Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-07-18

To JoIuS company | was left; for her
father after saving nay life that afternoon,
tool; no further notice Of me by word or deed;
and the cat Jan Tergagle tnamed after a
spirit that was said to haunt the moors here
abouts, was as Indifferent SO with Joan |
passed the days idly, tending the sheep, or
waiting on her as she plowed, or lying full
length on the hillside and talking with her of
war and battles. Twas the one topic on which
She was curious ecolng at nae when offered
10 teach her to read print, and for hours she
would listen to stories of Alexander and Han
nibal Cesar ana joan of Arc, and other great
commanders whose history l remembered.
one evening-'twas early in May-we had
climbed to the top of the gray tor above
Temple, whence we could spy the white sails
of the two channels moving, and, stretched
upon the short turf there, | was telling my
usual tale Joan lay beside me, her chin
propped on one Garth stained hand, her great
solemn eyes wide open as she listened, Till
that moment had regarded her rather as n
man comrnde than girl, but now some fem
mime trick of gesture awoke me, perhaps, for
my fancy began to contrast her with Della,
and broke of my story and sighed.
art longing to be hencei" she asked
felt ashamed to be thus caught and was
silent. She looked at me and went on:
"Speak out lad
81 oath would | he to leave you, Joan"
And whyN
"Why, we are good friends l hope, and |
ain grateful
"Oh, av-wsh thee'd learn to speak the
truth, Jack Art longing to be hence and
shalt--soon."
"Why, Joan, you would not have me dwell
here alwavsN
She made no answer for while and then
with a change Of tone:
'Shalt ride wi me to Bodlnin fair to-mor-
row for a treat an see the great Turk and
fat 'oomau and hocus-pocus. So tell me more
bout Joan. the Frenchwoman."
On the morrow, about in the morning,
we set oif-Joan on the strawberry balanced
easily an old sack, which was all her saddle,
and on Molly, that now was sound again and
chatting to be 50 idle AS we set out Joan's
father for the first time took some notice of
me standing at tine door to see us off and
shouting after us to bring home some account
of the wrestling. Looking back at a quarter
miles distance, saw him still framed in the
doorway with the cat perched on his shoulder.
Bodmin town is nought but a narrow street,
near on mile long and widening towards tho
western end. 1t lies mainly along the south
side of q steep vale; and this May morning, as
Joan and | left the moOrs and rode down to
it from nOrtHward already we could hear
rumpets blowing. the big drum sounding,
and all the bawiiug voices and hubbub of the
fair. Discerning, 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
gipses, whifIlers. mountabanks, fortune tell
FRS, cut purses and quacks mixed up with
honest country faces, beat even the rabble I
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,
70 free them from my wound that now all
the tunic wore was of sack cloth contrivei
and stitched together by Joan SO ] made
at once for a decent shop, where luckily [
found a suit to fit me, one taken ohe tailor
said Off a very 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-
noceros (Which put me in mind OF poor An
thony Killigrev1, and the plS faced baby,
and the cudgel play, and presently halted be-
fore Cheap jack that was crying lis wares
in prodgious loud voice near the town wall.
Twas u meager sharp visaged fellow with
gray chin beard like a hiilygoat's; and t!s
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 cries he, "but a pair
o. lovers coming; and what i my hand but a
lovers hour glass; Sure the stars of heavn
must have a hand in this conjuncture-and
only thirteen pence, my pretty fellow, for a
hot will . no l.r
hearts face, and help make 1t fine
There many country fellows with
their maids in the crowd, that turned their
heads at this address; and as usual the women
began.
"'Tis Joan o the Tori"
"Joan's picked up wi n sweetheart-tee
hee-an' us reckoned herd forsworn man
kind"
"Who is hel"
Some furriner sure, that likes garlck."
Hes bought her no ribbons YET
"How should he, poor lad, that can find nc
garments upon her TO fasten 'em tor
And so on, with deal Of spiteful laughter
Some of these sayings were half truths, NJ
doubt; but the truthfulest word may be in
felix. So, noting a dark fush ON JOAN
cheek, thought to end the scene by taking
the Cheap Jacks mirror on the spot, to stoI
Ma VDnBue, anu pneu CuhW1uB ueT AWAY,
Bat IN mis- l was a moment too late, fol
gust as reached up my hand with the thir
tean psncs and the grinning fellow on th'
platform bsnt forward with his mirror,
beard ooarser jest, a rush in the crowd anC
two heads 20 crack together like eggs
twas two of Joan's tormontors she had takei
by the hair and served 30; and, droppnnj
them the next instant, had caught the CbeaI
Jacks beard, you might bell rope, ant
wrenehed him head foremost off his stand
my thirteen pence flying far and wide
Plump he fell into the crowd, that scattered
ON all hands "a Joan pummeled him; AM
whacki whaok fell the blows on the poo
idiots face, who screamed for mercy, a
though Judgment Day were come.
No one, for the minute, dared TO step be
tween them; and presently Joan, looking W
with arm raised for another buffet spied
poor astrologar close by, IL a red and yellow
gown. that had been reading fortunes In
tub of black wator beside him, but was no,
broken off, dismayed at tho hubbub. To thi
tub She dragged the Cheap jack and sent hir
into It with a round souse. The black watts
spiAshed right and left over the crowd TheH