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

because am chased. Once more the dra
| gooners are after me-not five minutes away
You must lend me horse, and at once"
May" said voice In the doorway, ''the
horse, If lent, is for mel"
Joan turned, and the two women stooc
looking at each other-the one with darl
wonder, the other with cold disdainfulness-
and between them scarce lifting my eyes
Each was beautiful after her kind, as day
and night; and though their looks crossed
| for full minute like drawn blades, neither
had the mastery. Joan was the first to speak
Jack, is thy mare in the yardr
! nodded.
"Give me thy pistols and thy cloak" She
stepped to the window hole at the end Of the
kitchen and looked out. "Plenty o. time,
she said, and pointed to the ladder leading to
the loft above-"Climb up there, the both,
and pull the ladder after. Is't thou they
want-or she!' pointing to Della.
''Me chiefly they would catch, no doubt
being man." answered.
"Ay-bein' man; the worlds full o. folly.
| Then, Jack, do thou look after her, an I'll
look after thee. If the rebels leave thee in
peace, make for the Jews Kitchen and there
abide me-"
She flung my cloak about her, took my
pistols and went out at the door. As she did
so the sun sank and dull shadow swept over
the moor. "Joanl' cried, for now guessed
! her purpose and was following to hinder her;
| but she had caught Molly's bride and was
| already astride of her. 'Get backn she
called, softly, and then, II make better lad
than wench, Jack" leaped the mare through
gap in the wall and in a moment was breast
ing the hf1l and galloping for the high road
In less than a minute, as it seemed, l heard
a pounding of hoofs, and had barely time to
follow Della up the ladder and pull it after
me, when two of the dragons rode skurrying
| by the house and passed on yelling. Their
cries were hardly faint in the distance before
there came another three.
LAS lost man, now, for sure" said one;
''be DANCED if as not took the road back to
Lan'son!'
"How bout the gale" asked another voice.
''Here's her horse i the yard"
"Drat the gal! Sam, go thou an tackle
her; reckon thou'rt warriors enow for one
CONAN"
The two hastaned on; and presently heard
the one they called Sam dismounting in the
yard Now, there was a window hole in the
loft facing, not on the yard, but towards the
country behind; and running to it, I saw
that no more were following-the other three
having, as l suppose, early given up the
chase. Softly pulling out a loose stone or
two, l widened this hole till 1 could thrust
the ladder out of it. To my joy it just reached
the ground 1 babe Della squeeze herself
through and climb down.
But before she was half way down heard
"a wild screech in the kitchen below and the
voice of Sam shrieking:
'Help-help! Lord ha' mercy 'pon me
tits black cat-'tis a witch! The gals no
gal, but a witchl"
Laughing softly, was descending the lad
der when the fellow came round the corner
screaming-with Jan TergaSle clawing at his
back and splitting murderously. Della had
just time to slip aside, before he ran into the
ladder and brought me flying on top Of him.
And there he lay and beloved till l tied him,
and gagged his noise with a big stone in his
mouth and his own scarf tied around it,
Gomez l whispered; for Joan and her
pursuers were out of sight Catching up her
long skirt Della followed me, and up the tor
we painted together, nor rested till we were
safe in the Jews Kitchen.
"What do you think of this for a hiding
placer asked l, with a laugh.
But Della did not laugh Instead, she faced
me with blazing eyes, checked herself, and
answered, cold as ice:
''Sir, you have done me Il many flvors
How have trusted you ii return it were best
for you to remember, and for re to forget"
The dark drew on; but as | think, about 10
o'clock, l heard steps coming over the turf
ran out. Twas Joan herself and leading
Molly by the Bride She walked as if tired,
A.. r
lowed me into tie cave. CHANGING round, /
noted that Della had slipped away.
''Am glad she's gone,i,, said Joan, shortly.
Chow many rebels passed this way, jack"
give, counting one that lies gagged and
bound down at the cottage"
'That leaves four'-she stretched herself
on the ground with sigh-''four thatn
never trouble thee more, lad. >
"Why? how
Listen, lad; sit down an let me rest my
head pom thy knee. Oh, Jack, did it brave
Iyl Eight good miles an more l took the
mare-by the Four Hoied Cross, an across
the moor past Tober an Catshole an over
Brown Willy, an round ROughtor to the nor'
west; an there lies the bravest quag-oh, a
black, bottomless hole-an' into it led them;
an there they lie, every horse, an every
QlOtler ) son, iii y uuSIleuI LAY.
''DeadI"
''Ay-an' the last twain wi bullet apiece
in their skulls Oh, rare! Dear heart-hold
my head-so, atween thy hands. Put on his
cast off duds,' said Ailsie, am stand afore a
glass, sayin' "Come, true man!' nine-an'
ninety time l was mortal feard O. losin'
count; but afore got to fifty heard thy
step an'-hold me closer, Jack"
"But Joan, are these men dead, say you?"
"Surely, yes. Why, lad, what be four
rebels, up or down, to make this coil overi
Hast never axed after me!'
"Joan-you are not hurt!"
In the darkness 1 sought her eyes, and, peer
ing into them, drew back.
"Joan!"
"Hush, lad-bend down thy head, and let
me whisper. went too near-an' one, that
was over his knees, let fly wi his musician
Jack, 1 have but a minute % two. HUSH
lad, hush-there's no CALI Vert never the
man could ha' tanned me-art the weaker, in
a way; forgie the word, for loved thee so,
boy JackI"
Her arms were drawing down my face-to
her, her eyes dull with pain.
''Feel, Jack-there-over my right breast
plugged the wound VII peat turf Pull it
out, for it's bleeding inwards, and hurts
cruelly-pull it outr'
As hesitated, she thrust her own hand in
and drew it forth, leaving the hot blood to
gush.
cam now, Jack, tighter-hold me tighter.
Kiss mech, what brave timesl Tighter,
lad, an call wi me-'Church and Kingp Call,
lad-'Church an -
The warm arms loosened; the head sank
back upon my lap.