The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-06-01

Will SHuiiSc VI UOue.
"Shalt ride VII me to Bodmin fair to-mor-
row for a treat, an see the great Turk and
fat CONAN and hocus-pocus. So tell me more
bout Joan, the Frenchwoman."
On the morrow, about Q in the morning.
we set of-Joan on the strawberry, balanced
easily on an old sack, which was all her saddle.
and on Molly, that now was sound again and
chatting to be so idle. As we set out Joan,s
father for the first time took some notice of
me, standing at the door to see us off and
shouting after us to bring home some account
of the wrestling. Looking back at quarter
miles distance, saw him still framed in the
doorway with the catperched on his shoulder.
Bodmin town is nought but a narrow street,
near on mile long, and widening towards the
western end. 1t lies mainly along the south
side of steep vale, and this Nav morning. as
Joan and left the moors and rode down to
it from northward, already we could hear
trumpets blowing, the big drum sounding,
and all the bawling voices and hubbub of the
fair Descending, we found the long street
lined with booths and shows and nigh blocked
with the crowd, for the revel began early and
was now in full swing. And the crew of
gipsies, whiff1ers, mountebanks, fortune tell
ers, cut purses and quacks mixed up with
honest country faces beat even the rabble
had seen at Vantage
Now my own first business was with a
tailor; for the clothes | wore when l rode
into Temple, four months back, had been SO
sadly messed with blood, and afterwards cut,
to free them from my wound, that now all
the tunlc wore was of sack cloth, contrived
and stitched together by Joan. So l made
at once for decent shop, where luckily l
found suit to fit me, one taken the tailor
said off avery promising young gentleman
that had The misfortune to be killed on Brad
dock Down. Arrayed in this, felt myself
again, and offered to take Joan to see the fat
woman. .
We saw her, and the Ethiop, and the rhi-
nocer IS (which put me in mind of poor An
thony Killigrewl, and the pig faced baby,
and the cudgel play, and presently halted be-
fore Cheap Jack that was crying his wares
in prodigious loud voice near the town wall
Twas a meager, sharp visaged fellow with
gray chin beard like a bilygoat's; and las
fortune would have it,, spying our approach,
he picked out a mirror from his stock, and,
holding it aloft, addressed us straight:
What have we here,n cries he, ''but a pair
o. lovers coming? and what i my hand but a
must have hand in this conjuncture-and
only thirteen pence, my pretty fellow, for
glass that will tell the weather i your sweet
hearts face, and help make it finen
There were many country fellows with
their maids in the crowd, that turned their
heads at this address; and as usual the women
began.
-" It's Joan o. the Torln
az
hee!-an' us reckoned herd forsworn man
kindln
"Who is he?n
''Some furriner, sure, that likes garlick"
"He's bought her no ribbons yet"
How should he, poor lad, that can find no
garments upon her to fasten 'em to?"
And SO on, with deal of spiteful laughter.
Some of these sayings We're half truths, no
doubt; but the trutbfulest-wor may be in
felix. So, noting dark flush on Joan's
cheek, l thought to end the scene by taking
the Cheap Jacks mirror on the spot, to stop
his tongue, and then drawing ner away.
But in this was a moment too late, for
just as l reached up my hand with the thir-
teen pence, and the grinning fellow on the
platform bent forward with his mirror, l
heard coarser jest, a rush in the crowd and
two heads go crack together like eggs
Twas two of Joans tormentors she had taken
by the hair and served so; and, dropping
them the next instant, had caught the Cheap
Jacks beard, as you might bell rope, and
wrenched him head foremost off his stend,
my thirteen pence flying far and wide.
Plump he fell into the crowd, that scattered
on all hands as Joan pummeled him; and
whacSl whacki fell the blows on the poor
idiots face, who screamed for mercy, as
though Judgment Day were come.
No one, for the minute, dared to step be-
tween them; and presently Joan, looking up,
with arm raised for another buffet. spied
poor astrologer close by, in a red and yellow
gown. that had been reading fortunes in
tub of black water beside him, but was now
broken off, disnlayed at the hubbub To this
tub she dragged the Cheap Jack and sent him
into it with round souse. The black water
splashed right and left over the crowd. Then,
her wrath sated, Joan faced the rest, with
hands on hips, and waited for them 10
come on.
Net word had she spoken, from first to
last; but stood now with hot cheeks and bosom
heaving,. Then, finding none to take up her
challenge, she strobe out through the folk,
while the Cheap Jack picked himself out of
the tub, whining, and the astrologer wiped
his long white beard and soiled robe
Outside the throng was a carriage, stopped
for a minute by this tlmult, and servant
at the horses heads. By the look of it twas
the coach of some person of quality; and,
glancing at it, l saw inside an old gentleman,
with grave, venerable face, seated For
the moment it flashed on me had seen him
before somewhere. and cudgeled my wits to
think where it had been. But a second and
longer gaze assured me 1 was mistaken, and
went IN down the street after Joan.
She aas walking fast and angry nor, when
l caught her up and tried to soothe. would
she answer me but in the shortest words.
Womans justice, as | had just learned, has
this small defect-it goes straight enough,
but mainly for the wrong object. Which
now proved in my own case.
''Where are you going. Joang"
ITO Fifteen Balls stable for my horse.n
"Art not leaving the fair yet, surelyq'
'That l be, though. Have had fairing
enow-wi' a man!n
Nor for the great part of the way home
would she speak to me. But meeting, by
Found Scawens "a hamlet close to the roadl.
with some friends going to the fair, she
stopped for while to chat with them, whilst
l rode forward; and when she overlook me,
her brow was clear again.
Am hot headed fool, Jack, and have
spoiled thy day for thee"
Nay, that you have not" said 1, heartily
glad to see her humble, for the first time in
Our acquaintance; "but if you have forgiven
me that which / could not helm vou shall
take this that bought for you, in proof"
And, pulling out the mirror, leaned over
and handed it to her.