Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-03-26

face fell
IAN the better for escaping notice"
"But-but like to be noticedI"
Nevertheless, when breakfast was done, she
consented to try on the clothes. left her ey-
ing them doubtfully, and strolled away by
the rivers bank. In a while her voice called
to me:
"Oh, Jack-they do not fit at ALL"
Why, tits admirablel" said l. returning
and scanning her. Now this was lie; but
she took me more than ever, so pretty and
comical she looked in the dress.
''And l cannot walk a bit in themI" she
pouted, strutting up and down.
''Swing your arms more, and let them hang
looser."
"And my hair. Oh, Jack, I have such
beautiful hair"
at must come off," said 1, pulling the
shears out of my pocket
And look at these huge boots!"
Indeed, this was the main trouble, for l
knew they would hurt her in walking; yet
she made more fuss over her hair, and only
gave in when I scolded her roundly. So l
took the shears and clipped the chestnut curls,
one by one, while she cried for vexation; and
took occasion of her tears to smuggle She
longest lock inside my doublet.
But an hour after she was laughing again,
and had learned to cock the poor country
lads cap rakishly over one eye; and by even
ing was walking with swagger and longing
Il know to meet with folks. For, to spare
her the sight of the ruined cottage, l had
taken her round through the fields and by
every by path that seemed to lead westward.
Twas safer to journey thus; and all the way
she practiced mans carriage and airs, and
how to wink and whistle and swing a stick
And once, when she left one of her shoes in a
wet ditch, she said ''Damnln as natural as
life; and then
We jumped over a hedge, plump into an
outpost of rebels as they sat munching their
supper
They were six in all, and must have been
sitting like mice, for all know of it is this:
had climbed the hedge first and was help
ing Della over, when out of the ground, as it
seemed, a voice shrieked: "Run-run!-the
kings men are on usl" and then, my foot
slipping, down l went on to the shoulders Of
a thick set man, and well nigh broke his neck
as he turned to look up at me-
At first, the whole six were for running,
believe. But seeing only lad stretched on
his face, and a second on the hedge they
thought better of it. Before could scram-
bic up, one pair of hands was screwed about
my neck, another at my heels, and in a trice
there we were pinioned.
Search the malignantln cried one. "Ques-
tion himI" called out another; and forthwith
began long interrogatory concerning the
movements of his majesty's troops, from
which, indeed, / learned much concerning
the late encounter, but, of course, could an
swer nought. Twas only natural they
should interpret this silence for obstinacy.
March 'em off to Capt. Stubbs!"
"Halloal" shouted peck marked trooper
that had his hand thrust in on my breast;
bring the lantern close here. What's thisi'
Twas, alasl the kings letter; and bit my
lip while they clustered round, turning the
lanterns yellow glare upon the superscrip-
ton.
We were marched down the road for
mile or more, till we heard a loud bawlng,
as of a man in much bodily pain, and soon
came to a small village, where, under tav-
ern lamp, by the door, was a man perched
up on a tub, and shouting forth portions of
the Scripture to some twenty or more green
coats assembled round. Our conductor pushed
past these, and entered the tavern. Alta door
to the left in the passage he halted, and,
knocking once, thrust US inside.
The room was bare and lit very diDlly by
two talloW candles, set in bottles Between
these, on deal table, lay map outspread,
and over it a man was bending, who looked
up sharply at our entrance
He was thin, with bIIc nose, and wore a
green uniform like tie r,,t; only his carriage
proved him a man of authority.
This Capt Stubbs listened, you may be
sure, with Frightening eye to the sergeant's
story; and at the close fixed an inquisitive
gaze on the pair of us, turning the kings let
ter over and over in his hands
How came this in your poSsesSiOn!' he
asked, at length.
THAT" said l, 81 must decline to tell"
He heSitated a moment; then, reseating
himself, broke the seal, spread the letter upon
the map, and read it slowly through For
the first time | began heartily to hope that
the paper contained nothing of moment. But
the mans face was no index of this. He read
it through twice, folded it away in his breast
and turned TO the sergeant.
Tomorrow at in the morning we con-
tinue our march. Meanwhile keep these fell
lows secure look to you for this"
The sergeant saluted and we were led out.
That night we passed in handouts, huddled
with fifty soldiers in hay loft of the inn
and hearkening to their curious talk, that
was half composed of Holy Writ and half of
gibes at our expense. They were beaten men,
and, like all such, found comfort in deriding
the greater misfortunes of others.
Before daylight the bugles began to sound,
and we were led down to the green before
the tavern door, where already were close
upon five hundred gathered, that had been
billeted about the village and were now form
ing in order of Marcia soiled, battered
crew, with torn enSigns and little heart in
their movements The sky began n cold
drizzle as we set out, and through this sad
dening weather we trudged all day, Della
and | being kept we'll apart, she with the
vanguard and in the rear, seeing only the
winding column, the detected heads bobbing
in front they bent to the slanting rain, the
cottagers that came out to stare as we passed;
and hearing but the hoarse words of com
nand, the low mutterings of the men, and
always the monotonous tramp, tramp,
through the slush and mire of the roads.
IT'S like bad dream to me, and l will not |
dwell omit That night we passed at Chippen-
ham, small market town, and on the NOR |
row went tramping again through worse |
weather, but always amid the same sights |
and sounds.
Daylight was failing when the towers Of |
Bristol grew clear out of the leaden mist in |
front, and by 5 o'clock we halted outside the |
walls and beside the ditch of the castle, wait |
ing for the drawbridge to be let down. Al |
ready great crowd had gathered about us,
of those who had come out to learn the news |
of TIE defeat, which, the day before, some |
fugitives had carried to Bristol To their /
questions as to all else, listened like man
in trance, and recalled this only-that first |