Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-03-19

There were but six rascals besides the cap
tain $50 that Jacques must nave died hard,
thought y, and such rattle of arms and legs
and swollen upturned faces as they made l
defy you to picture. For they were packed
close as herrings, and the hut was filled up
with their horses, ready saddled and rubbing
shoulder 10 loin, so narrow was the room. 1t
needed the open window to give them air;
and, even so, twas not over fresh inside.
had no mind to stay; but before leaving
found myself in the way of playing these vii
lains pretty trick. To right and left Of the
window, above their heads, extended two
rude shelves tnat now were heaped with
what conjectured to be the spoils of the
Iarder of the "Three Cups" Holding my
breath and thrusting my head and shoulders
into the room, ran my hand along and was
quickly possessed of a boiled ham, two capons,
a loaf, the half of a cold pie and basket
holding three dozen eggs. All these prizes
alched one by one, with infinite caution.
I was gently pulling the basket through
the window hole, when 1 heard one Of the
crew yawn and stretch himself in his sleep.
So, determining to risk no more, 1 quickly
packed the basket, slung it on my right arm,
and with the ham grasped by the knuckle in
my left, made my way up the stream.
and came on the sad sight therein. set down
the ham as a thing to be ashamed of, and
barred my head The girl lifted her face, and
turning, all white and tragical, saw me.
my father is dead, sir"
stopped and piled heap Of fresh snow
over the blood stains. There was no intent
in this but to hide the pity that choked me-
She had still to hear about her brother, An
thony. Turning, as by a sudden thought, l
took her hand. She looked into my eyes, and
her own filled with tears. Twas the human
touch that loosened their flow, think; and
sinking down again beside her father she
wept her fill.
Mistress Killigrew," said, as soon as the
first violence of her tears was abated, 81 have
still some news that is i'll hearing. Your
enemies are encampcd in the woods, about a
half mile below this''-and with that told
my story.
They have done their worst, sir"
mo"
She looked at me with question on her
lip.
Said l, You must believe me yet a short
while without questioning"
Considering for moment, she nodded.
'YOu have a right, sir, to he trusted, though
know not so much as your name Then we
must stay close in hidingl' she added, very
sensibly, though with the last word her voice
trailed off, and she began again to weep
But in time having covered the dead barO-
nets body with sprays of the withered brack-
en-, l drew her to a little distance and pre-
vailed on her to nibbie a crust of the loaf.
Now, all this while, it must be remembered,
| was in my shirt sleeves and the weather
bitter cold Which at length her sorrow al
lowed her to notice.
''Why, you are shivering soreI" she said,
and, running, drew my buff coat from her
fathers body, and held it out to me.
Indeed" answered, Il was thinking of
another expedition to WARM my blood" And
| promising to be back in half an hour fol-
lowed down my former tracks towards the
| stream.
Within twenty minutes was back, run
ming and well nigh shouting with joy.
"Comel" ! cricd to her, ''come and see for
| yourseIfl"
| What had happened was this: Wading
cautiously down the brook, had cause sud
denly to prick up my ears and come to a halt.
| Twas the Inufied tramp of hoofs that |
heard, and, creeping bit farther, caught
| glimpse, beyond the hut, of horse and rider
disappearing down the woods. He was the
last of the party, as guessed from the sound
| of voices and juggling of bits farther down
| the slope. Advancing on the hut with more
boldnesS, found it deserted. l scrambled up
| on the bank and round to the entrance. The
| snow before it was tranpled and sullied by
the footmarks of men and horses; and as /
| noted this, came Settles voice calling up the
slope.
| "Jerry-Jerry Toy!"
A nearer voice hailed in answer.
"Where's Reabenf
"COming, captan-ciose behind!"
Course him for lettering IDIOT We've
| wasted time enough, as it's" called back the
captain. How in thunder is a man to find
the road out of this cursed wood!'
straight on, cap'n-yOu can't miss it,"
shouted another voice, not two gunshots be
| low
A volcano of oaths poured up from Settle
| did not wait for the end of them, but ran
back for Mistress Della.
| Together we descended to the hut By this
time the voices had faded away in distance.
| Yet to make sure that the rascals had really
| departed, we followed their tracks for some
way, beside the stream; and suddenly came
| to halt with cries of joyful surprise.
The brook had led us to point where, over
a stony fall yelled with brown bracken, it
| plunged into a narrow ravine. Standing on
| the lip, where the water took a smoother
| glide before leaping, we saw the line of
the ravine marked by a rift in the pines,
| and through this a slice of the country
| that Law below. Twas a level plain well
| Watered and dotted here and there with
houses. A range of wooded hills closed the
| view, and towards them broad road wound
| gently, till the eye lost it at their base. All
this was plain enough, in spite of the snow
that covered the landscape. For the sun had
burst out above, and the few fakes that still
fell looked black against his brilliance and
the dazzling country below.
But what caused our joy was to see. along
| the road, a small cavalcade moving away
| from us, with many bright glances of light
and color, as their steel caps and sashes took
theAunshine-a pretty sight, and the prettier
because it meant our deliverance.
The girl beside me gave cry Of delight,
then sighed; and after a minute began to
walk back towards the hut, where left her,
and ran up hill for the basket and ham. On
my return found her examining a heap of
/ rusty tools that, it seemed, she lad found on
shelf Of the building. Twas no light help
to the good fellowship that afterwards united
US plat from the first l could read her
thoughts often without words, and for this
reason, that her eyes were as candid as the
monday.
So now answered her aloud:
"This afternoon we may venture down to
the plain, where no doubt we shall find
clergyman to sell us patSh of holy ground. 2"
Holy groundF' She looked at me awhile
Z and shook her head Il am not OF your re-
, lipion she said