Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 16, 1921 — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

54 “Tt is a right I shall never claim,” said Samson Integrity. Excitement seemed to grow in her as she watched him; one of those hands was raised now and pressed lightly at her breast. “ But if the worst danger should come— if in an unknown cause—”’ To his lips came the smile which his father had seen twice that day. “No Northam will ever have fallen in a better cause,”’ he said, and bowed low. '“ Two men, at least, are following me. One is my father.” ‘“ Your father?” cried Samson, and his eyes widened. “And the other is the man whom he would have me marry, Lord Harchester.” The face of Samson Integrity grew dark. “A profane man,” he said simply. “I have heard my father name him.” ‘‘ A famous swordsman,” she added as if she wished to test the mettle of his courage. “ He will need his skill,” answered the Puritan sternly. Then in a changed tone, “For God will fight with me —o your side!” ‘“My name only,” she said, “I do not wish to give.” “There is nothing. you would withhold that I could desire.” The incredulity of the girl’s expression changed to a pure wonder, and she made a little gesture toward him with both hands, “Ah, sir,” she exclaimed, “ how can I reward you?” “Tf my serviee is true, it will reward itself,” said the Puritan simply. ‘‘ You will tell me when the coach should be made ready?” ce CS, VOR. be ready now.” “ T will go then.” She lowered her voice so that none but he could hear. ‘“ First—wait one moment. There is something I must say. If, hereafter, you should ‘hear of me things which you now think unworthy—”’ ‘‘T shall close my ears ‘to them.” “ And if you should hear men say—” “My lady,” said the Puritan, “I wear a sword and I shall prove with it that you are faultless.” In an hour. No, it should ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. When a man loses thought for himself his actions are possessed of a natural grace, and Samson Integrity dropped upon his knee as if he had been schooled in a court of the grand monarch. The hand which she stretched out to him trembled as he lifted it and touched it to his lips. Then he rose and backed from the room with lowered head. But when the door closed behind him the girl remained standing with her hand still outstretched. CHAPTER IX. ON TO LONDON. O leave Jerry-on-the-Hill was not hard, but to leave it without making ex- planation to his father was a grim task indeed; for when he returned, there would be a fearful time of storm, but Sam- son Integrity decided to brave the peril. And, after all, if his conscience approved, what did the blame of his father or of all the world matter? The face of the girl was his charter of right! He followed it as Galahad followed the dream of. the Holy Grail. There is something stern in the purity of a young man’s first love, unchained to the earth by any fetters of lust or any desire of possession, for his passion is beautiful and sufficient in itself, and Samson Integrity served for the sake of service, as men serve the crown without thought of lifting their hands to its jewels. He made his few possessions into a bun- dle, then faised the candle above his head, stared about him at the big room, empty indeed with what he was taking from it, then left the apartment and slipped quietly down. the stairs. At the gate stood the coach with the four horses, and Tom stood at the heads of the leaders as Samson Integrity climbed up to the driver’s seat. He gathered the reins taut and looked about him, from the gabled front of Jerry-on-the-Hill to the tall, dark cones of the beech-trees in the hollow and the moon-whitened meadows which rolled away beyond. It was very near that ghost- ly hour of midnight when grim tales begin, CoOmiGcdoo S C©