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Show m "To be a King Is not In my commission." H slon," bo nald to Doctor Verity. "It H tsquaros not with my call or m con H flclonco. I will not fadgo with tho H question again; no, not for an hour." m Thoso threo yoars woro full of glory H and romance, and tho poorest family M In England lived through an epic of H such national grandeur as fow gon- fl orations havo witnessed. Yet, amid m it all, tho simple domestic lives of H mon and women went calmly on, and Hj birth, marriage, and death made rich H or barren their homes. Jane Swaffham M had long been nblo to think of Cluny M not as lying In a bloody gravo, but as B one of tho Sons of Qod among tho M Hosts of Hcavon. And tills consola- B tion accepted, sho had begun to study H Latin and mathematics with Doctor 1 Vority und ta givo her lovo and her 1 servlco to all. H Matilda's llfo during this Intorval M had beon cramped and saddened by H tho inheritance from her provious H yoars. Really loving Cyralln, sho K could not dlsentanglo tho many H threads binding hor to tho old unfor- H tuuate passion, for, having becomo H Woalthy, tho Stuarts would not resign H their claim upon hor. Thus sho was H compollod, often ngalnst her will, to H be awaro of plots for tho assasslna- H tion of Cromwoll plot3 which shock- Hj ed her moral sense, and which genor- H ally scemod to hor Intelligence oiced- H liigiy foolish and usless. H 'Sho loved Cymlln, but sho fcarod to H -arrry him, Sho fcarod tho reproach- H es or insert, who, though ho mado no Is high tlmo ho ceased to warn, and begin to punish." "My dear sweet Jano, tho Crom-wells Crom-wells aro in their kingdom now; I do not protond to keep foot with them and I havo troubles of my own; pray God they bo not too many for mo!" It was evident Matilda was not in an amiable mood, and Jano having said tho few words that brought hor to Jerery House that mornlng.lcft her friend. She wont awny with a troubled trou-bled look, and Matilda watched tho change and smiled to horsolf at It. "I am qulto content to havo her mado a littlo unhappy," sho thought. "On my honor! Jnuo looks younger and prettier pret-tier than when Nevlllo was allvo and worrying hor. Lovors dlo and husbands hus-bands die. and 'tis a common calamity, calam-ity, and bottor peoplo than Jano havo endured tt. I will go now to my aunt's parlor." Sho founu there an acquaintance ac-quaintance whom had had known in Paris, tho Countess Gorvnls. "I have but now sent a messongor for you, Matilda," said Lady Jovory; "tho Countess desired greatly to seo you." Then tho conversation became reminiscent, and tho now plot was not named, and Matilda began to bo borod. Suddenly, however, her Inter-cat Inter-cat was raised to tho highest pitch, for tho Countess, touching a bracelot which Lady Jovory woro, said: "1 must toll you a strange thing. I was lately at a dinner whero tho nlooc of his Eminence, Cardinal Mazarln, FSnoiHHpVBHI9VBBVBffHHHHH ity to talk over tho affair wltnirW undo. Vhbn sho did so, ho regrotted her precipitancy, and refused to move in tho matter at all. "It would bo the height of imprudence," ho said. "Tho young man is dead and gone, and wo cannot bring him back, though England Eng-land went to war with Franco va that quarrel. Tho Protector is ill, worn out with sorrow and anxiety, and if ono"bf his old attacks should soizo him at this tlmo, it would havo tho mastery. And when Cromwell dies, there is no question of what will happon. Tho nation will glvo Charlos tho Second a trial. Then Matilda, when Charlo3 comes back, Prince Ru-port Ru-port comes with him. Wo may need tho friendship of Prlnco Rupert to savo ourselves. No one can tell how this reputedly good-natured Charles will act, when his hands aro ablo to servo his will. I will not then mako an enemy of so powerful a man as Prlnco Rupert Is like to bo." It was rarely Sir Thomas spoko with such decision, and Matilda was much Impressed by his words. They mado her hesitate still more about her marrlago with Cymlln. During thcr first hours of her discovery, dis-covery, Matilda had wondered If sho ought to tell Jano what proof of Cluny's death had como to them; for In her hoart she scoffed at tho Idea of Cluny roturnlng to Paris to sell tho Jewels. Hut Jano did not visit hor for somo tlmo, and sho was daily expecting ex-pecting an answer from Prlnco Rupert. Ru-pert. This letter might bo of great Importance, one way or another, and sho resolved to wnlt for It. It camo more rapidly than Bho had anticipated, and Its contonts temporarily fanned to a feoblo llamo her dying Illusions con-corning con-corning hor first lovor. In this lettor Rupert "on his honor" reiterated bis first statement. Ho declared that ho loft Novlllo In health and safety, having hav-ing at tho Inst moment urged upon him his own-swift Barb, which offer Novlllo refused. Ho said ho should seek mademolsello's presonco until ho saw her wearing tho Jowols. and thon makoquostlon concerning thcm;and If not satisfied, go at onco to her Undo Mazarln. He wns euro It was now only a few weeks oro tho truth would bo discovered. Theso promises wero blended with his usual protestations of undying dovotlon, and Matilda wan pleased though sho was not satisfied. For to import's lettor thoro was a postscript, and in that postscript ono word which sent tho blood to her heart, cold with terror "P. S. It may bo tho Bastllo, and not tho grave, which holds the Navlllo secrot." (To bo continued.) I V |