Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-08-22

the light heart with which | left il. To what
had the summoning drums and trumpets led
met Where was the new life, then so care
lcssly preventedl But two days had gone,
and here was running to Joan for help, as
u child to his mother.
Past the peat r+cks we struggled, the sheep
cotes, the struggling fences-all 80 familiar
crossed the stream and rode into the yard.
Jump down" I whispered, 1--WE have time,
and no more" CHANGING back, saw a cou-
pie Of dragons already coming over the
heights They had spied us.
Dismounting, | ran to the cottage door
and flung it open. A stream of light, flung
back against the sun, blazed into my eyes.
rubbed them and halted for a moment
stock still
For Joan stood in front of me, dressed in
the very clothes | had worn on the day we
first met--buf coat, breaches, heavy boots,
and oil. Her back was towards me, and at
the shoulder where the coat had been cut
away from my wound saw the rents all
dnrned and patched with pack thread. In
her hand was the mirror | had given her.
At the sound of my step on the threshold
she turned with IA short cry--a cry the like of
which | have never heard, so full was it OF
choking joy. The glass dropped to the floor
and was shattered. In second her arms
were about me, and so she hung on my neck,
sobbng and laughing together.
Twas true-'twas true! Dear, dear Jack
dear Jack, to come to me; hold me tighter,
tiRhter-for my very heart is bursting"
And behind me a shadow fell on the door
way; and there stood Della regarding US.
Good lad-all yesterday 1 swore to be
strou9 ana wait--for years, if need be. Fie
90 womankind to be 50 weak! Ali day | sat
an sat an did never mite o. work-never
set hand to IA tool; an by sunset | gave in an
went cursing mysel, over the moor to War
eggan to Aisle Pascoe, the wise woman
an She taught me Il CHAIRMAN bless her,
bless Eer, Jack for Z hath brought theew
"Joonn said l, hot with shame, taking her
arms gently from my neck; 'lsten: | come
because am chased. Once more the dra-
Eooners are after me-not five minutes away.
You must lend me "A horse, and at once"
Nay" said a voice in the doorway, "the
horse, if lent, is for me!'
Joan turned, and the two women stood
looking at each other-the one with dark
wonder, the other with cold disdainfulness-
| and | between them scarce lifting my eyes.
! Each was beautiful after her kiud, as day
and night; and though their looks crossed
| for full minute like drawn blades, neither
had the mastery. Joan was the first to speak.
! Jack, is Thy mare in the yGrd!'
| nodded.
Give me thy pistols and thy cloak" She
stepped to the window hole at tho end of the
| ..tehcn aud looked ont. Plenty o time,"
| she said, and pointed to the ladder leading TO
! the loft above Climb up there the both,
and .ull the ladder ,:tter. ls't thou they
waut-or sheH' pointing to Della.
"Me cDieAv they would catch, no doubt
| l1Aiup a man. i answered
"Ay-bein a man; the worlds full O folly.
| Chen, Jack, do thou look after her, an III
lool. after thee If the rebels leave thee in
peace make for the Jews Kitchen and there
! abide me-
She flung my cloak about her, took my
pistols and went out at the door. As She did
so the sun sank and n duh shadow swept over
the moor JOAN | cried, for now guessed
her purpose and was following to hinder her;
but She had caught Moly's bride and was
already astride of her Get back" she
called, softly. and them II make better lad
than wcnch, Jack" leaped the mare through
a gap - the wall and i'll u moment was breast
ing the hill and calopinS for the high road.
In less than minute, as it seemed, heard
a pounding of hoofs, and had barely time to
follow Della up the ladder and pull 1t after
me, when two Of the dragons rode slTirrylng
by the house and passed on yelling. Their
cries were hardly faint in the distance before
there came another three
'HA's lost man, now, for sure said one;
abe DANCED if as not took the road back TO
Lan'son,'
How bout the galf" asked another voice.
"Here's her horse i the yard
"Drat the gal! Sam, 20 thou an tackle
her: reckon tLourt warriors enow for one
CONAN
The two fastened on and presently heard
the one they called Sam dismounting in the
ward. Now, there was window hole in the
loft facing, not on the yard, but towards the
country behind; and running to it, saw
that no more were following-the other three
having, as | suppose, early given up the
chase Softly pulling out a loose stone OF
) two, | widened this hole till | could thrust
the ladder out Of it. To my Joy it Just reached
the ground | babe Della squeeze herself
through and climb down.
But before she was half way down heard
a wild screech in the kitchen below and thu
voice Of Sam shreking:
"Help-help! Lord ha' mercy pom me-
tits black cat-tis q witchl The gals NJ
gal, but a witch"
Laughing softly, | was descending the lad
! der when the fellow came round the corne
I screaming-wlth Jan Iergagle clawlnS at III
= back and splitting murderously Della ha'
Just time TO slip aside, before he ran into tn
; ladder and brought me flying on top of him
And there he lay and beloved till tied him
and gagged his noise with a big stone in hi
mouth and his own scarf tied around it.
"Comen | whispered; for Joan and he
= pursuers were out of sight Catching up he
: long skirt Della followed me, and up the TO
= we painted together, nor rested till we wer
safe in the Jews Kitchen.
=. "What do you think Of this for hidn
placer asked l. with a laugh.
But Della did not laugh. Instead, she face
me with blazing eyes, checked herself, an
answered, cold as ice;
!, "Sir, you have done me many favor'
" How / have trusted you in return it were bes
for you to remember, and for me to forget
The dark drew on; but as | think, about !
>, o'clock, heard steps coming over the tur
- ran out. Twas Joan herself and leadin
:, Molly by the bride. She walked as if tireC
and, leaving the mare at the entrance 70
lowed me into the cave. CHANGING round,
i noted that Della had slipped away,
= "Am glad she's gone" said Joan, shortl,
-" raha1a tbiG Ioc