Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-02-26
CHAPTER /.

shall fruitlessly besiege her again when the
Hne comes to sit at home and write down
bis adventures IT'S her revenge, as l am
extremely sensible; and methinks she is the
harder to me, upon reflection how near l
came to being her life long servant, as you
are 70 hear.
Twas on Nov. %, 1924 clear, frosty day
that the king, with the Prince OF Wales
newly recovered Of the measles, the Princes
Rupert and Maurice, and great company OF
lords and gentlemen, horse and foot, came
marching back to US from Reading. was
scholar Of Trinity college, in Oxford, at that
time, and may begin my history at o'clock
on the same afternoon, when going las my
custom was) to Mr.. Rob Drury for my fenc-
ing lesson, found his lodgings empty.
They stood at the corner Of Ship street, as
you turn into the Corn market-a low vain
Dcoted chamber, i'll lighted but commodious.
"He is of to see the show" thought 1 as l
looked about me; and, finding an easy cushion
In the window, sat down to await him.
Where presently, being tired out flor l had
been carrying a halberd all day with the
scholars troop in Magdalen college grove,
and in despite of the open lattice, fell sound
asleep.
It must have been an hour after that
awoke with chill las was naturaD, and was
stretching out hand to pull the window close,
but suddenly sat down again and fell to
watching instead.
Tie window looked down, at the height of
ten feet or so, upon a bowling green at the
back of the Grown" tavern Qkept by John
Davenant, in the Corn market, and across it
to a rambling wing of the same inn; the
fourth side-that to my left-being but an old
wall, with broad sycamore growing against
it. Twas already twilight; and in the dark
sning house, over the green, was now one
easement brightly lit, the curtains undrawn,
and within a company Of noisy drinkers
round a table. They were gaming, as was
easily told by their clicking Of the dice and
frequent oatAs; and anon the below of some
tipsy chorus would come across. Twas one
of these catches, dare say, that woke me;
only Just now my eyes were bent, not towards
the singers, but on the still lawn between Us,
The sycamore, have limited, was a broad
tree and must, in summer, have borne
Roodly load Of leaves; but now, in Novem-
Der, these were strewn thick over the green,
and nothing left but stiff, naked boughs. Be
meath it lay a cracked bowl or two on the
rank turf, and against the trunk garden
bench rested, suppose for the convenience
Of the players. On this man was now seated.
first logged my curiosity; for twas unnatural
man should read print at this dim hour, or,
if he had a mind to try, should choose a cold
bowling green for his purpose. Yet he
seemed to study his volume very attentively,
but with sharp look, now and then, towards
the lighted window, as if the jewellers dis
turbed him. His back was partly turned to
me, and what with this and the growing dusk
could but make guess at his face, but
plenty of silver hair fell over his fur collar,
and his shoulders were bent great deal l
Judged him between fifty and sixty. For the
rest, he wore dark, simple suit, very strait
" cut, with an ample furred cloak and hat
rather tall, after the fashion of the last reign.
Now, why the mans behavior so engaged
me, l don't know; but at the end of half an
hour I was still watching him. By this twas
near dark, bitter cold, and his pretense to
read mere fondneSs; yet he persevered-
though with longer glances at the easement
above, where the din at times was fit to wake
the dead.
And now one of the dicers upset his chair
with curse, and gets on his feet Looking
up saw his features for moment-a slight,
pretty boy, scarce above eighteen, with fair
curls and flushed cheeks like girls. 1t made
me admire to see him In this ring of purple,
villainous faces. Twas evident he was a
young gentleman of quality, as well by his
bearing as his handsome cloak of amber satin
barred with black Il think the DEVILS in
these dice" heard him crying, and pretty
hubbub all about him; but presently the
drawer enters with more wine, and he sits
down quietly to fresh game.
As soon as twas started one of the crew,
that had been playing but was now dropped
out, lounges up from his seat and, coming to
the easement pushes it open for fresh air.
He was one that till now had sat in full
view-a tall bully, with a gross, pimpled
nose-and led the catches in a bulls voice.
The rest of the players paid no heed to his
rising, and very soon his shoulders hid them
IS he leaned out, drawing in the cold breath.
I During the late racket had forgot for g
while my friend under the sycamore, but
now, looking that way, to my astonishment
saw him risen from his bench and stealing
scroSs to the house opposite. 1 say ''steal-
ing" for he kept all the way to the darker
shadow of the wall, and, besides, had curl
GUS trailing motion with his left foot, as
though the ankle of it had been wrung OF
badly hurt.
As soon as he was come beneath the win
dow he stopped and called softly,
"Hisr
The bully gave start and looked down.
could tell by this motion he did not look to
find any one in the bowling green at that
hour. Indeed, he had been watching the
shaft Of light thrown past him by the room
behind, and now moved 50 as to let it fall on
the man that addressed him.
The other stands close under tie window,
6 if to avoid this, and calls again.
"Histln says he, and beckons with finger.
The man at the window still held his tongue
q suppose because those in the room would
hear him If he spoke, and so for a while the
two men studied one another in silence, as if
considering their next moves.
After a bit, however, the bully lifted 9
hand, and, turning back into the lighted
room, walks up to one of the players, speaks
. word or two and disappears.
Isat up on the window seat, where till now
had been crouching for fear the shaft of
light should betray me, and presently las
was expecting heard the latch Of the back
porch gently lifted, and spied the heavy form
Of the bully coming softly over the grass.
Now, would not have my readers preju-
diced, and so may tell them that this was the
FIRST tune in my life that had played the
eavssdropper That did so now 1 can never
be glad enough, but it's true, nevertheless,
my conscience pricked me; and 1 was even
making motion to withdraw when that oe-
Cured which would have fixed any mans at
~ tentiou, whether he wished it or no.
The bully must have closed the door be
hind him but carelessly, for hardly could he
have taken a dozen steps when it opened again
With & scufie, and the large house dog be-
4, ~, dov-y at tsv nth