Show abit Ai it SERIAL FICTION he pin ok is CAW 4 siw do of te aad W wa itaw fay YATES 0 dornford yates igo XII continued 25 the duchess duchac ss continued you bear a very go good od name and are proud of it parish sure you im abers usage which was your tame his hij sister was your moth to rn I 1 errs maid and when your mother died she stayed on till the house was told sold it should not have been sold father was killed of course but your I 1 fa action and as you know things j 4 went vent wrong very well now I 1 N too bear a rood good 9 name my family came e is saying S aal ayl g and though you 11 n and ihnow 1 know better the Al manach de and gotha oth a will tell you that it is royal and if you will change your name deed poll oll and its easy enough by p will call yourself saying exon from this time on I 1 think you may very well marry the countess of brief apart from anything else it is as the he three of us know most right and proper that she should bear my name and in view of all that has happened it is most right and proper that she should take it from you but the principal thing is this that I 1 am very fond of you richard and should derive infinite pleasure from the thought that you and your sons were to bear my name for I 1 know you will do it honor and I 1 find it hard to believe that with such a mother to bear them your sons will prove unworthy to hand it down 1 she hesitated there and put a hand to her eyes then she went slowly on OB the workings of fate are very wonderful saying is my own name when I 1 was married I 1 took my husbands title but not his name and because the name is royal his sons by me would have borne it but you see I 1 have had no children and when I 1 come to die the name will die too unless you you care to humor a sentimental old fool what I 1 said I 1 cannot remember because my heart was too full but 1 I know I 1 was down on my knees and her hands were in mine as I 1 tried my best to thank her for doing to me what only a king can do then she kissed me on eit either her cheek and told me to ring for wine for we must have a drink she said to celebrate this occasion you seem to like the idea and as good john herrick would say it suits me down to the socks the thought of that name going out has given me sleepless nights but now alls very well for if you and elizabeth virgil arent fit to fly my flag bag then my eye is dim and my natural force abated and that I 1 refuse to believe for I 1 never wore glasses yet and though I 1 take it easy im still as strong as a horse when the wine was brought she pledged me and wished me luck and I 1 tried again to thank her and an drank her health then she picked up P a sheet of paper and put it into my hand your cake she said simply you can have it now cowand and can eat it as soon as youve changed your name A marriage has been arranged and will shortly take place placa between richard say ng exon late of usage in wiltshire and 1 I now 01 of tracery Ta macry cry tn in austria and ell auz cheth virgil countess ot of brief I 1 lifted my head to stare at the duchess of whelp now of 0 tracery madam what it says said old harry you can cut it out if you like but I 1 understand youre short of 0 a residence and it would give me great pleasure it you were to make this your home hom after lunch I 1 left for raven where I 1 was to stay for three nights after which I 1 was to return with the countess of brief and herrick to settle future arrangements and generally chew the cud but before I 1 went old harry made me promise that I 1 would drive straight to raven and would not visit brief until til the following day you owe john herrick some thing ng hes been a good friend to you and he feel left in view of all that had happened I 1 1 could not protest but I 1 could not help elp thinking that herrick could h hardly ardly feel left it if I 1 paid my lady a visit t before returning to raven to spend the evening with him still if old harry was willful I 1 owed her n caprice so much that if she had seen aee tit fit to direct that the countess and an I 1 should not meet for another ten len days 1 I must have honored her capt t without lout a word so 00 I 1 took my leave and entered the rolls once more and driving leisurely came to raven at six As we stole between the two chestnuts and on to the apron beyond I 1 saw that brenda was standing at the toot foot of the steps she must have seen the car coming along the road of approach I 1 brought the rolls to her side and put out my hand well brenda I 1 said how are you you see ive come back she took my hand in both hers 1 I am so glad to see you she said your room is all ready of course mr herrick is not back yet he goes to brief every day and I 1 doubt if he will be here for another half hour I 1 think you will sit in the meadows until he comes youre perfectly right said 1 I and got out of the car but first I 1 must have a drink will you go and draw me some beer while im washing my hands brenda hesitated then you you wont have a bath will wil I 1 you I 1 mean the waters not hot in some surprise id like one before dinner I 1 said but why I 1 have one now it would take too long said brenda the meadows are now at their best but the aunis sun is low wi with th that she was gone I 1 turned to my faithful man glad to be back winter he smiled all over his face this is the place tor for me sir abe rhem m an mighty louses auses is all very well in their way but t the he country seems frightened of them the woods an and d the meadows seem shy but here come right up an eat out of your hand youve said it said 1 I and take it easy tonight t wash the rolls ROHS tomorrow id rather do her tonight sir it wont take me very long an when you come to think she deserves the best and that was another true saying said I 1 and odo do as you like walked into the house I 1 do not know W what hat made me do it but when I 1 had w washed my hands I 1 str strolled across the landing and I 1 entered the pleasant bedroom knew was mine mine for a moment I 1 stood looking round then I 1 M moved oved to the open the friendly commanding wind windows as woods mead meadows aws and the sheltering beyond was is as rare as lovely the scene for the sun was 90 going ing down and with the flooded georgic was pleasant all things were throwing amber light shadows as clean and as black slashing the turf with sable as print vivid green and making the still on every side the vivid more mor e with shot was as woodland tap tapestry es try 0 ot f afire with go gold id the tn stream and sitting was beside its splendor PI endor countess of DI water was E lizabeth elizabeth brief beautiful head was bare and her the treetops fixed upon her ey eyes es were expecting though she were to Ps as to open and make the heaven above heaven had the for me her rich but I 1 seemed to be and opel opened ed idyll that did not bel regarding so some m by but had been sung long to earth shakespeare to plea please se the gods fortune fortun e so I 1 looked upon my then I 1 went down to the meadows to see the light in her eyes nearly an hour went by before herrick arrived for which I 1 was very thankful because his car was to take elizabeth back As we heard the drone of his engine oh dear said the countess of brief now that ive got you back I 1 dont want to let you go but you wont go mad again will you remember that the duchess of whelp has set her heart on this match and that after all that ashes done you cant let her down with a sudden movement I 1 picked her up in my arms shall I 1 tell you something I 1 said yes please A warm arm slid round my neck 11 N I 1 g I 1 17 7 K k NN R 0 P 1 I think you yon may very well marry the colin countess tess ol of brief today I 1 came back to my dream and as long as my dream will have me I 1 shall never leave it again I 1 must go to london later if only to change my name but I 1 will wil I 1 not go unless you go with me take what companion you like take half a dozen women to shut mouth kick your heels while im doing my business only be there you see you are my dream A week ago I 1 rendered you unto caesar and tore my heart and now caesar has given you back has given me back my dream well all right but the wound in my heart will reopen if ever I 1 leave you gain again and that I 1 tell you frankly I 1 cannot face when I 1 left you I 1 knew very well I 1 was lea leaving ving my life behind but not until I 1 was gone d did id I 1 know what it meant to be dead a dead man having his being amid a workaday world for two or three moments she held my head against hers then she let it go and turned to look into my eyes my blessed she breathed im so thankful I 1 mean so s 0 much you see ive given you all ive no more to give heart and soul and body you hold bold them in your strong hands not mine any more at your disposal richard and if ever you ceased to care the body would wither for the heart and the soul would die I 1 would have answered her but the words would not come tor for I 1 could think of nothing but the look in her glorious eyes I 1 cannot tell what exquisite language they spoke bu but t I 1 understood their saying better than any words W I 1 had that day been ennobled ennoble ed by the duchess of whelp but now n ow I 1 was exalted in spirit and a cpr spring ing seemed to break within me for joy that t elizabeth virgil had come to love roe me so well then she smiled and I 1 kissed her mouth and set her down on her feet shall I 1 tell you something she said yes please when we got the telephone mes sage to say that you had been stopped and were going to come back 1 I 1 I burst into tears my sweet it was natural enough but listen old harry called me a fool and then burst into tears herself we turned to john tor for comfort john who had been our mainstay and simply kept us going for 31 hours and john was standing there with the tears running down his cheeks so you see my darlin darling 91 im I 1 m not peculiar theres something about richard exon that gets us all under the ribs which was of course absurd for else I 1 should not have suffered in red lead lane four hours had gone by and I 1 was sitting smoking with herrick under the stars raven was fast asleep only our sitting room casements were framing two squares of light the rolls was within her coach house winter had gone to his rest 1 I suppose its all true said herrick ric k but I 1 must confess there are moments when I 1 wonder it if ive been translated before my time I 1 me mean an a month ago I 1 was not only down but out the immediate future was hideous pawnshop pawn shop doss house and gutter were staring me in the face and I 1 like the look in their eyes you see id met them before and now im r tiling ruling a castle with 50 servants hanging upon my lips compared with me elizabeth count im a sort of lord protector appointed by the duchess of whelp and when done im due at tracery I 1 have been desired by old harry to take her estate in hand put my house in order she said youre just the man to do it and its time it wa was S done if my agents right that 11 just about carry you home he gives your uncle six months so you see my gay crusader youve made my fortune too to say nothing at all of the fact that ive never enjoyed ed myself as I 1 have in the last three weeks three weeks and one day no more yet their burden has been so brUli brilliant ant that though ive seen quite a lot the rest of my life beside them seems strangely dull duh and not really strange for never before have I 1 entered the middle ages and tasted their mighty fare talk about food for the gods bour our first view of brief gray against green in the sunshine as we stood on the bridge that trembled before the vials of wrath percy virgil afraid to writhe whilst I 1 drew his description from life for the eager police elizabeth here at raven rosalind viola beatrice rolled into one with the secret of all the ages snared in her glorious eyes the dead king sunk in his stall staring before him as he had stared before him day and night for almost years dinner for four at tracery gold and silver and scarlet and powdered hair elizabeth worshipful and the duchess of whelps most excellent majesty percy virgil confronted with winter the count of brief at bay and the awful uncertainty naming flaming in bertrams eyes and then one evening at five the stammer of a telephone bell and old harrys voice rock steady and very clear Is that you henderson yes 4 stopped and returning tomorrow im much obliged and you can add to that list some very monstrous moments elsas laugh in the staircase turret the darkness of palfreys Pal freys court the shock of that icy wat water the straws you caught at to save your tottering life and then lord ferdinand virgil broken and craven and cringing to be permitted to bury himself alive alicei I 1 shall never get over that as long as I 1 live youre a blasted lion in cheeps clothing and the truth you sit there as meek as mild and apparently parent ly dumb with admiration tor for old harrys efforts and mine to kick at the gates and the next day b before e were up you walk bung into the fortress and kill the giant then you put on the cheeps skin again when I 1 think that you came into breakfast straight from the field and merely begged my pardon for being late As though overcome with emotion he threw himself back in his chair and covered his eyes im sorry 1 I said it seemed better TO BE CONTINUED |