The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-02-21

mation dHo eueh 10 ndke an excuse for
logging just for pleasure and to- pratifv
his own selfish desire to be continnallv
logging why that justified the mutinv
As for the details OF the fight. he blamed
severely the inexperience In strateov
shown by first knocking down the enemv
He should have expected better tb;no. -
Ralph. whose true policy would have been
to harass and annoy his adversary nv
feints. lodges and unexpected skirmishes
This would not only have fatigued him
but. considering his shortness of bra.tb
would have worn him out. so that he
would in the end have fallen an easv nrev
and been cudgeled without resistance till
there was not sound place left Beside
it would have made the fight more inter
esting. considered as work of art.
However. doubtless the next time-but
shen he remembered that the how was
going away
ITO seek my fortune. fugleman. Ralnh
said gayly Look after Drusy for me
while am away
"Ay-ay." the fugleman replied. ..sbe
shall come to no harm And as for money
Master Ralphf''
I've got guinea. he replied. which
my uncle gave me three years ago"
"A guinea won't go far Stay, Master
Ralph He went into his room and came
back with stocking in his hand Here's
all I've got, boy 1t is twenty guineas
Take it all shall do very well Lord
what with the rabbits and the pheas
ants
Nay. said Ralph. Il will not take your
savings neither"
But. presently. being pressed, he con
sented to take ten guineas on the under
standing that when he came back (his
fortune made) the fugleman was to receive
twenty And then they parted with a
mighty hand shake
Half way down the street Ralph passed
Sailor Nan who was sitting on great
stone beas' l. her door. smoking her short
black pipe
WHITTIER bound my lad9" she asked.
IL am bound to London. he replied. II
am off to seek my fortune
Come here. will read thy fortune"
Like most old women. Nan could read
lads fortune in the lines of his hand. or
by the cards. or by the peeling of an apple.
"A good cruise. she said. with fair
wind aft and good weather for the most
part But storms belize on leaving port.
There's villain and fighting. and foreign
parts. and gold. and good wife Go thy
ways, lad Art no poor. puss faced swab
to fear fair fighting Go thy ways Take
and give Trust not too many And
stand by all old shipmets Go thy ways. :"
He laughed and left her Yet he was
cheered by her kindly prophecy
He crossed the old bridge and presently
found himself outside the green palings
of Dame Hetherington house The girl
7wtiohh ssdS Joined him in church was in the
garden. He wss::stled and she came run
ming
Il am come to say good by Drusy.,~ he
said IL am running away"
'Oh. Ralph whithers And you have q
cruel blow upon your face "
Il have fought Mathew be said. land
ehave beaten him This scar upon my
face is nothing compared with the scars
over his believe be is one large bruise
But can no longer endure his III treat
ment and Barbara 8 continual reproaches
Therefore | am resolved to remain no
longer, but shall GO to London there to
seek my fortune as thy father did
Drusy
They talked for half an hour. she trying
TO persuade him TO stay and he resolved
to 60 Then he went with her into the
story TO Dame aetherington who scolded
him and babe him get home again and
make submission but he would not
Then Drusila remembered that her
father would gladly aid any lad from
Northumb erland and sat down and wrote
letter very quickly being dexterous
w7th her pen and gave it to Ralph to
carry
You will fnd him she said lat the
sign of the Leg and Star in Cheapside
Forget not that address Stay | will
write 1t outside the letter Give 1t him
with my respect and obedience Oh
Ralph, shall! you he long before you have
found your fortune and are back to us9'
Nay said Ralph i know not what
may be my fortune | 60 to find 1t. like
many lad Of old
Then after many fond farewells. Ralph
Kissed her and tr,rdged away manfnlly
while Dr,Isy leaned he, head over the
garden gate and wept and sobbed. and
could not be corsoed