Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-05-07

already 1 leave you TO deal withal; only,
against my will, I must claim some mercy
! for that rogue Settle"
| To this Sir Bevill consented; and, to be
short, the three knaves were next morning
| packed off to Launceston; but in time no
evidence being brought against them, re-
gained their freedom, which they used. to
come to the gallows, each in his own way.
/ Their dOings no longer concern this history,
and so gladly leave them.
To return, then, to my proper tale, twas
not ten minutes before I had the warrant in
| my pocket. And by II o'clock word having
! been carried to Della, and our plans laid be-
| fore Billy Pottery, who on the spot engaged
| himself to help us) our horses were brought
round to the gate and my mistress appeared
all ready for the journey. For though as
sured that the work needed not her presence,
and that she had best wait at Stow till Master
! Tingcomb was smoked out of his nest, she
! would have none of it, but was set on riding
with me to see justice done on this fellow, of
whose villainy had told her much the night
| before. And glad was of her choice, as
saw her standing on the entrance steps, fresh
as a rose, and in a fit habit once more; for
| Lady Grace had lent not only her own bay
horse, but also riding dress and hat of gray
velvet to equip her, and stood in the porch to
wish US gOd-speed, while Sir Bevill helped
Della to the saddle
So, with Billy tramping behind us, away
we rode up the combe, where Kilkhampton
tower stood against the sky; and, turning to
wave hands at the top, found our host and
hostess still by the gate, watching us, with
hands raised to shield their eyes from the
sun.
At Launceston, Billy Pottery took leave
OF US; and now went due south, towards
LOoe, with a light purse and lighter heart,
undertaking that his ship should lie of Gleys,
with her crew ready for action, within eight
and-forty hours. Della and l rode faster
towards the southwest; and having by this
time recovered my temper, was recounting
my flight along this very road, when heard
a sound that brought my heart into my
mouth.
Twas the blast of a bugle, and came from
behind the hill in front of US And at the
same moment understood. 1t must be Sir
George Chudleigh's cavalry returning, on
news of their comrades defeat, and we were
riding straight towards them as into a trap.
Now what could have made me forgetful
of this danger l cannot explain, unless it be
that our thorough victory over the rebels had
given me the notion that the country behind
us was clear of foes. And Sir Bevill must
have had a notion we were going straight to
Looe with Billy. At any rate there was no
time to be lost, for my presence was a danger
to Della as well. l cast glance about me.
There was no place to hide.
"QuickI' l cried; follow me and ride for
dear lfel"
And, striking spur into Molly, l turned
sharp off the road and galloped across the
moor to the left, with Della close after me.
Down the hollow we raced with three dra-
goons at our heels, the rest going round the
hill But they did little good by so doing,
for after the hollow came a broad, dismal
sheet of water 10y name Dozmare pool,
have since heard), about mile round and
banked with black peat. Galloping along
the left shore Of this, we cut them off by
near half a mile. But the three behind fol
lowed doggedly, though dropping back with
every stride. ..!i
Beyond the pool came green valley, and
a stream flowing down it, which we jumped
easily. CHANGING at Della as she landed on
the farther side, noted that her cheeks were
glowing and her eyes brimful of mirth
Say, Jack, y" she cried, "is' not this better
than love of womenY"
III AtalAACi CtllACd OuIi ltihO
carer
But it was TOO late. The green valley here
melted into treacherous bog, in the which
her bay was already plunging over his fet-
locks and every moment sinking deeper.
Throw me the reinl" Ishouted, and, catch
ing the bride close by the bit, leaned over and
tried to drag the horse forward. By this,
Molly also was over hoofs in liquid mud. For
a minute and more we heaved and splashed;
and all the while the dragons, seeing our fix,
were shouting and drawing nearer and
nearer. But just as a brace of bullets splashed
into the slough at our feet, we staggered to
the harder slope, and were gaining on them
again. So for twenty minutes along the
spurs of the hills we held on, the enemy fall
ing back and hidden, every now and again,
in the hollows-but always following; at the
end of which time Della called from just be-
hind me:
"Jack-heres a TODD; the bay is going
lamel"
There was no doubt of it. l suppose he
must have wrung his off hind leg in fighting
through the quag. Anyway, ten minutes
moro would see the end of his gallop. But at
this moment we had won to the top of a stiff
ascent; and now, looking down at our feet, ]
had the joyfulest surprise.
Twas the moor of Temple spread below
like map, the low sun striking on the ruin
ed huts to the left Of us, on the roof of Joanis
cottage, on the scar of the high road, and the
sides of the tall tor above it.
"In ten minutes, said 1, 1--WE may be safe" |
So down into the plain we hurried; and |
thought for the first time Of the loyal girl |
waiting in the cottage yonder; of my former |
ride into Temple; and with angry shame) Of |
the light heart with which l left it. To what |
had the summoning drums and trumpets led |
met Where was the new life, then so care
lessly preventedi But two days had gone,
and here was running to Joan for help, as |
q child to his mother.
Past the peat ricks we struggled, the sheep |
coteS, the struggling fences-al so familiar |
crossed the stream and rode into the yard.
Jump down, 1 Whispered; "we have time,
and no more" CHANGING back, l saw a cou-
pie of dragons already coming over the
heights. They had spied US
Dismounting, l ran to the cottage door
and flung it open A stream of light, flung
back against the sun, blazed into my ewes.
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-buff coat, brooches, heavy boots,
and all Her back was towards me, and at
the shoulder, where the coat had been cut
away from my wound, saw the rents all
darned and patched with pack thread. In
her hand was the mirror had ryiyer her