The Argosy — page 328: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

312 Within their Gates, “Not a moment to lose,” whispered Mary, from amidst her sobbing breath. ‘ May God speed you on your way !” ' Wringing her hand with a sharp pressure, leaving his farewell upon her lips, and a few words of comfort for her heart, Francis Stanley caught up his valise, and was gone. The stars had long been shining, and all the inmates of the house, save the farmer, had retired to their chambers, for he sent them up early, when Mr. Hale, and the would-be capturers, and Tom, arrived at the door, having cooled their heels on the Treffyn road. “Not here again; never again, Mr. Hale,” spoke the farmer, with dignity, spreading his hands to bar the tutor’s entrance. ‘‘ You would have betrayed my guest—one living under the same roof with yourself. Hush! Justified, you say? It may be; I enter not into the question. He is nothing to me, and his doings are nothing to me; but he was a partaker of my hospitality: you have betrayed that, and I can never receive you here again. Henceforth we are strangers.” “Father,” called out Tom, while Mr. Hale stood in silence and mortification, “has Mr. Shepard got back yet with Mary ?” ‘““No,” spoke the farmer, sternly. “Then,” said the ready lad, turning to his companions, “ you may depend it is as I said—that they are staying at Treffyn till to-morrow. Most likely at old Mother Llewellyn’s : she has taken them to the play, I shouldn’t wonder. They'd have been here long before this, you know, had they meant to return to-night.” “Come in, Tom,” said the father, sternly, “that I may bar the door. Shepard here?”—to a question of the officer. ‘No, sir! I have told you that he is not here. I tell you no lie: ask your friend Hale whether I am to be believed.” Tom slipped in. Mr. Owen shut the door and bolted it, leaving the baffled men to watch the house outside, or to wend their weary way to search Treffyn, as might seem good to them. And that was the ending, so far ‘as the Owens were concerned, of the stranger who had sojourned with them. That the erring but attrac- tive young man, Francis Shepard Stanley, made good his escape there was no cause to doubt; since neither from the newspapers nor any other source did they hear aught of his capture. Would he ever return, a free man, to claim Mary? It was more than she dared to look for. But her future hopes, her heart’s best life, had gone out with this stranger, when he went forth from within their gates. comicbooks.com