Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 147, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1911 — HAL O' THE HICHWAY [ARTICLE]

HAL O' THE HICHWAY

By George Bronson-Howard.

Copyright, The Frank jk. Munsey Co. CHAPTER VI. Sir John Arundel Swears. v The lieutenant-governor had made a very inconspicuous entrance into hie mansion in Annapolis, and had gond 'Straightway to his carefully avoiding his servants. Many times and oft he was called by his servants and informed that the evening meal was upon the table, and that Lady Mary, Mistress Anne Arundel and Mistress Alice Calvert waited for his appearance. Sir John's only replies were not suitable to be carried to the ears of those fair ladies. L When the baronet did emerge from his seclusion he was attired for the ball, bewigged and bepowdered as befitted his rank. Sir John’s eyes were shining wrathfully, and his complexion apoplectic. He betook himself to the dining-room, where the meal was in progress. “You are late, uncle," said Anne AWeetly. Anne was looking her pret tlest in her pink ball-gown and Sir pearts, and in her dark ringlets reposed a single pink roses. “Be quiet, you baggage!” thundered Sir John. “Am I the governor, or am 1 a youth to be questioned by such forward minxes as you ? I come when I like and how I like.” He scowled, evidently awaiting a reply. Disappointed in being able to carry the subject no further, he seated himself and allowed the footman to serve him. It was Sir John’s desire that they should question him as to why he was | late, and unwillingly draw forth the : story from him. But they seemed to betray no ipterest ih him whatever, talking among themselves of the folks they had met since their arrival In Annapolis. Anne was especially vivacious. .Rose blush dyed her cheek, and her whole attitude was one of tense expectancy of joyful things to come. The Indifference of his own family to his affairs stung Sir John to the quick, and intensified the bitterness which he felt toward the whole human race. Here he was, Sir John Arundel, who had not seen his relatives since they left their home two days 1 before, arriving late, and no one took the trouble to inquire the whys and wherefores of it. Sir John knew naught of their experiences on the road. An opportunity presented itself presently. He cleared his throat and glared at Anne. The women folk, recognizing that Sir John had something to say, looked at him inquiringly. “Mark e,” said Sir John, “from this day on I’ll have no rest until I have brought that highwayman—that Hal Eager—to the gibbet. I swear if—--I*ll bring the rascal to the gibbet or my name’s not Arundel.” Anne suddenly went white. “I have been shamefully handled,” went on Sir John, his voice almost pathetic in its intensity. “I left my escort behind to reach here sooner, and was held up by this highwayman. He took my purse, my watch, and my clothes, and forced me to wear his accursed habiliments. They burst while I wore them," added Sir John bitterly, remembering the wind whistling through the places yhere the clothes had parted. Anne suddenly laughed. Sir John fixed a wrathful eye upon her. “You baggage!” said he. “I be- “ You baggage!" said he. “I believe upon my soul that you’re pleased.” “It must have been funny!” giggled Anne.

The silence that followed was ominous. Sir John’s hand trembled ominously near the silver cream-jug. Anne expected to see it launched at her head. Sir John’s face defied description—no more surprise, anger, rage and hurt pride could havp been crowded into one expression. "Me—Sir John Arundel, LieutenantGovernor of the State, forced to change clothes with a highwayman—funny!” He gasped for breath. ’ Mark you, young woman, that highwayman shall have my undivided attention until he is caught—and hanged by the neck until he is dead.” Suddenly Anne remembered that the highwayman had been occupying her thoughts since the night before. The amusement faded out of her face, and she leaned back in her chair, very white and very sorry that she had laughed. For the mere thought of the fairhaired, blue-eyed Hal was something to make Anne’s pulse beat more quickly—which it had not done for man before. Her lingers played aimlessly wlth a fruit spoon. The silence was broken by the entrance of a footman. He came nolselesly across the room and handed the lieutenant-governor a note on a small silver tray. The governor grunted and picked

it up. It had been written on his own paper, and he knew it to come from some visitor who watted in the recep-tion-room. 4 ' When Sir John had read the note, he smiled and seemed a bit better pleaded with himself. “We shall have a friend of Lor J Winton’s at rhe ball tonight,” said Sir John. “This letter tells me that Mr. Cecil Conniers, recently resident of Philadelphia, has come to attend our ball.” * He coughed and .went on: “He mentions in his letter that when be left England several months ago, Lord Winton gave him especial heed to be sure and make the acquaintance of his good friend —myself." Satisfied with having created an impression, Sir John smiled softly to himself. Lord Winton was perhaps the most prominent of all the dandles of London, and Sir John had but a passing acquaintance with him. But it pleased his vanity that, according to his standard, so important a man as Winton should have taken care to remember him. Sir .John swelled at least two inches, and turned to the footman. “Where is the gentleman?” “He waits in the reception-hall, your excellency,” replied the man. “Tell him,” said Sir John, clearing his throat, “that the lieutenant-gov-ernor presents his compliments and begs that Mr. Conniers will await him. I shall join him within a few moments.” The footman bowed and took his de parture. Sir John ate a little more, and then, apparently hurt that the ladies should have overlooked the importance of his announcement, cleared his throat in order to express himself in an Impressive basso which was hardly his by vocal right. “Lord Winton,” said Sir John, sternly regarding Anne, “is a close friend of His Majesty and a bosom companion of the Prince of Wales. 1 remember well when we dined together at White’s that he said to me: ‘Sir John,’ said Lord Winton, ‘the prince is mightily pleased with the report that you insist that your officers and clerks shall be attired in the uniform of the court. Colonial governors are so infernally lax about the important question of clothes.’” Lord Winton had not so said, but Sir John was quite sure he would have done so had the matter been brought to his attention. “How lovely of Lord Winton!” murmured Anne abjectly. Sir John gave her a sharp glance. He was never quite sure of Anne’s seriousness. “Mr. Conniers,” went on Sir 'John, rising, “will no doubt give me many bits of news about the intimate affairs at court. Igo to join him. When you have concluded your repast, follow me. I would have you meet him, all three.” And Sir John took himself off with impressive dignity. When he had gone, Alice turned to Anne with frightened eyes. “Do.you think he will catch your highwayman?” she whispered. “Oh. I so hope he does not.” “Alice,” said Lady Mary, speaking for the first time since Sir John had appeared on the scene, “it is not manners, child, to whisper in the presence of any one—let alone your elders.” Lady Mary had been regaled witn Anne’s experience also, but that part of them which held a certain amount of tenderness had been, evry wisely, omitted. We were speaking of the highwayman, mother,” said Anne. Lady Mary indulged in a genteel shiver. “After his kindness to us, do you not think that we might persuade uncle to change his mind —he—” She faltered, and remembered Hal’s frank face. “He”— and stopped again. -Lady Mary’s face was wreathed in a satrical smile. She was not a wise woman, but she knew her brother-in-law very well. “My child,” she said, “do you not know that when your uncle hath in his head a determination, be resteth not until he hath accomplished bis ends? Nothing might move him." She patted down some lace at her slender wrists. “Oh, la! —but a most determined man is your Uncle John.” Lady Mary wetted her fingers and dried them on her serviette.

“Come,” she said. “We had best join the gentlemen in the reception room. There is but little time, for we must presently be at the ball—” Following her eut, Anne clasped Alice’s wrists. “Do you think he will come, - this Master Eager r* she breathed. “He promised that I should see him at the ball—think you that he will come? He seemed most tender." Alice sighed in ecstasy. Here was a romance after her own fancy. In her eyes Anne was gradually displacing “Clarissa Harlowe.” “Oh, la! What if he should?”—and she clasped her hands. “Would It not be beautiful for you ” Then, with sudden remembrance: “But Pulvey Littleton comes also, does he notr Anne flashed her a look of scorn, but the next moment Jher lips became tender, for she was genuinely fond of the Philadelphia fop in a half maternal sort of way.

“Ob, yes,” she said. "I sappose Pulvey will be bore, but”—her 0 voice sank to a whisper—“think you that after denuding mine uncle of bis raiment Master Hal would dare appear T‘ “He Is a proper highwayman.” replied Alice. “Oh, Anne, I think he Will!” -MSSi* They had passed through the hall, and now entered the reception room in the wake of Lady Mary. Seated on a divan near the fireplace, Sir John sat, expounding the law on certain matters, while a slim, elegantly dressed young gentleman in gray listened, to all appearances, with great intentness. At the sight of him Alice Calvert was much pleased. Here indeed was a proper sort of man. His features were clear, hid wig tn the most correct taste, and his clothes worthy of his slender, cleanlimbed form. As Lady Mary came in, both men arose to their feet, and Sir John came forward. “My sister-in-law. Lady Mary Arundel,” he said. Then to Lady Mary: “May I present Mr. Conniers, late of London?”* Mr. Conniers bowed over JLady Mary’s hand in the approved court manner. “We had heard in London of the beauty and grace of Sir Henry’s widow and it is for me to confirm what has been said when I return. Lady Mary, you rob our court of one of its fairest adornments when you remain away.” Having done his duty nobly and left Lady Mary blushing with pleasure at such praise from one straight from the seat of fashion and power, Mr. Conniers was presented to Mistress Alice Calvert, to whom he also said pretty nothings. The sound of his voice when first he had greeted her mother had caused Mistress Anne Arundel to falter and almost stagger. Her face was turned to the floor and the blood surged to her cheeks. Her heart beat rapidly. Sir John’s voice broke into her meditations. “And Mistress Anne Arundel—” The rest of the introduction was lost to Anne. She held out a slender hand, still looking at the floor. It was only when the man’s lips touched her hand that she looked up, and when she did it was into the ardent eyqp of Hal Eager, gentleman of the road. • “The sweetest flower in the garden of time,” murmured the supposed Conniers, still holding the hand and tenderly withal. Then in a tone so low that none might hear it save Anne: “I have come to ask for the pink rose. Anne!” (To be coneinued.)