Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-04-05

heroine OF romance OF the true blood,
if even there was such thing out of a
tale. Not that she harped upon hel
own troubles, as, no doubt, heroine o.
the very first rank should do. On
the contrary, she led Dick to talk about
himself, which, had he been a trifle full
er. he would have done yet more glad.
ly; and she must, at last, have known
him as well as if they had been ac-
quainted for years.
You are clever young fellow" said
she; '.it is disgrace such power OF
adaptation should be thrown away. II
comes of being an Englishman-s stiff
and so starched you all are. In any
other country you would have had q
career. You would be a rich man as
well as a clever one. For example-it
is not the soldier who becomes rich in
war. All the plumber goes somewhere
but where? Yet it can not 90 into
the air.
Are you not tired. Countess?" he
asked. And are you not hungry,
too?"
''Oh, no. Are you. then? We will
rest II you are; but
He was ashamed to be beaten by a
woman. And so they rode on till dark
ness fell around them, and in the great
silence of night the flow of the river
could be heard. For they kept close by
that. as their only guide. ..Well, she
must give in at LAST thought Dick, too
hard set for even such slight love-mak-
iDp oS q ('ouutaSS rpirbt have olJo,ol
from trooper. But he never wished
he had never met her-the ride was be-
ginning to feel like dream
Look therer'
They had issued from dry water
course; and it was Dick who saw. some
three hundred yards or so in front, a
dull red glow.
''Hush!" whispered she. mot so
loud! A campfire; but French, or
Spanish. or English-who can say?r
"Harkr'
"Al's wellr' was the welcome chant
that greeted Dicks hungry ears. And
never had those good words a gIadder
ring.
IAN English outpost" said he; may
be the English lines. We're all right
now. By the Lord Harry, believe I'm
the luckiest dog unhungn'
Hush, my friend! can not ride
into the English lines; all alone as am.
l dare not go among those rough men.
trust yon; but l trust none else in the
whole wide world. 1 shall be a pris-
oner; and you, too. must find Cen
eral Cuesta tonight, if tonight he is to
be found. have no papers-no pass.
remember; and l will not risk what
may come of that again. 1t is simple
for you. You are strayed from the
Spanish lines, and have lost your way.
You will get put in the road. Then you
will join me here and we will 90 on.
Oh, l do not mind being left alone. NV
whole life is alone. If they give YOU
food, take it; for can well believe you
must be hungry, my poor friend! You
have not your own heart to eat, like me.
All, it is good have an Englishman at
my side! You may seek that fire with
out fear"
"And if your General is still miles
away?"
Then we will see. When you have
found out everything we shall know
what to do"
The lady had by this time so completely
taken the command; and besides, this
time she had reason on her side. Il
would have seemed, no doubt, a queer
business for lady to be riding into the
British camp at midnight, escorted by
an Anglo Portuguese, with no better ac-
count to give of themselves than that
be, for lady's sake, was absent from
his corps with nothing better than
French leave. 1t would certainly be
better il she could get at once to The
Spanish lines, quietly, where the Gen.
eral-in-chief was her friend and would
and would set everything
right for Dick himself besides.
So, leaving the Countess at the mouth
Of the water-course. he rode up towards
the fire, round which some score Of
Enthusiastically British soldiers were di.
vided between talking and snoring.
Having answered the challenge to the
best of his power, to the effect Of his
instructions, he was brought to repeat
them to sleepy subaltern, who snubbed
him sharply. for fool. but showed no
desire to retain him. No uniform could
make Dick Blackthorn look like any
but the most honest of Englishmen;
while an Englishman in that coat could
be worth no special care. Go to your
'eggarly Spaniards. as King George
sn't good enough for you,n said the
ad in command of the outpost Fol
ow the river and your nose. and you'll
ind 'em in couple of miles-behind
heir barracks. You'll have to fight in
he open if YOU stay here"
Dick, having had his dismissal, would
lave returned at once to the lady, with
he good news that she had but q
ouple miles more to ride, when it
night have been twenty for aught he
new. But there was an iron pot over
he fire that gave forth fumes we'll
ugh as tempting as the glances of |
lack eyes.
Said he, to the man who had taken
i'm in charge:
Mate. did you ever go forty-eight
ours on half an ounce of goats milk
halk; can't call it cheese"'
Ibid l? Didn't /. you mean. What
hance has an Englishman got that
lustn't take without moneys worth
gainst Frenchman that may, and q
lon that does. and Portugee like
ourself, that's long sight the worst
'em all? say, my lads, here's q
are sight; hungry Portugeer'
That's dead again nature" said q
oung fellow. "But then It's true it's
ought but half-breed. Throw him q
one."
Starved as it was. Dick Blackthorn's
ritish blood began to boil under his
ortuguese skin.
"Ay," said he, ''throw me q bone;
nd when I've gnawed it, so sure as my
ame's Dick Blackthorn. I'll fight the
sst man among you for the meat