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Show NM''Tr7r7V Sabatini's greatest story of love and adventure " K-ld by RAFAEL SABATINI v"' SYNOPSIS r i . . u Sir Oliver Tressilian, renowned for his exploit on the Spanish Mam, is betrothed to Rosamund Godolphin; but because of personal enmity growing out of land dis- putes the marriage is opposed by Rosamund's brother, Peter, and her guardian. Sir John Killigrew. Oliver, incensed at Sir John's references ref-erences to him as a "pirate," engages en-gages him in a duel and defeats him. He then proceeds to Godolphin Godol-phin Court to apprise Rosamund of the affair. CHAPTER II Continued He found her In her bower a light, turreted chamber on the mansion's eastern side, with windows win-dows that looked out upon that lovely sheet of water and the wooded wood-ed slopes beyond. She rose with a little exclamation exclama-tion of gladness when he appear-' appear-' ed under the lintel scarce high enough to admit him without stooping stoop-ing and stood regarding him across the room with brightened eyes and flushing cheeks. I Like her brother, she was tawny j headed and she was divinely tall, he may profit by His lesson. I hava come straight to you," a concluded, conclud-ed, "that you may hear the tale from me before another comes to malign me with false stories ot this happening." -You you mean PeterT" sh. cried. "Alas!" he sighed. She sat very still and white, looking look-ing straight before her and not at all at Sir Oliver. At length she, spoke. "I am not skilled In reading men," she said in a sad, small, voice. "How should I be. that am; but a maid who has led a cloistered i Iifet I was told of you that you were violent and passionate, a mm of bitter enmities, easily stirred to' hatreds, cruel and ruthless in the persecution of them." "You, too, have been listening toj Sir John," he muttered, and laughed' shortly. "All this 1 was told," she pur-: sued as if he bad not spoken, "and all did 1 refuse to believe because; my heart was given to you. Yet I yet ot what have you made proof today?" . He set himself to explain. "I have told you what Sir John had done. I have told you that the greater part of It and matter all; that touched my honor I know Sir John to have done long since. Yet, SYNOPSIS To Sir Oliver Tressilian, renowned re-nowned for his exploits on the Spanish Main, comes Peter Godolphin, Godol-phin, insulting and threatening, to forbid Oliver's marriage with his sister, Rosamund. Because of personal per-sonal enmity growing out of land disputes, both Peter and Rosamund's Rosa-mund's guardian, Sir John Killigrew, Killi-grew, oppose the marriage. Incensed Incens-ed at Sir John's reference to him as a "pirate" Oliver engages him in a duel. His young half-brother, Lionel, awaits his return, anxiety tempered with speculation as to how Oliver's death would affect his own fortunes. Oliver, he realizes, accumulated considerable wealth through his adventures on the Spanish Main. CHAPTER II Continued And meanwhile Lionel had remained re-mained at home taking his ease. He loved Mb ease. His nature was inherently Indolent; and he had the wasteful, extravagant tastes .that usually go with indolence. He was not born to toll and struggle, and none had sought to correct the shortcomings of his character In that respect Sometimes he wondered what the future might hold for him should Oliver come to marry. When his thoughts did turn to it In momentary uneasiness he would abruptly dismiss them with the reflection re-flection that when all was said Oliver loved him and Oliver would never tail to provide adequately for all his wants. In this undoubtedly he was fully Justified. Oliver was more parent than brother to him. When their father had been brought home to die for the wound dealt him by an outraged husband and a shocking spectacle that sinners' death had been with its hasty, terrified repentancehe re-pentancehe had intrusted Lionel to his elder brother's care. At the time Oliver was seventeen seven-teen and Lionel twelve. But Oliver had seemed by so many years older than his age that the twice-widowed Ralph Tressilian had come tc depend upon this steady, resolute and masterful child of his first mar riage. It was into his ear. that the dying man had poured the wretch-ed wretch-ed tale of his repentance for 'hf 11 "An what tx Quit, sari" quota ' Nicholas. "He has gone to punish Sir John for having maligned him." A grin spread upon the weather-beaten weather-beaten countenance of Nicholas. "Be that sof Marry, twere time. Sir John he be over long 1' th' tongue." Lionel stood amazed at the man's easy confidence and supreme assurance as-surance of bow his master must acquit himself. "Yoa you have no fear, Nicholas Nicho-las r He did not add ot what. But the servant understood, and his grin grew broader still. "Fear? Lackadayl I hain't afeered for Sir Oliver, and doaa't ee be afeared. Sir diverTl be home to sup with a sharp-set appetite appe-tite 'Us the only difference lighting light-ing ever made to he." The servant was justified ot hid confidence by the events, though . through a slight error of judgment ' Sir Oliver did not noite accomplish accom-plish all that be promised and intended. in-tended. In anger, and when be ' deemed that he had been affronted, he was as his chronicler never wearies of insisting of a tigerish ruthlessness. He rode to Arwenack Arwen-ack fully resolved to kill his calumniator. ca-lumniator. Nothing less would satisfy sat-isfy him. Arrived at that fine embattled castle of the Ktlligrews which commanded com-manded the entrance to the estuary estu-ary of the Fal, he found Peter Godolphin Go-dolphin there before him; and because be-cause of Peter's presence Sir Oliver Oli-ver was more deliberate and formal in his accusation of Sir John than he had intended. Sir John, however, came halfway half-way to meet the quarrel His rancor ran-cor against the "Pirate of Penar row" as he had come to dub Sir Oliver rendered him almost as eager to engage as was his visitor, Tbey found a secluded corner of the deer park for their business, and there Sir John a slim, sallow gentleman of some thirty years of age made an onslaught with sword and dagger upon Sir Oliver, i full worthy of the onslaught he ! had made earlier with his tongue. But his impetuosity availedhim i less than nothing. Sir Oliver was come there with a certain purpose, s and It was bis way that he nevei , "He saw horror leap to her eyes and blanch her face." I though as yet tier Hgure In Its girl ishness was almost too slender to, ; her height. "1 bad not looked for you 6t early" she was beginning, wher , she observed that his countenance 1 was oddly stern. 1 I "Wly what has happened?" sh m Intuitions clamoring cried, m. . , , ., , "Qigebance. loudly of some you, sweet "Naught to alarii, . -e you. yet something that may ., d3 He set an arm about that l.. waist of hers above the swelling farthingale, and gently led her back to her . chair, then flung himself upon the window-seat beside her. "You hold Sir John Killigrew in some affection?" he said between statement and inquiry. "Why. yes He was our guardian nntil my brother came of full age." Sir Oliver made a wry face. "Aye. there's the rub Well, Tve ill but killed Mm.' She drew back Into her chair, re-ot)lg re-ot)lg before him, and he saw bor- "8A)VerrVm earefully wiping his blade whilst Sir John lay coughlrl'a'" J upon th turf." I ii suffered.il In Bllence and con I tempt Was that to show mysel easily stirred to ruthlessness I What ftas 'Dui fof bearatice ' When, however, he carries his CSj i ty huckster's rancor so far a ti ; seek to choke for me my source o happiness in life and sends you brother to affront me. I am still si ! forbearing that I recognize you brother to be no more than a too and go straight to the hand tha . wielded him. Because I know o ', your affection for Sir John 1 gav him such latitude as no man o honor in England would have give eji seeing that she still avoid 1 e$ar,d, still sat In tha ed his dt) Qt horror at laarc frozen attiu she loved ha, ing that the n. witij tha bloo Imbrued bis hands Uo Iflvec ot another whom she warme his pleading quickened to a note. , "Rose." he cried, and his deep voice quivered with intercession.; "dismiss all that you have heard! from out your mind. Consider only, this thing that has befallen. Su! pose that Lionel, my brother, came to you and that, having some' measure of power and authority to support him. be swore to you that, you should never wed me. awore' to prevent this marriage because he deemed yon such a woman as' could not bear my nam with hon-1 or to myself; and suppose that toj all this ha added Insult to the memory ot your dead father, what' answer would you return hunt" Her eye scanned now Ms facej every line of which was pleading! to her and calling tor lmpartlaji Judgment, Her face grew tron-l bled, and then almost fierce. She' set her hands upon his shoulders and looked deep Into bis eyes. "You swear to me, Noll, that all Is as you have told It me yon have added naught, you have altered alter-ed naught to make the tale more' favorable to yourself 7" "You need such oaths from met") he asked, and she saw sorrow' spread upon his countenance. "If I did I should not love thee, NoIL But In such an hour I need, your assurance. Will yon not be generous and bear with me., strengthen me to withstand any thin that may be said hereafter T I As Ood'i my witness. I have told yon true In all." he answered! solemnly. Then,- ,h( Mia,..! bellev. acted rightly. I believe with, yon tnat no man of honor could have acted otherwise. I must believe rn. NoIL fox did I not then I could holler. Is naujht and hope for nnht I am content so yon bo true." j True I shnn ever bo, IVMt he whispered frveUy, lite- he E&tf' lWe& and the slate ta whki hr Vas leaving his aflaln with such scant provision for hie sons. 1 For Oliver he had no fear. His anxieties were all for Lionel, wlMnn he also Judged) with' that same penetrating pen-etrating insigkft vouchsafed1 a man In his last hours. Hence his: piteous recommendation of him to Oliver, and Oliver's ready promise -to' be father, mother and brother to the youngster. All this wa3 in Lionel's mind' as be sat musing there, and again he struggled with that hideous insistent in-sistent thought that if things should go ill with his brother at Arwenack, Arwen-ack, there would be great, prolii to himself; that these things he now enjoyed upon another's bounty he would then enjoy in his own right. A devil seemed to mock him with the whispered sneer that were Oliver to die his own gTlef would not be long-lived. So wrought up was he by the welter of his emotions, by that tierce strife between his conscience and his egotism, that he came abruptly ab-ruptly to his feet, a cry upon his lijs Yad. retro, Sathanas!" ' Old Nicholas, looking up abruptly, abrupt-ly, saw th. lad's face, waxen, his 1 brow bedewftd with sweat 'Vaster Lionel! MaaUr Done!!" ht cried, his small bright eyes eon-ernQy eon-ernQy scanning his young master's mas-ter's face. "Was bo amiasr Lionel meyped his brew. 'Sty Oliver has ton. to Arwsn- wrn pumitiT bss!a?sr -t failed u carry through thins: to which he set his hand. In three minutes it was an over, ' and Sir Olrrer was carefully wiping his blade W&Hst air John lay cough-1 cough-1 lng upon the twrt tended by white-faced white-faced Peter Godoiphln and a scared groom, who had been bidden thither to- make up the necessary tale of witnesses. Sir Oliver sheared his weapons and resumed his coat, then came te stand over hi& fallen foe, considering con-sidering him critically... - "1 think I have silenced him for a Utile time only" he said "And I ronfess thai I intended lo do tetter. tet-ter. I hope, however, thai the lea sod, will suffice and thar he will lie. no more at leam concerning me." "Do you mock a fajlieu man?" was Master Godolphin s angry pro t est. T,od forbid!" said Sir Oliver soberly "There Is no mockery in my hcaru There is. telleve me, nothing but regret regret that 1 should not have done the thing more thoroughly I will send assistance as-sistance from the house ss I go. Give you good day, Master Peter." From Arwenack be rode round by Penryn on bis homeward way But he did not go straight home. He paused at ibe eates of Godolphin Court, which stood above Trefusls point, commanding the view of Car-rick Car-rick Roads He turned In under th. old gateway and drew up In th. courtyard. Leaping to th. kidney-stones kidney-stones that paved it, he announced hlmseU a visitor to Mistress Rosa-man Rosa-man d i m j i. ' "'.?"' ror leap to ber eyes and blanch her ; face. He made haste to explain the ' causes that had led to this; he told ! her briefly ot the calumnies con-- con-- earning him that Sir John had put about to vent his spite st having been thwarted In the matter of his coveted license to build at Smithies. Smith-ies. ' "That mattered little." he concluded.' con-cluded.' "I knew these tales concerning con-cerning me were abroad, and 1 held them in the same contempt as 1 hold their utterer. But ha went further. Rose; he poisoned your brother's mind against me. and he stirred up in him the slumbering rancor that In my father's time was , wont to lie between our houses. Today Peter came to me with the j clear intent to make a q.uarreL Ho affronted me as no man has ever dared." She cried out at that, her already great alarm redoubled. II smiled. "Do not suppose that I could harm him. He la your brother, and, so, sacred to me. He cam. to tell me that no betrothal was possible pos-sible between us, forbad, m. ever (again ta visit Godolphin Court, I dabbed me pirate and vampire to sny fae and rrvtled my father's ssamory. I tracked th. evil of sjl this to its source tn Kniigrew, and re, straight to Arwenack to dam thai swore ot falsehood for an that. I did not accomplish onlta ssj araca as I f tended. Ton , I frank, ay Rosa. It may b. that ir Jobs will Uv; jf w J 4H UtH |