Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-06-17

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nomely-come.
And che made bright eyes at him.
"Ye are something smallish, indeed
began Dick.
And here sgsin she interrupted hin
this time with ringing peal OF laughte
that completed his confusion and sui
prize.
"Smallish," she cried. "Nsy, now, b
honest as ye are bold; l am 6 dwarf O
little better; but for sill tnat-come, tel
me!-for sill that, p.sssbly fair to lool
upon; is't not so?"
the distressed knight, pitifully trying t
seem easy.
"And man would be right glad to WeC
me?" she pursued.
ooh, madam, right glsd," agreed Dick
"Call me Alicia" said she.
"Alicis," quoth Sir Richard.
"Well, then, lion-driyer," she con.
tinued, "sith that ye slew my kinsman
and left me without stsy, ye owe me, il
! honour, every repatriation; do We not?"
~ do, madsm," said Dick. "Although,
upon my heart, l do hold me but par.
tislly guilty OF that brave knights
blood"
would ye evade me2" she cried.
"MsdaI, not so. l have told you st
your bidding, l will even turn ne 3
monk" esid Richard.
"Then, in honor, ye belong to me?"
she concluded.
"In honor, madam, SUPPOSE BE
gan the young man.
$50 to!" she Interrupted; "ye sre too
fall CT catches Ia honor do re belong 10
me, till ye have psld the evii?'
ola honor, do," said Dick.
"Hear, then," she constnued, "ye would
make but q SD friar, m thinks; and since
L I'm to dispose OF you at leasure, Twill
even take you for my husband. Nay,
now, no Words!" cried she. "They will
avail you nothing. For see how just it is
thst you who deprived me CT one nome
should supply me win another. And ss
for Joanna, she will be the first, believe
re, TO commend the change; for, sitter
all, as We be dear friends, what matters it
with which OF US We wed? Not one whit"
"Msdsm," said Dick, 81 vii! go into I
cloister, and ye plesge TO bid me; but to
wed with anyone in this big world besides
Joauaa Sed!ey is what I will con-
sent TO neither for mans force
gor yet for lsdy's pleasure. Pardon
me If speak my plain thoughts plainly;
but where maid is very bold, poor
man must even be the bolder."
"Dick," she said, "ye sweet boy, ye
must come and kiss me for that word.
Nly, fear not, ye shs kiss me for Joanna,
Snd when We meet Snail give it back to
Ter sud say l stole it. And as for what
ye owe me, why, dear simpleton, me-
thinks ye were not alone in that great
bsttle; and even If York be On the throne,
1t was not you that set him there. Bat
for good, sweet, honest heart, Dick,
" ere all that; sno if 1 could find it i'll
my soul TO envy yorr Joanns anything,
would even envy her your love-
CHAPTER VI.
NIGHT IN THE WOODS CONCLUDED DICK
AND JOAN.
The horses had by this time finished the
small store of provender, and fully
from their fatigues. At Dicks
command, the fire was smothered in
snow; aud while his men got once more
wearily to saddle, he himself, remember
ing, somewhat lste, true wood
land caution, chose tall oak and
ninbly clsmbered to the topmost
fork. Hence he could lock far abroad On
the moonlit and snow paved forest. On
the southwest, dark against the horizon,
8 God those upland, healthy susrters
where ne and Joanna hhd met with the
terrifying misadventure Of the leper. And
there his eye was caught by spot Of
raddy brightness no b gger than q
needles eye.
He blamed himself sharply for his pre-
yious neglect. Were inst, as il appeared
TO be, the shining of Sir Daniels camp
IRE, he should long ago have seen and
marched for it; above all, he should,
for no consideration, have announced
MS aeiehooIhood by lighting fire Of his
own. But row be mus no longer squan.
der valuable hours. The direct way to the
uplsnds WAS about two miles in
length; but it was crossed by very deep,
dingle, impossible to mounted
men; and for sake OF speed, it seemed to
Dick advisable to desert the horses Snd
attempt the adventure on foot.
Ten men were left 10 guard the horses;
signals were sgreed upon By which they
could communicate in case Of need; ard
Dick set forth st the hesd of The re-
Allcis Risinghsm walking
5touIly oy his side.
The men had freed themselves of heavY
zrmOr, snd LETT behind their lalces, and
they now marched away with very good
spirits in the frozen snow and under the
iustre Of the Econ. The de-
scent into the dingle, whore stream
strained sobbiug through the snow and
ice, WAS effected with sleCce and order,
Ind on the further side, being then
within short half mile of where Dick |
had seen the siimmer OF fire, the party
calted to breathe before the attack.
In the vsst silence OF the woods the |
ightest silence WAS audible from fsr, |
md Alicia, who was keen Of hearing, |
1eld up her finger warningly and stopped |
70 listen. All followed her example, out |
besides the groans of the choked brook |
n the dingle close behind and the bark-
ng CT fox ct distance OF many miles |
among the forest, to Dicks Ecutest |
hardening, not breath was audible.
"But vet, for sure. heard the clash Of
whispered Alicih.
"Msdam," ruturned Dick, who WAS |
more afraid of that young lady than Of
en- stout warriors, 81 would not hins ye |
we're mistaken; but it might well have
;ome from either of the camps"
SIT came not thence. It came from
she declared.
ut msy be what it WILL" returned
Dick; "and it must be IS hesven please.
2eck we not jot, but push on the
weller and mt il TO the touch In