The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-05-04
CHAPTER I.

Shail lfulUIeSsly DeSege ner AGAIN When the
time comes to sit at home and write down
his adventures IT'S her revenge, as l am
Extremely sensible; and methinks she is the
harder to me- upon reflection how near
came to being her life long servant, as you
are to hear
Twas on Nov. 30 1G42-a clear, frosty day
that the king, with the Prince of Wales
ltnewly recovered of the measles, the Princes
Rupert and Maurice, and great company Of
lords and gentlemen, horse and foot, came
marching back TO us from Reading was
scholar of Trinity college, III Oxford, at that
time, and may begin my history at o'clock
on the same afternoon, when going las my
custom was) to Mr.. Rob Drury for my fenc-
ing lesson, found his lodgings empty.
They stood at the corner of Ship street, as
you turn into the Corn marlet-a low vain
scoted chamber, i'll lighted but commodious.
''IIe is off to see the show,n thought / as /
looked about me; and. finding an easy cushion
in the window, sat down to await him.
Where presently, being tired out for had
been carrying a halberd all day with the
scholars troop in Magdalen college grove,
and in despite of the open lattice, 1 fell sound
asleep.
1t must have been an hour after that l
awol5e with chill les was naturaD, and was
stretching out hand 10 pull the window close,
but suddenly sat down again and fell to
watching instead.
The window looked down, at the height of
ten feet or so, upon q bowling, green at the
back OF the Crown tavern Q1ept by John
Davenant, in the Corn market, and across it
to a rambling wing of the same inn; the
fourth side-that TO my left-being but an old
wal, with Q broad sycamore growing against
it. Twas already twilight; and in the dark
ening house, over the green, was now one
easement brightly lit, the curtains undrawn,
and within 4 company of noisy drinkers
round table. They were gaming, as was
easily told by their clicking of the dice and
frequent oaths; and anon the below of some
tipsy chorus would come across Twas one
of these catches, l dare say, that woke me-;
only just now my eyes were bent, not towards
the singers, but on the still lawn between u.s.
The sycamore, have limited, was broad
tree, and must, IL summer, have borne a
goodly load of leaves; but now, in Noven-
her, these were strewn thick over the green,
and nothing left but stiff, naked boughs. Be-
meath it lay a cracked bowl or two on the
rank turf, and against the trunk a garden
bench rested, l suppose for the convenience
of the players. On this man was now seated.
he was reading in a little book, and this
first logged nay curiosity; for twas unnatural
man should read print at this dim hour, or,
if he had mind to try, should choose a cold
bowling green for his purpose. Yet he
seemed to study his volume very attentiyely
but with a sharp look, now and then, towards
the lighted window, as if the jewellers dis
turbed him. His back was partly turned to
me. and what with this aud the growing dusk
l could but make a guess at his face, but a
plenty of silver hair fell over his fur collar
and his shoulders were bent a great deal.
Judged him between fifty and sixty. For the
rest, he wore dark, simple suit. very strait
II cur, with an ample furred cloak and hat
rather tall, after the fashion of the astreign
Now, why the mans behavior SO engaged
me, don't know; but at the eud OF half al
hour was still watching him. By this 'twa!
rear dark, bitter cold, and his pretense to
read mare foniness; yet he persevered-
though with longer glances at the easement
above where the din at times was fit to wax
the dead.
And now one of the dicers upset his chair
with 4 curse, and gets on his feet. Lookin.
UP / saw his featIs.es for momeut-a slight
pretty boy, scarce above eighteen, with fai
curIs aud flushed cheeks like a girls. Ii mad
me admire to see him in this ring OF purple
.viliainous faces. Twas evident he was
young gentleman of quality, as well by hi
bearing as his handsome cloak of amber saith
barred with black. Il think the DEVILS il
these deer heard him crying, and prett.
hubbub all about him; but presently tn
drawer enters with more wine, and he sit
down quietly to a fresh game.
As soon as twas started one of the crew
that had been playing but was now droppe'
out, lounges up from his seat and, coming t
the easement, pushes it open for fresh air
He was one that till now had sat in ful
view-a tall bully, with gross, pimple
nose-and led the catches in bulls voice
The rest Of the players paid no heed to hi
rising. and very soon his shoulders hid then
as he leaned out, drawing in the cold breath
4 During the late racket L had forgot for
while my friend under the sycamore, bu
now, looking that way, to my astonishmen
/ saw him risen from his bench and stealth
across to the house opposite l say ''steas
ing for be kept all the way to the darke
shadow of the wall, and, besides, had a cur
Gus trailing motion with his left foot, q
slough tho ankle of it had been wrung c
BADLY hurt.
As soon as be was come beneath the wiz
dow he stopped and called softly,
'sHiStm
The bully gave a start and looked down
l could tell by this motion he did not look /
find any one in the bowling green at tina
hour Indeed, he had been watching I'll
shaft of light thrown past him by the ROOF
behind, and now moved so as to let it fail o
the man that addressed him.
The other stands close under the window
ss il to avoid this. and calls again.
"Histla says he, and beckons with a finge
The .laa at the window still held his toagl
Q suppose because those in the room woul
hear him if he spoke, and so for a while Il
two men studied one another in silence, as
considering their next moves.
After a bit, however, the bully lifted
hand, and, turning back into the lightt
room, walks up TO one of the players, speal
a word or TWO and disappears
sat up on the window seat, where till no
/ had been crouching for fear the shaft
light should betray me, and presently las
was expecting heard the latch of the baC
porch gently lifted, and spied the heavy for
OF the bully coming softly over the grass.
Now, 1 would not have my readers pref
diced, and so may tell them that this was Il
first time in my life that / had played Il
eavesiropper. That did SO now l can new
he glad enough, but 'tis true, nevertheless
my conscience priclsed me; and was ev,
making a motion &c withdraw when that Q
CURED which would have fixed any mans q
tention, whether he wished it or no.
The bully must have closed the door
hind him but careiessly, for hardly could
have. taken dozen steps when it opened aga
x,~f+T, 81 ;