Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-03-25

'y' are his ward, l know 1t. BY the same |
.oken, 80 am 1, or so he saith: or else he
hath bought my marrisge-I wot not
rightly which; but it IS some handle to
Cypress me by"
"Boy, sgain!" ssid Dick. /
"Nsy, then. shall call you girl, good
Richsro?" ssked Mstchsm.
"Never girl for me-" returned Dick.
81 do allure the crew Of them"
Eye speak boyishly," said the other.
"Ye think more of them than We pre-
tend"
mot l." said Dick, stout'J. "They
come not in my mind. ntVer heard Of )
maid yet that was for any service, save,
one only; and she, poor shrew, was buried
for witch aud the wearing of mems
clothes in spite of nature"
Master MatchAm crossed himself with
fervor, aud appeared to pray.
"What make YEP" Dick inquired.
az pray for her spirit" answered the
other, with a somewhat troubled voice.
"For witch's spirit?" Dick cried.
"But prsy for her. an ye list; she was the
best werch in Europe, was this Joan OF
Arc."
"Well, but, good Master Rlchard," re-
little, y are no true natural man; for
God made them twain by intention, and
brought true love into the world, to be
mans hope and woman's comfort"
"Faugh!" said Dick. "You are milk
sepping baby, so to harp en- women. An
ye mink be no true man, get down upon
the path, and whether at fists, backsword,
or bow and arrow, will prove my msn-
hood on your body"
NAY, am no fighter" said matcham,
eagerly. "And il l talk Of women, it If
because 1 heard ye were to marry"
81 to marry :" Dick exclaimed. "Well,
1t is the first hear of it. And with whom
was to marry?"
"Oae Joan Sedley," replied Matcham,
coloriug. "IE was Sir Daniels doing;
he hath money 10 gain upon both sides !;
and, indeed, I have heard the poor wench
bemoaning herself pitifully Of the match. "
"Well, marriage is like death, it comes
to all" said Dick, with resignation.
"Aud she bemoaned herself pray ye
now, see there how shu.tle-Witted are
these girls; to bemoan herself before that
she had seen me! Do bemoan myself?
Not l. An be to marry, l will marry
dry eyed But il you know her, prithee,
of what favor is SHE? fair or foul7 And
Is she shrewish or plessant?"
"N.Y, what matters it?" said Matcham.
San y are to marry, ye can but marry.
What matters foul or falr2 These be but
toys. Y'are no milksep, Master Richard.
Ye will wed with dry eyes, anyhow"
at is well ssid," replied Shelton. "Ltt-
tie l reck."
"Your lady wife is like to have 8 pleas
ant lord" said Matcham.
"She shall have the lord heaven made
her for" returned Dick. 81 troW there
be worse IS well as better"
"Ah, the poor wepch," cried the other.
"And why so poor" asked Dick.
ITO wed man of wood" replied his
companion. "Oh, me, for q wooden hus-
band! :"
81 thir < | be man CT wood, indeed"
said Dick, "to trudge afoot the while you
ride my horse; but it Is good wood,
trow."
"Goed Dick, forgive me-" cried the
other. "Nay, y'are the best heart in En-
gland; but laughed. Forgive me now,
sweet Dick"
"Nsy, no fool words" returned Dick, a
little embarrassed by his companions
warmth. mo harm is done. am NOT
touchY, praise the saints"
Aad at that moment the wind, which was
blowing straight behind them IS they
went, brought them the rough flourish OF
| Sir Daniels trumpeter.
"Hsrkl" said Dick, "the tucket sound
eth"
"Ay," said Matcham, "They've found
my flight, and now | am unhorseo!" anc
h. 10
"Why, now, what aileth thee?" said
| Dick, HSee We here, John Matchsm-sith
| John Matcham is your nsme-I, Richard
Shelton, tide what betide, come what
NAV, will gee you safe in Hollywood. Tat
saints so do to me sgsin if l default you
| Come, pick me up good heart, Sil
White-face. The way betters here; spul
me the horse. Go fasterl faster! Nay
mind not for me; l can run like ceer.'
So, with the horse trotting very hard
! and Dick running easily alongside, the!
crossed the remainder Of The fen, AM
came out upon the banks of the river b.
the ferryman's hut.
CHAPTER Ill.
THE FEN FERRY.
Dick went to the door and opened 1t
Within, upon foul old russell cloak, tn
ferryman lay.
We for the ferry? Ill times! i'll times
Look to yourself. There is fellowship
abroad. Ye were better turn round Of
YOUR two heels and try the bridge"
"Nay; times in the saddle" answered
Dick. thine will ride, Hugh Ferryman
land nv kinsmau, Master MatCham, VI
are hot in haste"
Hugh Ferryman grumblingly undid hi
boat and showed 1t little forth into tn
deep water. Then Dick led in the hors
and Matcham hastily followed.
aye be mortal small made, master,
said Hugh with wide gin; "somethiDi
o. the wrong model, belize. Nay, maste
Sneltop, am for you," he added, gettin
to his oars. ga cat may look at king
1 did but take shot of the eye at Maste
Mstcham."
"Sirrah, no more Words" said DicA
"Bend your back"
They were BY this time at the mouth
the creek and the view opened up an
down the river.
"My Master" said the ferrymau, keel
ing the boat steady with one ore, ~ haV
a shrew guess that John a-Fenne is on tn
island. He bears me black grudge t
all Sir Daniels. How il turned me q
stream and landed you an arrow figf
above the path? Ye were best not meddl
with John FEMME"
"Be it SO, Hugh" answered Dick.
They pulled long way up the rivel
turned the tall Of an island, and cam
Nhn