Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-07-18

that uses horse6esh sou She pointed TO Mol
lys knees, that were bowed and shaking and
the bloody froth dripping from her mouth.
"Girl, for Gods sake sell me horse! They
are after me and am hurt" pointed up
tho road Better than l are concerned in
this
"God nor king know 7, young man. But
what's ON thy saddle cloth therep
Twas the smear where my blood had soaked.
and, looking and seeing the purple mess caked
with mud and foam on tho sorres flank,
felt suddenly very sick. The girl made a stem
to me.
sell thee n horsei Hire thee a bedman.
more like. Nay, then, lad"-
But | saw her no longer only called "oh-
Obi" twice, like little child, and. slipping
my hold of the saddle, dropped forward on
her breast.
Waking, found myself in darkness-not
like that Of night, but Of room where the
lights have gone out, and felt that was
lying. But this hardly seemed a thing TO be
minded. There was a smell of peat and
hracken about. Presently | heard the tramp
Of feet somewhere overhead, and n dull sound
Of voices TINT appeared to be cursng
The footsteps went to and fro, the voices
muttelrng most of the time After a bit
voice speaking quite close-"There's blood
pom her hands, an there's blood yonder by
Vie plow.' Said another voice. higher and
.queaky, "There's scent behind II fox, but
YOU don't dig it up an take it home.n The
tramp passed on, and the voices died away.
BY this knew the troopers were close and
,onEug me. a foolish thought came that
Tas buried, ana they must be rummarinp
lyer my grave; but indeed had no wish to
inquire into it; no wish to move even, but
inst to lie and enjoy the lightness of my limbs
ne blood was Stilrunning. felt the warmth
it against my back and thought it very
,easant So Shut my eyes and dropped oil
}c,ln.
Then heard the noise of shouting far away.
md long while after that was reused by the
louch of hand thrust in against my naked
lre1>t over my heart
"Who is tfn | whispered
JOAN answered a voice, and the hand
was Withdrawn.
The darkness had lifted somewhat, and
hough something stood between me and the
.snt, marked number of small specks, like
Joints of gold dotted around me.
"Joan-what besides"
"Joans enough | reckon; lucky for thee
lis none else. Joan o the Tor folks call me.
Dat may yet be Joan i Good Time. SO hold
,Ay peace lad, an cry out so little as may be. "
felt a ripping Of my jacket sleeve and
shirt, now clotted and stuck to the flesh 1t
panied cruelty, but | shut my teeth; and
after that came the smart and delicious acne
IF water, as she rinsei the wound.
Clean through the flesh. lad-in an ont.
ike country dancn'. No bullet to probe nor
bone to set. Heart up, soce! Thy mother
shall kiss thee Yet. What's thy namef"
Marvel, JoGn-Jack Marvel"
"Au' marvel It's thou'rt Marvel vet. Good
blood there's in thee, but little enow."
Sine bandaged the sore with linen torn from
my shirt, and tied it round with sack cloth
from her own dress Twas all most gently
done; and then found her arms under me
and myself lifted as easy baby.
Left arm round my neck, Jack; an sing
out If It's hurtin' thee, "
1t seemed but six steps and we were out on
the bright hillside, not fifty PAGES from where
the pillow yet stood IN the furrow. | caught
a glimpse OF a brown neck and Il pair of firm
red lips, Of the gray tor stretching above us,
and farther aloft, flock OF field fare hang
ing in the pale sky; and then shut my eyes for
the dazzle, but could still feel tho beat eff
Joans heart as she held me close and the
touch of her breath on my forehead
Down the hill she carried me picking the
soitcst turf, and moving with an easeful swing
that rather lulled my hurt than jolted it.
was doing, even, when strange noise awoke
me.
Twas a high pr6tractod note, that seemed
ut first to swell up towards US and thea
broke of in half n dozen or more sharp wells,
Joan took no heed of Them but, seeing my
Eyes unclose, and hearing me moan, stopped
short.
Hurts thee, lad.'
"No.' Twas not my pain, but the sight Of
the sinking sun that wrung the exclamation
from mel was thinking" | muttered.
Don't; It's bad for health. But hide thee
still awhile, and shalt lie pom a soft bed
BY this time we had come down TO the
road, and the wells were still going on, louder
than ever. We crossed the road descended
another slope, aud came all at once on a low
pile OF buildings that moment before hal
been hid. Twas but three novels Of mud,
stuck together in the shape of a headless
cross, the main arm pointing out towards the
moor. Around the whole ran battered wall
patched with furze, and from this dwelling
the screams were issuing:
JOAN the voice began, "Joan-Jan Ter
eagles a-cawin' my legs-Gar-rout thou
hell cat--Bast thee, let me zog! Pull'n off,
Joan-Jo-an!'
The voice died away into wall; then
broke out IN a racket Of curses. Joan stepped
to the door and flung it wide. AS my eyes
grew used to the gloom inside, they saw this;
\ rude kitcLcn-the furniture but Two
ric.ely chairs, now tossed or their faces, an
oak table, with legs sunk into the earth, a
,cy of strong waters, tilted over and drain
ing upon the mud floor, ladder leading up
to a loft, and in two of the corners few
bundles of braciien strewn for bedding. To
the LETT, as one entered, was an open hearth
but the glowing peat turves were now pitched
10 right and left over the hearthstoue and
about tho floor, where they rested, filling the
len with smoke Under one of the chairs a
lack cat spat and hristled; while in the
fiddle Of the room, bareiooted in the en-
Jors, crouched a mau. lie was half naked,
I'D, aud bent, with matted gray hair aud
beard hanging almost TO his waist. His chest
md legs were bleeding from score Of
| cratches; and he pointed at the cat, opening
ui shutting his mouth like a dog, and bark
Eg out curse upon curse.
No way upset, Joan stepped across the
| ,.cnen laid me on one Of the bracken beds
IA cxplained
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