Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-04-09

with hand on it, swaying.
whats thy need, young man-that COM
est down to Temple Wi sword a-danglin'p
The girl was a half naked savage, dressed
only in a strip Of sacking that barely reached
her knees and scant bodice of the same,
laced in front with pack thread that left her
bosom and brown arms free. Yet she ap-
peared no whit abashed, but leaned on the
pillow tail and regarded me easy and frank, as
man would
Sell me horsel1 blurted out. Twenty
guineas will give for one within five min
utes, and more if he be good! 1 ride on the
kings errand-"
Then get thee back TO thy master an say
no horse shall he have o. me-nOr any man
that uses horsefesh So" She pointed to Mol
ly's knees, that were bowed and shaking and
the bloody froth dripping from her mouth.
''Girl, for Gods sake sell me horsel They
are after me and am hurt.n l pointed up
the road. Better than I are concerned in
this"
''God nor king know I, young man. But
what's on thy saddle cloth theref'
Twas the smear where my blood had soaked
and, looking and seeing the purple mess caked
with mud and foam on the sorrels flank,
felt suddenly very sick. The girl made step
to ME.
Sell thee horsel Hire thee bedman,
more like. Nay, then, lad"-
But saw her no longer; only called oh
ohl' twice, like a little child, and, slipping
my hold Of the saddle, dropped forward on
her breast.
Waking, found myself in darkDess-not
like that of night, but Of room where the
lights have gone out, and felt that was
dying. But this hardly seemed a thing to be
minded. There was a smell of peat and
bracken about. Presently heard the tramp
of feet somewhere overhead, and dull sound
of voices that appeared to be cursing.
The footsteps went to and fro, the voices
muttering most of the time After bit
caught a word-"Witchcraft; and then a
voice speaking quite close-"There's blood
pon her hands, an there's blood yonder by
the plow." Said another voice, higher and
squeaky, There's scent behind fox, but
you don't dig it up an take it home" The
tramp passed on, and the voices died away.
By this l knew the troopers were close and
seeking me. A foolish thought came that l
was buried, and they must be rummaging
over my grave; but indeed had no wish to
inquire into it; no wish to move even, but
Just to lie and enjoy the lightness Of my limbs.
The blood was still running. I felt the warmth
of it against my back, and thought it very
pleasant. So l shut my eyes and dropped off
again.
Then heard the noiseo of shouting far away,
and a long while after that was reused by the
touch Of a hand, thrust in against my naked
breast over my heart
'Who is itl" whispered.
JOAN" answered a voice, and the hand
was withdrawn.
The darkness had lifted somewhat, and
though something stood between me and the
light, marked a number of small specks, like
points of gold dotted around me.
'Joan-what besides"
"Joan's enough, l reckon; lucky for thee
It's none else. Joan o. the Tor folks call me-
but may yet be Joan i Good Time So hold
thy 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 l shut my teeth; and
after that came the smart and delicious ache
of water, as she riused the wound.
"Clean through the flesh, lad-in an out,
like country dancin' No bullet to probe nor
bone to set. Heart up, socel Thy mother
shall kiss thee yet What's thy namer
Marvel, Joan-Jack Marvel"
cam marvel tits thou'rt Marvel yet Good
blood there's in thee but little enow."
She bandaged the sore with linen tori, 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 as a baby.
LEFT arm round my neck, Jack; an sing
out if tits hurtin' thee"
1t seemed but six steps and we were out on
the bright hillside, not fifty PAGES from where
the plow yet stood in the furrow. l caught
a glimpse of brown neck and pair Of firm
red lips, of the gray tor stretching above u.s.
and, farther aloft, a flock of field fare hang
ing in the pale sky; and then shut my eyes for
the dazzle, but could still feel the beat Of
Joan's heart as she held me close and the
touch of her breath on my forehead.
Down the hill she carried me, picking the
softest turf, and moving with an easeful swing
that rather lulled my hurt than jolted it. 1
was doing, even, when a strange noise awoke
me.
Twas high protracted note, that seemed
at first to swell up towards us, and then
broke off in half dozen or more sharp yells
Joan took no heed of them, but, seeing my
eyes unclose, and hearing me moan, stopped
short.
Hurts thee, ladY''
"No." Twas not my pain, but the sight of
the sinking sun that wrung the exclamation
from me-"I was thinking" muttered.
Don't; It's bad for health. But bide thee
still awhile, and shalt lie pom soft bed"
BY this time we. had come down to the
road. and the yells were still going on, louder
than ever. we crossed the roaa, uescenoeu
another slope, and came all at once on a low
pile of buildings that a moment before had
been hid. Twas but three novels of mud,
stuck together in the shape of 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-clawin' my legs-Gar-rout, thou
hell cat-Blast thee, let me zog! Pulrn off,
Joan-Jo-anln
The voice died away into a 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:
A rude kitchen-the furniture but two
rickety chairs, now tossed on their faces, an
oak table, with legs sunk into the earth, a
key of strong waters, tilted over and drain
ing upon the mud floor, a ladder leading up
to a loft, and in two of the corners few
bundles of bracken strewn for bedding. To
the left, as one entered, was an open hearth;
but the glowing peat turves were now pitched
to right and left over the hearthstone and
about the floor, where they rested, filing the
den with smoke. Under one Of the chairs a
black cat spat and bristled; while in the
middle of the room, barefooted in the en-
bers, crouehed a man. he was half naked,
old and bent with matted gray hair and