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Show I THE LION'S WHELP I A Story of Cromwoll'a Tlmo BY AMELIA E. BARR. Author of "Tho Bow of Or&njo Ribbon." "I, Thou and the Otli.r On." "Th Mnld of Matdork Lane." Etc (CopjrWht, 1901, bjr Dodd. Mead & Companr. All rlehts reserved.) CHAPTER VII. (Continued.) "Cromwell wants only that Parliament Parlia-ment Bhonld know Its own mind, and declaro Itself dissolved. God knows it Is high time, but Vane, and moro .with him, would sit while life lasts. Martha, my heart Is troubled within mo. Havo we got rid of one tyrant calling himself King, to give obedl-enco obedl-enco to a hundred tyrants calling thomsolvcs Parliament? It shall not bo so. As tho Lord llveth, vorlly, It shall not!" There was a meeting of tho Council Coun-cil at tho Speaker's house tho night . , after Israel SwafTham's indignant pro test against Parliament, and Cromwell, Crom-well, sitting among those self-seeking men, was scornfully nngry at their deliberations. His passion for public and Boclal Justice burned, and in a thunderous speech, lit by Hashes of blinding wrath, ho spoko out of a full and determined heart. Thon he mounted his horso and rodo home- ward. CHAPTER VIII. Upon the Threshold. If wo bolievo that life Is worth living, liv-ing, our belief helps to croato that fact, for faith Is in matters of the spirit all that cotirago is In practical affairs. To Jano and Cluny this belief be-lief was not difllcult, for limitation always works for happiness, and during dur-ing tho ensuing year llfo kept within tho bounds of their mutual probation and of Cluny's military duties, was full of happy meetings and partings; days In which Lovo waited on Duty, and again, days in which Lovo was lord of over' hour; when they wandered wander-ed together in the Park llko two happy children, or, if tho weather was unfit, sat dreaming In tho stately rooms of Sandys about tho llttlo gray houso in Flfeshlro, which was to be thoir own sweet homo. So tho weeks and months went by, and though they wero not alike, they had that happy similitudo which leaves llttlo to chronicle. Jane's chief oxcltomonts camo from her visits to Mary Cromwell and Matilda do Wick. Tho affection between Jano and Matilda had tho strong root of habit as well as of inclination. They could not bo happy if they wero long apart. Jano visltod frequontly at Jovory Houso, and Matilda quite as frequently fre-quently nt Sandys. Ono morning In tho spring of 1G53, Jano was returning from a two days' visit to tho Cromwclls. Tho air was so frosh and balmy she went to Jovory Jov-ory Houso, resolved to ask Matilda to drlvo In tho Park with hor. As 8ho wont up-stalrs sho wondered what mood sho would find Matilda In, for thoro was a certnln mental plcasuro in tho uncertainty of her friend's torn-por. torn-por. Sho found her lying upon a sofa in her chamber, her llttlo feet, prettily pret-tily shod in satin, showing just below hor gown; her hands clasped abovo hor head, hor long black hair scattered scatter-ed loosely on tho pillow. Sho Bmiled languidly as Jano entered, and then said: "I havo been expecting you, Jane. I ooud not keep tho thought of you out of my mind, and by that token I know1 you woro coming. Pray, whoro havo you boon? Or, where are you going?" I "I havo been spending two days with tho Cromwells, and tho morning Is so fair, I wondered if you would not drlvo an hour In tho park. Do you know that Cylnlln arrives from Iro-land Iro-land to-day? Ho would think the Journoy woll taken, If ho saw you at tho end of It." "You aro a llttlo lato with your news, Jane. That Is ono of your faults. Cymlln was here last night. Ho spent a couplo of hours with me," then she smiled so peculiarly, Jane could not help asking her: "Vhnt Is there In your way of smiling, smil-ing, Matilda? I am sviro It means n story of some kind." "I shall havo to tell you tho Btory, for you could never guess Avhnt thut smile was mndo of. Forst, however, what did you see and hear at tho Cromwells." "I heard In a pnsslng manner that Prince Ituport Is off tho seas forever that ho Is at tho French court, whore he Is much mndo of." "Jano Swaffham, havo you no fresher fresh-er nows?" and she pulled out of hor bosom mnny sheets of paper tied together to-gether with a gold thread. "1 had this yesterday," she said, "by the hand of Stephen, and I may as woll toll you to prepare to meet Stephen dc Wick, for ho vows ho will not leave England again until ho has Bpcech with you." "Then ho Is forsworn; I will not boo him." "It will bo no treason now to speak to your old servant. Tho Amnesty Act will cover you. But I flght not Stophen's battles; I havo onough to do to keep my own sharo of your friendship from fraying. Now, I must tell you something concerning myself. my-self. I am going to France." "Franco!" cried Jane in amazement. "Yes, Frnnco. I have persuaded my uncle that ho ought to go there, and look after his affairs. I have persuaded persuad-ed my aunt that it Ms not safo for my uncle to go without her, and they both know my reason for going with them, although wo do not namo Prince llupert." "When do you go, Matilda?" "To-morrow, If Stephen bo ready. And let mo toll you, Jano, Stophen's readiness depends on you." "That is not so." "It Is. I hope you will bo definite, Jano. You havo kept poor Stephen i" j V 1 a .' :'"i!!':''':i,!: ;;:! 'e 1 (Si TUllUll I 5 '-'.tim " Vv ' ( a V2 IT T T TO TTTTl 'Alla'' ''''' "I wish to see your face no more." dangling after you sinco you woro ton years old." "What about Cymlln and yourself?" Thon Matilda laughed, and her countenanro changed, and sho said sorlously, "Upon my word and honor, I was novor nearer loving Cymlln than I was last night, yet ho was never less doscrvlng of it. 'TIs a good story, Jano. I will not pretend to keop It from you, though I would stako my last coin on Cymlin's sllcnco about the matter. Ho camo Into my presence, as ho always does, ill at easo, and why, I know not, for n man moro handsome In faco and flguro It would not bo easy to find In England. But ho has bad manners, Jano, confess It; ho blushos and stumbles . over things, and lets Ills kerchief fall, and when ho tries to bo a gallunt, makes a fool of hlrasolf." "You aro talking of my brother, Matilda, Ma-tilda, and you aro making him ridiculous, ridicu-lous, a thing Cymlln Is not, and never was." "Walt a bit, Jano. I was kind to him, and ho told mo about his life in Ireland, and ho spoko so well, and looked so proper, that I could not help but show him how ho pleased mo. Thon ho wont beyond ills usual manner, man-ner, and in leaving tried to glvo mo a bow and a leg In perfect court fashion; fash-ion; and ho mado a silly appearance, and for tho llfo of mo I could not help a smile not a nlco Bmilo, Jane, Indeed, In-deed, 'twas a very scornful smllo, and ho caught mo at It, and what do yon think ho did?" "I daro say ho told you plainly that you wero behaving badly?" "My dear Jane, ho turned back, he - sicr'K ;.";:; ',n: was struck dumb. ". ho had taken ' himself out of tho room in a pa8gi0 I oro I could find a word to throw after , him Then I Rot P and went to a mirror and looked nt my cars, and thoy woro scarlet and my cliwUs i matched them, nnd for a moment I was in a towering rage I sat down. I cried, I laughed, I wns amazed, 1 wns after a llttlo while, ashamed, and ' finally I camo t0 a reasonable temper and acknowledged I hnd been served ' oxnetly right. For I had no business to put my wicked little tonguo In my cheek, becnuso a bravo gentleman could not crook his leg UKo a dancing master. Aro you laughing. Jano? , Woll, I must laugh, too. I shall laugh many a time when J think of Cymlln's two big hands over my ears. Had ho kissed mo afterward, I would have for- , given him I think." "I cannot help laughing a little, Matilda, Ma-tilda, but I assure, you Cmlln Is suffering suf-fering from that discipline far more thnn you are." "I am not Buffering at all. This morning I ndmlro him. There Is not another man In tho jvprld who would imvn nrnqttmed to box the Ladv Mn- tlldn do Wick's ears; accordingly I am In lovo with his courage and self-respect self-respect I shall lauglvand cry as long as I live, and remember Cymlln Swaffham." Swaff-ham." "It was too bad of Cymlln but very llko him. Ho has boxed my ears moro thnn once." "You nro his sister. That Is different. differ-ent. I will never speak to him ngnln. There, let tho matter drop. 1 wish now, you would either take Stephen or sond him off forever. I nni In a hurry to bo gone, and Sir Thomas also. Go and send Stephen with a 'Yes or 'No' to me. I am become indifferent in-different which, since you aro so much so." Many letters woro promised on both sides, and Jane was glad to notice the eagerness and hope In her friend's volco and manner. Whatever her words might assert, It was evident sho looked forwnrdo a great joy. And as long as sho was with Matilda, Jano let this samo spirit animate her, her rldo home, however, was sot to a moro nnxlous koy. Sho was a llttlo angry also. Why should Stephen do Wick intrudo his lovo upon hor? Twlco alrendy sho had plainly told him that his suit was hopeless, and sho did not feel grateful for an affection af-fection that would not recogulzo its limits, and was determined to force Itsolf beyond them, rw Sho entoiod CWW:Jlh-Uio.spr)ns all about her; her fair faco rosy with tho fresh wind, and hor eyes full of tho sunshine Cymlln and Stephen woro sitting by tho.fl'resldo talking of Irish hounds and of a now bit for restive res-tive horses which T Cymlln had Invented, In-vented, i When Jano ontored, Cymlln and Stephen both roso to meet hor. Cymlln Cym-lln was kind with tho condescension of a brother. Ho spoko to her as ho spoke to creatures weaker than himself, him-self, and kissed herjbeith tho air of a king kissing n subject ho loved to honor. Then ho mado an excuse to tho stables and gave Stephen his opportunity. op-portunity. Tho young man had kept his oyo fixed on thojbiautlful face and slender form of thoTglrl ho loved. Ho wont to her and clasped hor hands and said with a passionate eagerness, "Jane, dearest! I liavt como again to ask you to marry me. Say ono good, kind word. Whcnyou wero not as high us my heart, you did promlso to bo my wife. I vow you did!" "Stephen, I know not then what marrlago meant. You were as a brother to mo. I lovo you yet as I loved you then. I cannot be your wife. I am already pllgutod." "To Lord Neville1. You shall never marry him. I fortiM It. I will hunt him to tho gates ojfdeath." "It is sinful to say such things." "Lot my sins alonb. I am not In tho humor to bo sorry, for thorn. I say again, you shall not marry that scoundrelly scoun-drelly Scot." "Ho is not what-you call him far from it." "I call things byvthelr right names. I call a Scot a ScoT and a scoundrol, a scoundrel." Ho throw her hands far from him aiul strode up and down tho room, dosporato and full of wrath. "You shall marryRio mnn but myself. Boforo earth nndfiieavcn you shall!" "If God wills, Pshall marry Lord Novlllo." ft "Oh, Jane! I shall go to total ruin If you do not marry me." "Shall I marryfe man who Is not lord of himself? jfiwlll not." "You havo madjme your enemy. What follows is ySurW'n fault." '"TIs a poor Tovo that turns to hatred; and you can 'do no moro than you aro let do." jF "You will bco Dy my soul, 'tis truth! Oh, 'tis (en thousand pltloa you will not lovoffii&j" "It Is nowise possible, Stephen." Ho flung hlmsetf into a chair, laid his arms upon tne tnblo and burled his faco In thornS "Go away, thon," ho sobbed, "I wIs&Tto geo your faco no moro. For your Sako, i will hato all women forever.'fcf (To 1)Esfnucd I |