The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-05-18
CHAPTER VIII.
LOSE THE KINGS LETTER.


LOSE THE KINGS LETTER.
Almost before daylight we we're afoot, and
the first ray of cold sunshine found us step
ping from the woods into the plain, where
now the snow was vanished and glistening
coat of rhine spread over all things Down
here the pines gave way to bare elms and
poplars, thlckly dotted, and among them the
twisted smoke Of farmstead and cottage here
and there, and the morning stir of kitchen
and stable, very musical in the crisp air.
Della stepped along beside me, humming an
air or breaking off to chatter. Meeting us,
you would have said we had never a care.
The road went stretching away to the north
west and the hills against the sky there;
whittier beyond we neither knew nor (being
both young and one, by this time, pretty
deep in love- did greatly care; but the con-
duct of those we met, their gruff refusals Of
food, their smiles and winks, caused Della to
insist that at the first opportunity should
get her a suit of boys clothes
On the far side of the valley we entered a
wood, thinking by this to shorten our way.
for the road here took long bend to east
ward. Now, at first this wood seemed of 70
considerable size, but thickened and spread
as we advanced. Twas only, however, after
passing the ridge and wheE daylight began
to fail US that 1 became alarmed. For The
wood grew denser, with a tangle of paths
crisscrossing amid the underground And
Just then came the low mutter of cannon,
shaking the earth. We began to run Onward,
tripping in the gloom over brambles and
stumbling into holes.
For mile or SO this lasted. and then, with
on: warning, heard a sound behind me and
looked back, to find Della sunk upon the
ground.
"Jack, here's a to-dol"
whats amiss?"
why, l am going TO swoon!"
The words were scarce out when there
sounded a cracking and swapping of twigs
ahead, and two figures came rushing towards
us-a man and a woman. The man carried
an infant in his arms, and though called on
them to stop, the pair ran by US with no more
notice than if we had been stones. Only the
woman cried, 'Dear Lord, save usl" and
wrung her hands as she passed out of sight.
This is strange conduct" thought l; but
peering down, saw that Delia's face was
white and motionless. She had swooned, in
deed, from WEAKNESS and hunger. So took
her in my arms and stumbled forward, hop
ing to find the end of the wood soon. Fol
now the rattle of artillery came louder and
incessant through the trees, and, mingline
with it, multitude of dull shouts and out
cries At first / was minded to run after the
man and woman, but, on second thought, re
solved to see the danger before hiding from it
The trees in short while grew sparser
and between the stems | marked a rudy
/ light glowing, and then l came out on al
open space upon the hillside, with q dip o.
earth in front, and beyond long ridge O
pines standing up black, because of rec
glare behind them, and saw that this cam
not from any setting sun, but was the ligh
OF confagration.
The glare danced and quivered in the SIX,
Us crossed the hollow. 1t made even Della
white cheek seem rosy. Up amid the pines
clambered, and along the ridge to where
broke off in steep declivity. And, 10! in
minute l looked down, as 'twere, into the in
fernal pit.
There was a whole town burning below
and in the streets men were fighting, as coul
be told by their shouts and the rattle an
blaze of musketry, for garment of smok
lay over all and hid them. Only the turmo
"
burning matches, and quick Jets of firearm
like lightning in thunder cloud. Grea
sparks hoated past us and over the trees q
our back. A hot blast breathed on GU
cheeks. Now and then you might hear hr
man shrek distinct amid the din, and TIL
spoke terribly to the heart.
Now the town was Marlborough, and th
attacking force body of royal troops ser
from Oxford to GUST the garrison of the pa
lament, which they did this same night, wit
great slaughter, driving the rebels out of I'll
place and back on the road to Bristol Ha
we guessed this, much i'll luck had bee
spared US; but we knew naught of it, nc
whether friends or foes were getting the be
ter. So Della being by this time recovere
a little, we determined to pass the night
the woods and on the morrow to give I'll
place wide berth
Retreating, then, to the hollow that lay {
, the lee side of the ridge, away from the mort
wind), l gathered pile of great stones ar
spread my cloak thereover for Della. ]
sleep was impossible, even with the will fl
it. For the tumult and fighting went OH al
only died out about an hour before dawl
and once or twice we were troubled to he,
: the sound of people running on the rid.
above. So we sat and talked in low voic
: till dawn, and grew more desperately hu
gered than ever.
With the chill of daybreak we starte
meaning to get quit of the neighborhood b
|, fore any espied us, and fetched compass
the south without another look at Marble
{, ough. At the end of two hours, turnil
: northwest again, we came to some wat
: meadows beside tiny river tthe Kennel,
!, think), and saw, some way beyond, hil
;, road that crossed to our side tonly the brid
was now broken DOWN, and, farther yet,
!, :, thick smoke curling up; but whence tt
?