The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-03-28

| hurting no man, but making clean sweep of
| every sweet stall in mis- way, and was taken
/ at last very easily, with his head in a treacie
cask, by the bear ward and a few dogs
Meanwhile the pickpocket and I had
scrambled out by the further bank and
wrung our clothes He seemed TO resent his
treatment no more than did the bear
Ben cove-'tis good world Ny thankS!''
And with this scant gratitude he was gone,
leaving me to ma 81 my way back TO the sign
of ''The Boot" where the chambermaid led
me upstairs and took away nv clothes to dry
by the fire. | determined TO buy horse on
the morrow, and with my guineas and the
kings letter under the pillow dropped of to
slumber again.
My powers Of sleep must have been noised
abroad by the hostess, for next morning at
the breakfast ordinary the dealers and
drovers laid down knife and fork to stare as
entered. After while one or two lOunged
out and brought in others to look, so that
soon l was in a ring of stupid faces, all gaz-
ing like SO many COWS
For while affected TO eat undisturbed
but lost patience at last and addressed a red
headed gazer:
''If you take me for show you ought to
pay"
That's fair" said the fellow, and laid a
groat on the board. This came near to put
ting me in passion, but his face was serious.
"'Tis real pleasure" he added heartily,
ITO look on one so gifted"
eff any of you." l said, could sell me .
horse"-
At once there was a clamor, all bidding in
one breath for my custom. So, finishing my
breakfast, | walked out with them TO the
tavern yard, where ] had my pick among
the sorriest looking dozen of nags in Eng
land, and finally bought from the red haired
man, for five pounds, bride, saddle and
flea bitten gray that seemed more honestly
raw boned than the rest. And the owner
wept tears at parting with his beast, and
thereby added pang to the fraud he had
already put upon me. And l rode from the
tavern door suspecting laughter in the eyes
of every paSser by.
The day ftwas drawing near noon as
started was cold and clear, with coating of
rhine over the fields; and my horses feet rang
cheerfully on the frozen road. His pace was
of the soberest; but, as l was no skillful rider,
this suited me rather than not Only it was
CALLING to be told so, as happened before
had gone three miles.
sat before fire of dry sticks little way
back from the road His scanty hair, stiff as
a badgers, now stood upright around his bat
tered cap, and he looked at me over the bushes,
with his hooked nose thrust forward like
birds beak
''Bien lightmans, comrade-good dayi IT'S
a good world so stop and dine"
pulled up my gray.
and 7
bad nigh chance to compare it with the next
last night
''Sha'n't do so we'll i the next, fear" he
said, with a twinkle; ''but l owe thee some
thing, and here's a hedgehog that in five min
utes II be baked to turn. It's good world,
and the better that no man can count on it.
Last night my dripping buds helped me to a
cant tale, and got me silver penny from a
man Of religion. Goods in the worst; and
LIES like hunting the squirrel-a man gets
much good exercise thereat, but seldom what
he hunts for"
That's as good morality as Aristotle's,"
said l.
IT'S better for me, because It's mine"
While l tethered my horse he blew at the en-
bers, wherein lay good sized ball of clay
baking After while he looked up with red
me-" he continued, with a wink, ''they
couldn't spare time to look i my pocket-the
ruftin ely them!"
'He pulled the clay ball out of the fire,
S-acked it, and lo inside was a hedgehog
cooked, the spikes sticking in the clay, and
coming away with it. So he divided the flesh
with his knife, and upon slice of bread from
his wallet it made delicate eating; though
IL r.
rade who swore over and over that the world
was good, and as the wintry sun broke out,
and tie hot ashes warm'd his knees, began to
chatter at great pace
why, sir, but for the pretty uncertainty
of things I'd as lief die here as l sit
He broke off at the sound Of wheels, and
coach with two positions spun past us on the
road
l had just time to catch a glimpse of fig
ure huddled in the corner, and a sweet, pref
ty girl, with chestnut curls seated beside it,
behind the glass. After the coach came
heavy broad shouldered servant riding on a
stout gray, who flung us a sharp glance as
ne went by and at twenty yards distance
turned again to look.
That's luck" observed the pickpocket, as
the travellers disappeared down the high
way; tomorrow, with a slice of it, l
might be riding in such coast as that, and
have the hydropsy. to boot. Good lack!
when l was ta'en prisoner by the Turks
a-saiiin' i the Mary of London, and sold for
a slave at Algiers, l escaped, after two
months. with Eli Sprat, Gravesend man,
In a small open boat. Wen, We sailed three
days and nights, and all the time there was
a small seabird following, flying round and
round Us, and calling two notes that sounded
for all the world like 'Wind'ard Wind'ardr
So at last says Eli, TITS Heavens voice bid
ding US to ply TO wind ard And so we did, |
and on the fourth day made Marseilles; and !
who should be first to meet Eli on the quay
but q Frenchwoman be had married five /!
years before, and left And the Jade had /
him clapped in the pillory, alongside Of a |
cheating fshmonger with a collar of stink |
ing smells, that turned poor Ellis stomach /
Now, there's somewhat TO set !
against the story Of Wilmington next time !
tbs told YOU"
/ was now for bidding the rascal good-bv. /
But he offered 10 60 with me as far as Hun /
gerford, where we should tCrn into the Bath /
road. At first | was shy Of accepting By 4
reason of his coat, wherein patches Of blue, I
orange tawny and fame color quite overlaid I
the parent black: but closed with him upon /
his promise 70 teach me the horsemanship /
that 50 sadly lacked. And BY the time We I
entered Hungerford town | was advanced 50 /
Far, and bestrode my old gray 50 easily, that 4
in gratitude | offered him supper and bed at 4
an inn. If be would buzz buy nav coat. 10 I
which he agreed, saying that The world was 4
good
By this the day was cloCied over and the /
rain coming down space 80 that as soon as
my comrads was decently arrayed az the first 4
slop shop we came 20 twas hign time 20 seek .
an inn. We found quarters a. The Horn,
and sought the travellers room. and FIRE to