen baatard and to seek a ferment of that brooding unrest. Non knew from day to day what tomorrow night call upon him to answer. A shadow as of th nation's peril loomed already upon the splendor of the capital. Now, Roy of Calverton had little under standing of the people s spirit, nor of those ubtl.r Influences then working In the city. Blunt In bis northern honesty, h cared as llttl tor th fla arguments of the the ologians as for th disputations of th demagogues. Mary was his lawful queen; b would hear of no other. If a mor Mlflsh Impulse hsd sent htm to London to win his own security, none the less the de sir to serv the throne waa strong within him and not th least welcome of his mbltlons. Let him gain but Mary's ear, he said, and all the rest wer sure. For th thers. th sycophants, th mercenaries, th faint hearts who were the sentinels of bier palac. he had a freeman's good con tempt. "Let ber but hearken to me." h declared to Abbot Parkenham. "and I will rtm ao good a troop that, be It duke or dev.l. ao harm shall com to her!" To such a man th patha of statesmanship war so many dark allays leading from th high road of honesty and right Judg ment to th slough of subtlety and deceit. "I com to serve aa It la given to m. To your chancellor tn petticoats, carry broid ery and pillion. Is this London ruled by women T Let tba queen seek men and all (ball b well with ber!" Th Abbot Parkenham liked the argu ment, but had llttl faith In It. "Ton will be a clover man." he aald, "it you gala th queen's ear. Bellev me, sir, candor Is aa 111-priied gift when you lay It t th foot of a throne. .. Let the need exist aad tha church will begin to think of th men you nam. She haa much to do at present, and will guard her royal mistress srIy. while she makes her coffers resdy for the restitution she looks for. If these things wer aught to m. I would say that Mary la a woman of good habit, but of bad counsel. They make mention of her clever ness tn other tongues. I have heard It said that she bath a large heart for those who win ber favor, and gossip speaks of no little lovs on her part for th poor. She has even wo known to go abroad In London unat tended that ah might visit lomt sick woman's house and carry there the con solations of charity. Such charity dons In stealth to the Individual might well b don to th nation it her councilors willed It. But they concern themselves with their own iffalra, each man saying. God sav your majesty and deliver you from my friend your enemies!' From auch aa these you hav llttl to gain, believe me; nay, were I on whom th chancellor had answered aa you were answered thta day I would not let th night find me In th city. Go back to Sherwood, air; In th forest you havs se curity. God alona knows what liberty you may hop to find In thl preaent harborage!" Roy answered him with a merry word and a band which lay heavy upon his shoulder. "The liberty of them that pay the prtr Of It. Leave It to ma. Abbot, to win auch aa anawer from yon chancellor aa shall bring him suppliant to this gat! I apeak parable, of which your books cannot read you th anawer aright Let th church go evt to rail th bowman to ber aaoctuary; aha will havs need of them soon enough. And, If sbs coma seeking Roy of Calverton. say that h has gone to the fergea that tba smith may what blm as good a blade aa rvr swordsman carried from Damascus. Tla a parable I Ilka tba eouad of. You aball dream of It avr th wins cup until I b corns again." Master Parkeaham, It la aald, shook hi head at such a boast aad went off to read th signs and wonders la the heavens (or. SS bis henchmen would make bellev, to a4 and wink ta his great oak chair until tha bell should summon blm to supper). But Roy went out with the Lady Barbara, a he had promised; and. showing her tit wonders of th city, th great shops of th goldsmiths, tba business of Cheap, tha clamor and bustle oa 'change, the fin grease of my lord mayor's servants, th great church of Paul's, aad all those who thronged I' aisles sa aoms house of cus tom and not th church of God. he went with ber thereafter across ths river brldg sag showed her th glided barge and th ship which lay at anchor, a ad all that gay pageaatry which tha clear greea water of Thasaea ever affords And aa he went he poka to her of that which he hoped for the morrow. "Thy will aead for me. dear heart for bow shall they help themselves? rarry that which may save ant oaly this rlty. but this k Isadora! Do ma refuse a grain f gold to him that offer them s crows sf Jewels? I speak all aanfidently. yet not fool who would not measure word. Thla day th chaarellor ahall send for en t say. 'we give the pledge, now speak" If. thereafter. I ran be of asy aervlcs t Quwea Mary, she shall Bad an faithful Llttl. Ood knows hav I wna hitherto of this klaglosa of Engl, ad. yet little kav I asked or would seek If l a aot th sover eign which th forest ha give sn Dr wlf. wh would chant on g'ft of Sherwood s solitud-s for all which Loadoa baa to show him this ho-ir? Men speak of eltle and tha mind of cities, but It I van ity which s"ks out great cotnpasy. the de sire that It shall irnla the a' her. Thoe waa $ t)t ta aetua a Go4 sat but lift of Ollerlon. KM rcnBCRTON. their eyea In humiliation aad thanks. P It your and mine, llttl wife, so to lift them ere many suns hav dawned!" He haa grown a llttl serious, ah thought; tor. womanlike, th city delighted her. and there was. perchance, already In ber mind the hope that when th darker day were euded and Ollerton remained their prise, sb. too London and there might ride again to j participate tn those, scenes of pageantry which so won upon her admiration. "Vanity, Indeed, dear vanity Is well It tbo end Roy; yet even! be true! Think i me not lograte It I would speak ot Loodou kindly. Oh. I lovs th forest well, yet why. for love of it, should I esteem my neighbors less? If pleasure be not a aln, and never will I deem It that, then are we children ot England, Justly proud of our city of pleas ures. Nay, Roy, you would not have me as any nun, whose heaven la bounded by a grating! I am but 23. dear heart, and a woman still, for all my love of you!" He laughed at her pitiful complaint, and, drawing her close to him as they rode west ward again toward their home, bs did pen snce sll affectionately. "Thcu art but a woman, yet dearer to me than aught else the world can give me of city or forest, or the palaces of kings. And thou shalt come to London, aweet wife, I promiae thee; and many ahall ssy. 'Shs is the queen of Ollerton.' snd many shall know that thy love la precloua to me, and that I will close my heart about It until my life's end. Wiliest thou that, aweet nay, I know that thou wiliest It, for art thou not life Itaelf to me?" He spoks the promise, snd Impatient, per chance, to learn If there were any tidings at the great house for him, he pressed on swiftly to my lord of Taunton's gate; but being come there, he found a great press of men In the courtyard, and the Abbot Par kenham, very pale and distressed, answer ing the men and denying their acquaintance. But Roy, thruatlng In his horse among the plkemen, asked them boldly If he were th man they aought. Whereupon one of them, stepping forwsrd, said: "Master, If you b he they name Roy of Caverton, w are come from the sheriff to carry you to the Tower Gate, aa my lord tha chancellor bath commanded." CHAPTER V. Captivity That comes with honor Is true liberty. Massing'. It had grown dark by this time, snd some of the chancellor's men esrrled flambeaux. which they had kindled In the kitchens of the house. Others, snd these my lord's af frighted aervlng men, went to and fro with lanterns, ss though seeking wit nesses of their blamelesaness. What glare of light atruck upward in the courtyard showed the steel rssquetels of tha guard, the blades of their pikes, tha shining points of their habiliments, and with th th, fares ot men hard set upen a purpoae which would not brook delay. The street without wss full of those who had been called to gether by th clamor and ths bruited noise. Apprentices ran from the houses of th merchants, maids opend lattlcea to peer out up in that tumultuous seen; Idlers, footpads, the priests of the neighboring churches, brawlers from th taverna. came crowding about my lord a gate to tell each other that th Northman waa taken aad to morrow would he crowned In the dungeoni of th tower Not yet were they ao schooled la th spectacles of captivity that they might pass by the sheriff s burden as though It wer a common aight. Th outlaw's story hsd gone abroad through th city aa aoma pretty tale of romance and chivalry, which children might dwell upon and women ap plaud; but th chancellor had capped It with a heavy hand. "Let th king of Calverton free himself aad w will believe," men aald. Now th chancellor's men pressed clo about Roy, fearing that be would yet strtk a good blow for liberty; but In this they were over ready with their alarms, and as soon as he ksew tbalr purpose b changed s merry word with them, snd declared that, for aay "aay" of his. they might rarry blm whereaover tbey willed. "Palace or prlaoa. wear ao long fce for me. sirs," waa his exhortation; "whichever It be. thence will ye carry m gladly ere tb asomb be rnn. la tha queen's asms you eoaie sy, thst Is a asms I kaow right well! Lead oa. friends, that I may leara what kindness her ma testy weuld put apea m II turaed hi bora to rid out with them a be had eatered. gad beading la bis saddle te any Lady Barbara, who eat very white a4 waa la the leesa at the torches' light. j ha bad ber farewell a as who (eared aol I t -l I gone, to cloak his satisfaction? Eloquent . fl IF. ;l 1 I from the first In weary protestation of faith mm . : e v isa I learta about to go bee a us he knew in bow short tlm k would return again. "Fear nothing, sweet wlf," h said la that moment ot her grief, "there la ao prison In England that ahall raae Roy of Calverton when he hath the mind to go forth again. Yet If this matter should come to ths queen's ears 1 doubt not that It might swrv an. Aet aa your lov of m shall die- tat. There will be Strang tiding In Lon don ar many day hav passed, but tha strangeat. aurely, ahall be tho which make mention of thla night. Ood guard the, dear heart, and glva the courage!" He doffed his csp and kissed her upon both cheeks snd sb. clinging to blm a little wane vitl great tenderness, promises inai sh would ae th quen that very night. "Or If I fail." she said, "then will I coma I to thee, dear Roy. Oh, Ood, b my wltna, I will com to the!" He did not anawer her, tearing to provoke her tears, and. going out with th men, ba rod contented tn their midst toward the river and the barg which there awaited him. And a ha went my lady watched blm from th gat, and neither ths abbot's craven consolation nor any hop which h had spoken could lift that heavy weight ot sadness. For It was In her mind that thla was tho eternal farewell and that never again would Roy ot Calverton claim love of her or service. Now the Abbot 1arkenham bad taken leave of his guest with unseemly pleasure: now would he endeavor, now that ha was gone, to cloak his satisfaction? Eloquent from the first In weary protestation of faith snd loyalty he went on to declare himself a true son of holy church, tor he feared tba chancellor greatly, and when bis word wss mocked by tha ribald troopers bs ran from room to room distractedly, hare cloaking the witness to his magic, there cursing those very stars whose signs and wonders might yet bang him at the clty'a gates. No sooner were the queen's men out ot hesrlng than ha closed the gates and barred the doors and entreated my Lady Barbara In fervent supplications that she would quit London that very nlgbt. "They will charge this against your bus band and he will surely die. Shall It profit that two perish where one will suffice? I speak as a son of Ood's church who cannot wish well to heretics! Would ye hav ma burn at the stake! Nay. woman, go forth while ye may. I will not have It said that treason was preached In my benefactor's bouse! This very night I will Justify myself to the chancellor!" His words fell on deaf esrs. for my lady did not so much aa listen to him. Brought to silence In this peril, which had been so swift to come, and fearing greatly for her husband's safety, the daughter of Bernard of Ollerton began to put on that courage which waa her birthright. She would aave Roy of Calverton she, whom Roy of Cal verton had ssved In the hour of her dis tress. This very night she would sea th queen. "The woman, truly, goes forth," she said to the Abbot, "but not from London elty. Nay, my Father, how If she ride to St James to tell them of your magic how If shs speak of signs and wonders In the heavens, of a worthy priest who cares for none of these things! Indeed, you shall not twice affront me! Let your gate be opeaed, that I may do your bidding!" He answered her with thrests and curses, calling upon some of ths serving men to prevent her and demanding of thsm wit ness that he was a true son of Holy church. But these, who cared little for the Abbot, and less for Holy church, and bad been al ready won by my lady's grace and courtesy, cried together: "Magician, work a wonder!" And opening the gate they let Barbara of Ollerton go forth. The night bad fallen dark and starless; thers were few In ths Strand, and these wer. for th most part, idle apprentices out for merry brawls; er belated horsemen or priests upon a mission ot charity, or footpad lurking In the alleys. Barbara knew little of London, nor was she sure In which direction the palace of St. James lay. Fear of her loneliness, her solitary condi tion weighing heavily upon a mind over burdened, nevertheless, a brave resolution sent her as an ambaaaador of despair. Shs would see th queen. A woman's heart ahould answer a woman's supplication. Shs was alone, she said, and yet a voice of the night could tell her that she was not alone. How It was she knew not; yet scares was my lord of Taunton's houae lost to her view than the mystery begsn to plsgu her, th doubt to be mad good surety. In th shadows by which she passed th shsdow of ptlla aad gabls, aad wall and archway, aha thought to ae men riding wistfully. Saying that foolish eyes deceived her, denying her stnses, comfort ing herself with bravs worda, ahe sought la put the apparition away or to mock It In her courage. Rut every step now made It more sure, the number of the figures multiplied. She knew that shs wss wstched; knew It as ghostly shspes, closked riders, voiceless cavaliers, raae out of tha darkness to ride with her; yet not so closely that ah might see their fare or change a word with them. They were my Lord of Tautoa'a men, she made believe Drat; but, anon, she came to say that they wars some of those who had 'carried Roy to hi Imprisonment. With woraao'a bops, she uttered s silent prayer for help sod pressed on Into ths nlgbt. It wss a horrid fsr of things unreal, of dreaded apparitioM. which ail bar mU-stUI eould not master. If they would but apeak, weuld but declare themselves! The very mystery provoked her dread to th ultima: point. What bualnesa had any man so to follow or to plague her? She thought at oa tlm that ah would hav sunk to the very ground for fear; nor could she utter aay try for help nor find a word upon her trembling Hps. She said that It waa an apparition, but, anon, denied herself. A harder road gav music of hoofs; her own horse cantering eet other to th gallop. She heard men breathing, tha clank of arma. a whisper of volcea. Nay, more, she heard her own name spoken, and ao gently that all her . vanlahed In a moment, and, draw- . ... .-...,., h,r reiira and , ,wn . -. -, ' - challenged them. "Who are ye what do ye seek of me?" A little man upon an ambling horse doffed his cap, and, bowing to ths saddls bow. hs cried: "Ta serve you. lady, as aver we have aerved!" And from othera came that good appeal: 'Ay, to aerve! to aerve! Ye will not forbid us. lady?" My Lady doubted ber pursuers no more. but gladly ah. so gladly ahe recognized the volcea, and, naming the archer that had followed Roy from Ollerton, and with them Rene, th page, and Meagre, the dwarf, she cried In her pleasure: "Oh, Ood be thanked that be bas sent ray friends to me this night!" And so, with this good company of stout SHE CAME AT LENGTH TO MARY'S PRESENCE, AND. KNEELING THERE A VT QTr"WT DP 1 TTTTlnr'i y tt, ,, ...,., "2lu ur murt1' rr. suo ruae on 10 bL . CHAPTER VI. Open-eye Conspiracy His time doth take. There was bustle In the palace, a going to and fro of mounted men. messengers from remote places, lights carried from room to room, whispered tidings of events momentous. So unwonted were the stir and curiosity that my lady and her archers rode In unmolested, aod finding a page who listened readily to so pretty sn Intruder, word was carried swiftly to the chancellor, who waa then with the queen, and so to ber majesty. "The wife of Roy the outlaw seeks audi ence of her majesty upon a matter ot urgency." Now that was the second time which the chancellor bad heard the word of "urgency" that day, and the omen plagued bis curi osity. "Comes she to threaten us, too?" he asked. Jestingly, ot the page who carried the tidings. "Nay, we shall wear a coat of mall presently leat urgency go faster than your majesty's justice!" But the queen said tn her wisdom: "Let ua hear her, my lord, for truly, If the man hath a secret tha woman shall tell It." i She gave the command, and the Lady Bar bara, passing through the anterooms, where wlta exclaimed upon her, and the women stared, and the gallants recounted ber his tory, aha came at length to Mary'a pres ence, and kneeling there, a vision beautiful of the night, she pleaded for her lover. "I am the wife of Roy of Calverton, who was arrested in your msjesty's name this night. For thirty hours ws have ridden without drawing rein to do your majesty a service; and thus it is requited. How shall we speak, then, of your peril, and of that which la contrived against you? Let the queen ask if it Is a good counsel which turns a deaf ear to those who would befriend ber. Nay, your majesty, all England hath not a more faithful heart nor one more ready than he your ministers have silenced. Will you not hear ma for tba love he bears you?" There were tea re In her eyes when she uttered the name of Roy of Calverton, but Queen Mary, who remembered little but tbat she was of the new faltb, anawered ber coldly: "You ar Barbara of Ollerton, who teach aedltlon to my people In the north. Hath aedlttoo, then, turned upon Its masters, that you confess these things?" "Nay. your majesty, sedition and my hus band's nsme were ever strsngers. I be seech you prove him that the truth may be known ers tbs hour tor truth Is passed by!" It was a plea of ber love and confidence ottered so wlnningly that even the queen waa half won by It. "Your urgency spesks an enigma, my lord," ahe said to Gardiner. "Has It come to this, then, that we must grant frlend- ahlp to every outlaw that claims it of us?" She turned to blm as one upon whom d- spilr sat heavily; nor bad bs any good an awer for ber. "I know not whose friendship your majesty may refuse," he said, "If these tid ing from Rochester be true." For a little while tho queen mused upon It, and then, turning to my lady, she atked: "What do you aeek of me, child what boon do you crave?" "Tbat those who carried my 1"ar hus band from m tonight may carry me to his Side again." "For love of him you barter freedom" "Having nothing but my hop of lov." "Knowing tbat he must answer that which justice would charge agalnat him?" "Ay, your majesty, knowing tbat he tan anawer all tb world!" Now, tb matter troubled th queen not a little, and shs would hsve gone on to question my lady sjore cloaely, but while she was yet seeking prttext. s messengnr, all splssbtd with mud snd disorder by his tisst. burst In upon tbem unceremoniously to rry that th brldg at Rochester had bees thrown down by Wyatt and bis fellows, and that the ships then lying la tha river were already burned. "And. my lord," aald be, "and you do not art expeditiously, 'hey will even rid Into Ixindon with tomorrow's sun!" He apoke a surprising word which, uttered already In the anterooma of the palace, had been as a tocsin sounded there to send horsemen at tha gallop from tha gatea and to call the sleeping guard from Ita bed. The same alarm would wake a sleeping rlty presently. To tha queen and the man who atood with her It came as the drssd summons to an encounter which should win all or lose all In that great cause they Served. Mary knew th moment of It, In deed, yet she was ever the mistress of a ready courage, and now, that my lord might witness her example, shs choss to speak first to my lady before ehe made the mes senger repeat bis tidings: "Let It be ss you will, child," shs ssld. "Oo to this faithful heart that claims friendship for us We msy even need the help of such as he tonight." She never spake a truer word, saye th record. Had she but known what must befall sbs would have sent my lady out upon a rllllon of SW- ror RoT of Cal verton must save her throne etw many hours had paaaed. f CHAPTER VII. Condition, circumstance la not the thing. Pope. The news which ths messenger bad car ried to the palace of St. James" wss quickly spread abroad through th city, many riding SHE PLEADED FOR HER LOVER. nnr tn th,.. w ..u. - ' - ' ' ' ' " ii i ( nil D , uiucib uiamug haste to Inform the constable and those that kept the Tower. Momentous as the tidings were, they were heard with less surprise than authority might have dealred. Tha Spanish marriage, the gathering plota agalnet the Protestants, the spirit of dis content which the new laws fermented bad taught men to await soma counter stroks that would answer for their liberties. And now, when the day had come, when the storm burst, and It behooved each man to think of his own security, few were brave enough to declare themselves, or to avow loyalty which none might question. These men of Kent, who marched on Southwark In their thousands, might they not be tha mas tors of the city ere many days had passed? The will that brought them from village and hamlet to denounce the Spaniard and his ambassador, might It not be the cause of all the kingdom should victory attend the rebel arma? England had no braver man than Thomas Wyatt, the poet's son; no stouter heart, no scholar more winning nor wit so well beloved. And to these natural glfta be added victory. The tidings said that every gate was opened to him, that every town welcomed hlra, that even the cripples came out to cry him "godspeed." The peril In the north, the trouble which Northum bcrland had sown, hsd weakened the city both In the number of its troops and their disposition. Let Wyatt pass London bridge, said every gossip, and all were lost. Indeed. Such fears expressed In sleepy oatba and fragments of excited talk followed upon tha horsemen as they rode swiftly to the Tower. Inns, barred for the night, opened the doors again to half-dressed troopers; there were lights In every window, galleys dancing at the river steps; lattice swung as the mounted men rode by; a great com motion at my lord mayor's house, tha gath ering of the trained bands, the winding of horns. In tha Tower Itself, Sir John Brydges, the deputy lieutenant, already mustered the guard and prepared th can non on the ramparts. Lanterns flashing In wards, the cry of man to man, the whlnney- lug or boraes, tha tolling balls, gsvs tongue to that alarm and stirred th pulses even of the cowards. But one tn that place, tbey aald, listened to the uproar without concern. For Roy of Calverton tb bells hsd no message. They bad delivered blm at tha Tower gate about an hour after sunset; and hav ing, in the words of th old chronlcl, "gotten a receipt for him" from the con stable, it had been full another hour be fore he waa lodged upon tha aecond atory of the White Tower, and there mad known to Matthew Bare, the keeper of the Dun geons. An lll-vlsaged fellow enough, spar ing of words and a atraager to any kindly humor, th keeper spread a bed of rushes for his prisoner and told blm sourly that be would do well to use It while be eould. "For," said be, "they will set your. bead on the gate ere the week bs run; and that shall sharpen your dreams, my friend!" To whom Roy answered: "Not ao, for I will dream of you, friend, that, knowing I must com to liberty soon, you found me a dish of meat and a stoop of wine! What, shsll It bs said that Roy of Calverton mistook your gentle face for that of scurvy fellow, and a knave? Bring In the wine, and I will make such a report of you that the queen beraelf shall pin a Jewel oa your breast!" Master Bare, the keeper, was very "mindful of bis circumstance," as hs was wont to tell every one, going with great pomp and dignity, a stranger to laughter and the humors of men. But Roy of Cal verton bad auch a merry inaoDer, and waa ao quick to wia the favor, even of tha sullen and ths unwilling, tbst b bad beea In th cell but th half of an hour era Master Bare waa pledging him la a cup, and Maater Oyll. the keeper ot the beasts, was open-mouthed st all tba wonders of Sheraood snd Its bunting, which ths out law remembered for bis wondering ears. Anon, came Bartholomew Fall, tb chief warder, and clerks from tho chapel, and cooks from the kitchen, and women from th )lare ward; and more wine being brought, and Jesters busg up, aad tba outlaw set In treat oak chair, such a Joyous hour wss psaaed as bad not beea known In that place since Henry's day. For who eould withstand that droll humor er long resist that habit of command which were the outlaw' birthright. Kven Master Bare had a wench upon hi knee ere the dock atruck again. Now. the wine cup passed, and the forest legends wer told, and Rny counted thtt odd audience as th merriest Jest thst London had yet given him, when the first of tb horsemen rod to the Bulwark gate and brought tha newa which awakened the rlty and sent the riders out. Aa In a flash, that gay maaquerada was ended, and thoss who hsd Just rspped the Jest, now. In all seriousness, went hurrying to their houses; the women In affright to the palace ward; the keeper of the cagea to his beasts; the master of the Jewels to the bauble house, and Master Bare mindful of his circumstance to the Ueutenant'a lodg ing, that he might learn It there waa nerxl of him. But era he went he had changed a word with Roy, leat his forbearance were charged agalnat him. "For the kindness that I show thee, thou wilt b mindful of my circumstance. They ar Ilk to deal harshly with thee since this has befallen. Glva no word of friend ship for me, or this night's work may cost us dear!" And then he added, aa though aenten tlously: "As I live, thou wouldst laugh an acorn off an oak I" To whom Roy answered with a patron's reassurance: "Fear nothing. Master Bare. The men of Kent are up, but assuredly they shall be down again when I go forth. I speak with aome confidence, but tha night shall Justify me. If a prophesy shall help thee, go to tha constable and say that my Lord Gardiner sups with Roy of Calverton ere midnight comes. For his sake, since he seemeth a pleasant man and fairly spoken, I will even sup a second time and drink another pot of thy sack. Nay, bid the lieutenant wait upon me, for I would not name him for a scurvy fellow. Wilt say that, Maater Bare that I command hlra to coma hither?" But Master Bare shook his head. "Thou wonder!" he cried; "this very day thou hast made me forget my circum stances." CHAPTER VIII. And now I will unclasp a secret book. Hvnry IV. Now, Msster Bare quitted the White Tower and Bartholomew Fall was muster ing bis warders and Master Gyll. the keeper of tba beasts, went hurrying out upon hla business, but all the merry hour they had passed with him. Even the ron- atabls had returned to the tower by this time and, what with the going and com ing ot horsemen, the mounting of cannon and all the hasty counterplot, none had leisure to think of aught but his own safety and the means whereby he might secure it. From his chamber, now dimly lighted by a single lantern, Roy listened to the loud cries of command, tb jangling toealns, the thunder ot boots, the babbling tongues, and content to know tbat the crisis of bis day had come, none the less a pregnant anxiety of it remained and would not be quieted. Shrewd aa he wa he would not bide from himself that ha bad taken a!! upon a alngle throw. Tha basard ot the night might yet betray blm, he ssld. Every hour which passed and found hlra without compact quickened the peril and warred upon his secret. That which he had ridden to Lon don to tell might already have been told by others. He bad come to say, "I carry a aecret to London and will barter It for the freedom ye can give me." But It this secret were first told by another'a lips, what right of ransom remained to him? An unbridled horde marched upon tha city and might yet march upon the palace. Wit and courage, readiness and resource were needed to savn Mary's throne that night. He remembered those he bad seen at the palace and asked himself where such wit might be looked for, such resource dlacovered. From Gardiner that woman In petticoats who paled at a loud word and dawdled to discuss a woman's faltb when the honor of a kingdom was In peril? From Bonner, the gloomy fanatic, who dreamed already of fire and burning? From my Lord Howard, who whimpered for lack of the troop he could not ralBp? From all the sycophants and faint hearts who clamored for a legate and would kneel to their own shadows if place were to be got thereby? A sorry crew, indeed! And yet not sorrier than the men who followed their, the unwilling mercenaries the hasty gotten bands which served Mary for her army! "Set me In Sherwood with a hun dred of mine, and I would scatter them as chaff!" tha outlaw said. The clamor from without answered the taunt. Ho remem bered how far be stood from Sherwood and bla home. An hour passed and upon that an hour, and atlll none came to blm; and atlll he heard the tolling bells, the murmur of the voices. None might charge blm with fore boding If, at such a time, he said that the night was lost, the hsxard mlathrown. All bad been ventured, all ataked vainly. Wyatt would enter London at dawn and tbat would ba tba end of It. You shall judge his mood when. In such circumstance and Impatience, bis brooding thought was turned as st an unspoken summons, and tbs door of his chamber being thrown wide open, be beheld, not Master Bare, whom he had looked for, nor the lieutenant be bad commanded to coma to him, nor any of those who recently bad kept tha masquerade, but my Lady Bar bara herself, heralded by two that carried torches and followed by othera that swuug lanterns In the gloonu So flushed she was, so quick to run to blm, so full ot Joy, that in bis perplexity be could but cry, "Thou!" and, pressing her close to him, believe, In deed, that tha new day bad dawned. "Thou! thou. In this place! Nay, dear beart. It Is not tbou, tor assuredly I dream" He put tba question all wondertngly, but he, though sh bad a thousand words of lov to utter, spske none of them; but drawing back from his embrace eh said: lpnATs Stearns7 Electric Bat and Roach Paoto o4 di out of tha bouse. Oa Ingredient dries up tbcix bod Us, leaving no odor. It Is a safe end sure exterminator also of Mice, Water Bus, Croton Hugs, Cockroaches and all other vermin. It ha been in general use in houses, stores, hotels, factories, offices, public buildings, etc., for twenty-five years. Absolutely guaranteed. AAI ITinM. Substitute Imitation er werthleea. UMU I lUII. lutal M TtAlMi' U-UUit; UU sSls slss, M sent a bog at Druggists and Grocers or tent direct by Fiprt is prepaid. STEARNS ELECTRIC PASTE CO.. Chloago, Ilia. t "I eome, desr Roy, but not alone. Dot thou not aea whom I bring with me?" It waa a oiifoslon of her great content that ahe ahould thus reward him with that surprise, but ao bright wss the light of ton hea In tbe (hnnihcr, the flame of them sn dftizltng la the ryes, that he must look twice before hn discerned the closked figur of a woman trebling close upon my lady's stei. Nor mull a little v. hilt) had parsed and he bad peered again Into the gloom was he able to suy thst the queen stood ther and waited for her Sfrvsnt's recognition. Then wss my lady justified. In truth, when hhe beard his jo.vful confession. "Your niajety--if 1 forget all etss, let tbl night renmln unforKotten!" He knelt st Mary's fet, It is written, and she. In turn, dismissing her sttendsnts, waa not unwilling tn grant him ronfldenee. "You are he they call Roy, the outlaw ot Calverton?" "A truth, your majesty, but at Sherwood they name me king." "Being lord of the forest by right ot felony" "N.iy, your majesty, by right of the lov the people bear me," "Setting tip a domain which knows neither law nor authority." "The law of Christ, your majeaty'the au thority of justice." He did not cringe before her nor defend himself ss one v. ho would seek grace, and his mood pleasing her she went on to re member why she had come to blm. "You spake an enigma to my Iord Gard iner thla morning and asked a promise." "I nuked that I might see my queen." "Who comes to hear you and, If ths oc casion arise, to prove her gratitude." Sho drew a stool to the bare wooden tabl and. throwing tck the cloak about her head, ehe showed him tho stern face of a woman harassed by perplexities snd seek ing counsel of wisdom whlrh heretofore she had not found. Tho outlaw himself pared the room slowly hs though to control the freshet of his thoughte which streamed so abundantly. My lady herself stood In tha shadows; every word that her lover spoke was as a jewel of her content. He would save the queen that night; she who loved him was nil confident. "Madam," ho said, "the woman shall give me gratitude, the queen Justice. To you I speak freely without any bond or deed of my security. Here In my wallet are tbe papers I took from the dead body of my lord of Stowe. He claimed the Inheritance of a woman's henrt, which no law can give. Him I klled In fair encounter. That he deserved to die this paper shall tell you truly. It Is an account, with every circumstance, of those In tho midland countries who, and you do not aet expeditiously, shall Join theaa malcontents that knock at your gatea. Madam, here Is all their story; the names of those that buss conspiracy, the places of their meeting, their harborage in wood and town, the full proposal of that which they would do. Here and now I aay that If thla kingdom Is to ba saved you shall act with out delay. Command me and I will send messengers to Sherwood forest who will nip thl treason In the bud. ss any flower tha frost has bitten. If I am king of Calverton In truth let my kingship find stout hearts to serve the throne whence my dominion comes. Give me the right to send my mes sengers forth upon' the instant and that which the duke of Fuffolk does at Leicester shall be blotted from your thoughts. Nay, madam, I conjure you to speak. This la no season when an 'aye' Is gotten of a chancel lor's labor! Command me and I obey, it shall he yours to reap the fruit of tbat obedience!" Ho was warmed to great eloquence of pleading. His ringing voice awl,ened new courage in the queen's heart. The craven counsel uhe had carried from the palace, the procrastinations, the doubt of the faint henrtB, tho whimperings of the priests were driven from her mind while she listened to this goodly promise, and began to be lieve that of all In London this man alona could save her that night. Nevrrthelesa the habit of her craft remained, aba mb'st dally with It even at the eleventh hour. "Your messengers shall go to Notting ham willingly; yet who will shut the gate of thin city to those who burn the ship snd drive the people out? Is It sught ta me that Leicester be kept and London lost? God knows, I suffer greatly to see how III those tidings are received by thoe who should befriend me! Let your counsel speak of London, and I will lend a ready ear." She looked at him as one who would say! "I seek to trust, help the endeavor!" and he, understanding this deelre, waa quick to meet It. "Madam, let the shame be to those tbat delay In this defense. Is London, then, ao bare a town that It hath no gatea, no cainon, no horsemen for your aervlce? Four thousand ride to Southwark, they say. If the bridge be drawn up and tba culverln planted, how shall even four pass over? I rpeak a thing which any child might hear Impatiently. Thla Wyatt baa sworn to touch the elty gate. If ha pass not In by London bridge, then will be seek snother way, which you shall make for him an open way, upon which he may stumble blindly. Draw him to your gat aa to a net, which shall close about him presently. If I have any wisdom In tbla affair I say to you, give me leave to form a troop that shall ride out at ray discre tion, and when next you hear of ma It will be of one who ssys, 'ths net la drawn; the bird Is caged!' But I am a prlaoner for the news that I bear to you. "Twere odd If distress must call upon your Jails for freedom!" A discord of his Irony wss manifest In that complaint, and he who had spoken with such fervor of her safety now atood reluctant, aa though the work wer for others snd not for him. But the queen, for whom the word was as a message ot hr salvation, rose at the appeal, and taking both his hands, she said: VYou whom tbey call th king of Cal verton, save my city tonight!" He bent and kissed her hands. My lady. In the shadows, hid the tears upon her cheek. (To Ba Continued.) ri CAT