Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, August 16, 1903, Page 29

Over the Border (Copyright, 1903, by Robert Barr.) CHAPTER XXVI. 1 trimony. NIGHT, and a day and a night, rejuvenated the tred man and his horse. Clothed and in his right mind, he was once more the gallant borderer, ready to face whatever fortune had in store for him; on this occasion, so Traquair said, more superbly attired than ever had been the case before merely interested praise of the castle tailor. Traguair endeavored to persuade him not to trust himself again on English soil, but his advice was unheeded, as 1s usually the fate of unasked counsel. ‘lraquair wished him to take a bodyguard of a score or more, but Armstrong pointed out that un- less he had an army at his back able to defeat Cromwell's forces, all other as- sistance was useless. He risked everything upon his belief in Cromwell’'s common gense, and from this pestilon nothing Traguair could say would turn him. The Farl rode with him as far -5 the Kek, and there bade him good luck and Godspeed. When Armstrong had gone once over a road, he needed no other mscinet of direc- tion He made directly for the farm- steading, where first he had been ar- rested, and found it deserted; then took the, route over which his ecaptors had conducted him, expecting to reach Cor- biton Manor before darkness set in. This plan was frustrated by wn=s fact that he had allowed too scant time for the cordon across the country to be withdrawn. Crom- well was, indeed, calling in his men, and masfing them at Carlisle, Ncewcastle and Hexham, which latter town Armstrong's own ancestors had frequently pillaged. He learned of this movement from chance wayfarers, and was on the afert not to fall within the scope of any marching company. There was evidently no secret 8bout Crom- well's Intentions, and the Scot surmised that the general wished his plans to be well spread over the land, and thus overawe the northerners in any hostile projects they might think of undertaking, showing his readiness to crush them ff they ven- tured to set foot across the border, About midday Armstrong caught sight of the first large body of men, and he was compelled to hide for several hours in a depression on the moor, until they and the danger was pasr. This delay retarded his arrivel’ at Corbiton Manor until after nightfall, when the full moon shone upon the ancient mansion, in place of the silver crescent which hurg in the western sky when last he visited the place. It seemed incredible that the space of time could have been so short, for the events of a life were crowded in the interval. As he approached the ancient house the chal- lenge of a sentinel frought him to a stand, and called from the hall several officers. “Is Cromwell here?" asked the new- comer. “This ia the headquarters of his excel- lency, General Cromwell,” sald one of the officers, wilth some severity in his tone, a rebuke to the questioner's offhand method of designation. ‘““That’s the man I mean,” replied Arm- strong “I never heard there were two of the name or the kind. Well, tell him that William Armstrong, who carried the commission from the king to Scotland, f8 here, and requires a private conference with him.” The strong moonlight was shining on the back of the horsemen and in the faces of the officers. The latter did not obey the Injunction laid upon them, but their leader gave, instead, a brief command, and in a moment two dozen plkemen surrounded the rider, who laughed heartily and said: “My lads, you are too late. You should have done that trick several days since. Ofliver will give you no thanks for it now, Go in and tell him I am here, and send someone to take charge of my horse while 1 talk with him.” The chief officer hesitated for a moment, then turned and disappeared within the mansion, while Armstrong dismounted and gave to the soldier who took his horse minute instructions touching the treatment of the animal. “You are all good horsemen,” said the visitor in his most genial aceents, “and will doubtless respect Bruce here, what- ever you think of his mastér, for this is the charger that louped over the para- pet of Carlisle bridge, and, after that, beat the best you had in your cavalry In a race for the border. If your chief should come to a disagreement with me, take eare of the horse, at least, for you haven't another like him." The horse was led away, palpably ad- mired by all the men, for some of them stroked and patted his flank, speaking ®oothingly to him. Willlam stood with his bhands in his pockets, the center of & ring of armed men, his gay dress in striking contrast to the more sober uni- form of his guards. Cromwell was tak- ing his time making up his mind, and the Joung man thought this delay was not an gmcouraging sign. He had thrust his head between the lion's jawg, and the minutes that passed before he could know whether the brute was going to bite or not were frksome to him, especially as there was now nothing to do but await the lssue. At last the officer reappeared, dismissed the guard, and sald curtly to the prisoner: “Follow me." Armstrong was ushered into the huge room which he remembered so well, and found Cromwell sitting alone at the table, as If he had never ‘eft it. Even the two candles stood where they had been placed before, but the face of the seated man seemed more inscrutible, more stern, than he recollected it. This was the leader of the Tronsides on the Northampton road, rather than the urbane man who had pre- tended to believe the story of the search for ecattle, Armstrong swept off his feathered hat most courteously as he approached the table, bowed and sald: “Good evening, general,” standing then at ease on the spot he had formerly oecu- pled. The general lifted his heavy eyes to the cropped head, now glistening In the body” moving . Steady lght, and aithough his firm mouth re- mained immobile, the slightest suspicien of a twitk'e scintillated for one brief mo- ment in his searching glance “Good evening. You wished to see me?" ‘“Yes, general, and have come from Scot- land this very day for no other purpose.'” “You are out of employment, perhaps, and are looking for a re-engagement?’* “Well, general, if I was, you are the man I should come to for a recommendation. In & manner of speaking, you are In the right. I have been riding hard this while back for other folk, and now 1 have taken a bit of journey on my own acccunt. You sce my case is—" “I will state the case,” interrupted Crom- well menacingly. “You stood here and lled to me.” ““You sat there and did the same by me." “You stood here and lied to me. You came as a spy, mixing with affairs that did not coneern you." “Pardon me, general. I took service for my king, and you wi'l be good enough to remember that Charles 1s king of Scotland, even if it pleases you to forget that he is king of England, and ‘that he will be till he dies, your king as well as mine.” “He is king of Oxford solely.” “Very well. Let me tell you, you'll find that same Oxford a very hard nut to crack, if you attempt to take it by assault. ¥ went A Tale of the Days of Charles I, by Robert T. Barr carefully round the fortifications :nd would seck no better job than to hold it against you and your whole army. There would be many a cropped head low before you got mine in your clutches,” and Willtam passed his hand sympathetically over his denuded crown, as had become a custom with him Hy questioner bent forward with more of &gerness than he had hitherto shown, all thought of the indictment he was heaping up seeming to pass from his mind “Where is the weakest spot?’ he saild, as onc cxpert might seek counsel from another who had personal experience of the subject. “That is the beauty of it. There is no weakest spot.” “Is there not? We shall never need to take it by assault, but if that were thought best it might be attacked from the south.” Armstrong raised his eyes to the celling and meditated for a moment. none paying heed or anything else to him, but let him die the death of a martyr and his tired bones are more patent than 10,00 live men. Ma rang, I'd like to see ye hang me! There's poor Traquair, at hiz wit's end for discouragement, through dissen- sion among the people and their leaders. You hang me and you've done the trick for him." Cromwell leaned back in his chalr, his lids partially closed, but they could not veil the look of admiration he cast upon the men standing before him, who spoke en- thusiastically of his own execution, as it it were rather a good joke on his opponent. For some moments the general kept ml- lence, then he said abruptly: “Will you take a commission in my army?" “I will not.” “I thought you were a fighter? “I am, but I prefer to engage under Tra- oid nol a musile of the face ar Che sord &as hold as as a beam of the roof .4 “I thisk you're righl.” he said, ‘“but it would cost a wheen o' men." ‘“Yes, bLetter men than are within its walls, and they shall not be saerificed. I can wait, and the king cannot. You deliy- ered the king's moessage to Traquair?”’ “Yes. That's what I came oor.” “And you have the impudence to come to me, thinking I will allow you to return?” “S8ay confidence, rather. 1 am very sure you will allow me to return.” “Yes, confidence I8 the word, but with a mixture of impudence as well; the malt and the hops. It never crossed your mind that it was a dungocn you we-e approaching?’ “I thought if you ¢id anything it would be hanging.” “And why po'?" “Pecause my death by repe would be just the little fillip that Scotlend needs at the pPresont ment. You i w my neck and the & re at rours teicre I am fairly bappit in the g eurd.” “You look upon you scif as impertant to countrymen, then?" “l do nothing of the kind. Man, I won- der at both you and the k'ng. Neither of you understand the Scottish nature in the least. If the king had any comprehension he would have had the heather afire years since. A man may dawner about Scotland all his life, hungry and athirst, cold and in rags, gelting fewer kickshaws than kicks, quair's banner if he ralses L™ §. “Against me?" ¥ “Judt that.” “And you think I will let you go?"’ “I'll take my oath on it.” “You are right. Your way is clear te Beotland, to Oxford, or where you please, What have you come to me for?™ “For Frances Wentworth." “lI thought as much. In this I cannot oblige you. With you I have nothing to do, and you are at liberty. The wench of Wentworth's stands on different footing, inasmuch as she has proved traitor to her own. I shall do rothing te injure her, but she shall taste captivity until she com- fesses her error.” “She is no traitor, but did well the work you set for her.” *l 2et no work for her. 'Twas given to Lker brother, and his folly brought her into the business." “You gave your consent at Northamptom, thus I say you set her to the task, and well she performed it. If your men had done your bidding as faithfully, I had never crossed the Esk." “S8he connived at your escape from Lich- 1, and elsewhere.” Prua, but she was a free woman then, having fulfilled her duty to you.” “You are quibbling. She is a traitor, and 1 ! ! i 4 i t | j -\QI -