Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-02-17

through the latticed window. She waa
just sitting down To her breakfast
when loud rap sounded on the door.
Who in the world can IL be. Pcterp"
she muttered as she stumbled to the
door. When she opened IL there stood
u tall, bronzcd, full-bcarded fellow
dressed like soldier, and armed with
a sword and a crossbow.
"Hullo. good mother" he cried,
''can't you spare mouthful To hun
CRY manp l could eat crane"
Ursula uttered loud cry and started
back "Why it's Giles. my boy Giles
or his ghost For she did not think OF
seeing him SO soon.
I'm no ghost, that's certain, and II
you are Usula. widow OF one David
Hatton, why am your son. That's
just as certain" And tho stout young
fellow clasped the thin, crooked figure
in his arms and gave her n smacking
kiss.
''But how does II happen you are
here just nowP" asked the little old
woman, as she led the soldier into her
cabin and gave him the only chair the
place possessed. She could not just
make out why he had followed her so
speedily.
Its short story enough. mother"
said Giles, after he had gulped down a
milk posset and wiped his russell beard
on his hand. "We-that is. Lord Heron
and his men-at-arms-havc been follow
ing Henry of Derby who has Just been
crowned King of this English realm.
We then had passage at arms with
baron on the Welsh border, and after
that marched for his northern castle.
We had won gold and fame, and Lord
Heron counted on some years of peace
and rest in his feudal home. Last night
was our second night in the castle. and
Twas one of the watchmen on the walls.
ut was about two or three o'clock
this morning, | think, when 1 was
startled by voice coming out of the
very ground, warning mo of the APP
proach of Douglas and his dreaded
Scots. Who she was l know not; it
may have been an angel, though it
looked like thin. feeble old woman.
But hasteued tn Lord Heron and told
him what had heard. He asked who
told me. and when answered an old
woman, he laughed scornfully.
'Ho! ho! he cried, and you'll be-
leve an old woman's tale so readily!
Devil take the old woman or any one
else who has come night like this to
alarm us. Our gates are fast enough,
and our walls are strong. As for Lord
Douglas, he's in Scotland. Go to bed,
and don't trouble me again.
II think he was heavy with wine; but
did not obey him. The old woman's
voice seemed so pleasant and kind. and
she was so earnest. / felt as if she
might be right. So went and got all
the gold that belonged to me-a whole
bag full, mother-and l crept out near
the postern door, so that l could escape
if there was surprise. And sure
enough, in less than two hours the
Scots were in the castle, and the cry of
Douglas Douglas' rang above every
thing,
"They had crept up with their seal
ing ladders on ono side of the wall.
caught the sentinel mapping, and so had
the castle. l got out before the slaugh-
ter began, and made for this cot as
soon as | could find my way"
"Oh, Giles" murmured tho widow,
in a broken voice. ''it was me as warned
you. God must have directed my
steps and then she told the story OF
how she had gone down to get pastur-
age for her goats, and had overheard
the troopers.
What more is there to be toldp Only
that they both agreed that it was best
to get away from such a dangerous
neighborhood rs fast as their feet could
carry them. The house might serve as
q shelter to some Door fugitive. The
dnner-pot they would leave for some-
body who had wherewthall to buy q
dinner to cook in it, and the possessions
of the departing housekeeper should be
left for her successor.
But Peter they took with them in q
bag; and the two sorry-looking goats
they led behind them to a moro fertile
as well as more peaceful land-"Be-
cause" said Giles, ''if it had not been
for the goats you never would have
found me and should never have found
you.--hred. Myron Colby, IN ". Y.
Erd1nincr