Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-05-17

the points OF light that had once puEned me-
And here was Joan's bower and Joan herself
inside II.
She was sitting with her back to me, In her
left hand holding up the mirror, that caught
the rays Of tho now sinking sun land thus
had dassled me), while with her right she
tried to twist into some form OF knot her
tresses-blsck, and coarse a. horses mane
that already she had roughly braided. A
pail of water stood beside her, and around
lay scattered score or more Of long thorns,
cut 70 the shape Of hairpinA
VTts probable that after . minutes watch
ing let sorne laughter escape me. At any
rate, Joan turned, apied me, and scrambled
up, with an angry red on her cheek. Then
saw that her bodice was neater laced than
usual, and bow Of yellow ribbon (lshsd up
heaven known whonce) stood in the bosom
But the stSangest thing was TO note the effect
Of this new tidiness upon her; for she took
step forward as II to cuff me by the ear-as,
a day agone, she would have doue--and then
stopped, very shy and hesitating.
'Why, Joan, said I, "don't be angered. II
suits you choicely--it docs indeed Joan, art
certainly handsome girl; give me kiss for
tho mirror"
Instead Of flying out, as l looked for, she
faced round and answered me gravely:
'That will not; not to any but my mas
ter"
"And who Is thatf'
"No man yet; nor shall be till one has beat
me sore; him will / love an follow like dog
If SO be he whack me often enow."
"a strange way to love-" laughed !.
She looked at mo straight, albeit with an
odd. gloomy light In her eyes.
"Thnk 80, Jacki then give thee leave to
try"
think there Is always brutality lurking
In man to leap out unawares. Yet why do
l seek excuses, that have never yet found
onel To be plain, sprang fercely up and
after Joan, who had already started, and
was racing along the slope.
Twice around the tor she led me-; and,
though l strained my best, not yard could
gain upon her, for her bare feet carried her
light aud Free Indeed, was losing ground,
when, coming to the jews Kitchen a second
time, she tried to slip inside and shut tho
stone In my face.
Then should have been prettily bemocked
had l not, with a great effort, contrived to
thrust my boot against the door just as 1t
was closing. Wrenching it open laid hand
ON her shoulder; and in a moment she had
gripped me and was wrestling like a wildcat.
Now, being Cumberland bred, / knew only
the wrestling OF my own county, and moth
ing Of the Cornish style. For In the north
they stand well apart, and try to wear down
one another's strength; whereas the Cornish
is n brisker, lighter play, and-as must con-
fess-prettier to watch. So when Joan rushed
In and closed with me was within an ace of
being thrown, pat.
But, recovering, got her at arms length,
and held her SO, while my heart ached to sec
my fingers gripping her shoulders and sink
ing into the flesh. begged off; but she only
fought and painted, and struggled to lock
me by tho ankles again. l could not have
dreamed to find such fierce strength in girl.
Once or twice she nearly overmastered me;
but at length my stubborn play wore her
out. Her breath came short and fast, then
fainter; and in the end, still holding her of,
turned her by the shoulders and let her
drop quietly ON the turf. No thought had
any longer of kissing her, but stood back,
heartily sick and ashamed of myself.
| For while she lay, turned over on her
side with hands guarding her head, as il ex
pecting mo to strike her. Then, gathering
herself up, she came and put her hand in
mine very meekly.
Had liked it better hadst thou stamped
the life out o me, almost. But there, lad
am thine forever"
Twas like a buffet in the face to mo
"What" cried.
sbo looked nm 4, INV foce.--,,sar beave,
that 7 should hive to writa ;tI--,vith evo.
hrImtu, .;cL with Iovs. triaa to snoaL In
could on,v nod md hro,,o into n viii Gt n
tears.
was standing there with her hand in mine
and burning remorso in my heart, when
heard the clear notes of bugle blown, ava,
on the road to Launceston.
lacking that wav saw ,,reat comp,n,
oy borse Coming down over the crest the an
shining level on their arms and n Green stand
ari that tbov hora in their midst
loan snieJ them the Same instant nm.
ch,crea her soils Without a word we Ann
onrseIvcs down full Ienotb on tho turf /
watch
Tb.v war. mor. than n tbousond as
GUESSED and cam, winding down tho roa
verv orderly i'm heing fuD Of them
scanned n iong sernent writhinp with shin
scales Tho tramn Of boofs and iinpliur .
hits were nretty to hear.
"Rebelsin whispered [
loan nodded
There we're tbree repiments IN NIL wbereo
tho f,rst ond biggest, was of droyoons s,
clear was the air. | could almost read tn
legend ON their standard. and the calls c
their captains were borne M to rs extremel
distinct
Turning nv head ms the last rider disar
reared on the way to Bodmin, Ispied a suua
oddly shaped man striding down the hill yer
briskly: vet he looked about him often an
kent To the hollows of the ground. and wa
crossing below us. AS it appeared, straight fo
Joan,s cottage.
Cried I: "There Is but one man IN tn
world with such gait, and that's Billy Po
teryp
And, jumping TO my feet Tor he was con
directly beneath us), | caught up a gre,
stone and sent it bowling down the slope.
Bounce it went past him, missing his lie,
by a foot or less, The man turned, am