Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-04-16

thank me Tor the part nad IN bringing ne"s
Of the Earl of Stamford's advance For
twas this, they owned, had saved them-the
kings message being but an exhortation and
an advertisement upon some lesser matters,
the most Of which were already taken out Of
human hands by the turn Of events.
But though, as l learned, these gentlemen
were full Of compliments and professions OF
r-taarn ] neither saw nor heard them, being
by this time delirfous OF q high fever that
followed my wound. And not till three
good weeks after was recovered enough to
leave mySbed, nor, for many more, did my
full strength return to me. No mother could
have made tenderer nurse than was Joan
throughout this time. 'Tis to her I owe it
that / am alive to write these words; and il
the tears scald my eyes as l do so, you will
pardon them, l promise, before the end Of
my tale is reached.
In the first days of Any recovery, news came
to US q forget how that solemn sacrament
had been taken between the parties in Devon
and Cornwall, and the country was at peace.
Little cared at the time; but was content
now spring was come-to loiter about the
tors, and, while watching John at her work,
to think upon Della For, albeit l had little
hope to see her again, my late pretty COM
rade held my thoughts the day long. l
shared them with nobody; for though It's
probable l had let some words fall in my
delirium, Joan never limited at this, and !
never found out.
To Joans company l was left; for her
father, after saving my life that afternoon,
took no further notice of me by word or deed;
and the cat, Jan Tergagle tnamed after a
spirit that was said to haunt the moors here
abouts, was as Indifferent. So with Joan 1
passed the days idly, tending the sheep, or
waiting on her as she plowed, or lying full
length on the hillside and talking with her of
war and battles Twas the one topic on which
she was curious (scoffing at me when 1 offered
to teach her to read print, and for hours she
would listen to stories of Alexander and Han
nibal, Caesar and Joan of Arc, and other great
commanders whose history l remembered.
One evening-'twas early in May-we had
climbed to the top of the gray tor above
Temple, whence we could spy the white sails
of the two channels moving, and, stretched
upon the short turf there, 1 was telling my
usual tale. Joan lay beside me, her chin
propped on one earth stained hand, her great,
solemn eyes wide open as she listened. Till
that moment had regarded her rather as a
man comrade than a girl, but how some fem
mime trick of gesture awoke me, perhaps, for
my fancy began to contrast her with Della,
and broke off my story and sighed.
cart longing to be henceY she asked.
felt ashamed to be thus caught and was
silent. She looked at me and went on:
"Speak out, lad
"Loath would be TO leave you, Joan"
"And why's"
"Why, we are good friends, hope, and l
am grateful"
"Oh, ay-wish thee'd learn to speak the
truth, Jack. Art longing to be hence and
shalt-soon."
"Why, Joan, you would not have me dwell
here always"
She made no answer for while and then
with change of tone:
"Shalt ride wi me to BOdmin fair tO-mOr-
row for treat, an see the great Turk and
fat 'ooman and hocus-pocus. So tell me more
bout Joan, the Frenchwoman."
On the morrow, about in the morning,
we set off-Joan on the strawberry, balanced
easily on an old sack, which was all her saddle,
and on Molly, that now was sound again and
chatting to be so idle As we set out Joan's
father for the first time took some notice of
me, standing at the door to see us Off and
shouting after us to bring home some account
of the wrestling Looking back at a quarter
doorway with the catperched on his shoulder
Bodmin town is nought but a narrow street,
near on a mile long, and widening towards the
western end. 1t lies mainly along the south
side of a steep vale, and this May morning, as
Joan and | left the moOrs and rode down to
it from northward, already we could hear
trumpets blowing, the big drum sounding,
and all the bawlirg voices and hubbub of the
fair Descending, we found the long street
lined with booths and shows and nigh blocked
with the crowd, for the revel began early and
was now in full swing And the crew of
gipsies, whiffiers, mountebanks, fortune tell.
ers, cut purses and quacks mixed up with
honest country faces, beat even the rabble
had seen at Vantage
Now my own first business was with a
tailor; for the clothes | wore when | rode
into Temple, four months back, had been so
sadly messed with blood, and afterwards cut,
to free them from my wound, that now all
the tunic l wore was of sack cloth, contrived
and stitched together by Joan. So l made
at once for a decent shop, where luckily l
found a suit to fit me, one taken the tailor
said) off a very promising young gentleman
that had the misfortune to be killed on Brad
dock Down. Arrayed in this, l felt myself
again, and offered to take Joan to see the fat
woman.
We saw her, and the Ethiop, and the rhi-
noceros (which put me in mind of poor An
thony Killigrewl, and the pig faced baby,
and the cudgel play, and presently halted be-
fore Cheap Jack that was crying his wares
in prodigious loud voice near the town wall
Twas a meager, sharp visaged fellow with
gray chin beard like billygoat's; and las
fortune would have it,, spying our approach,
he picked out mirror from his stock, and,
holding it aloft, addressed US straight:
What have we here" cries he, "but pair
o. lovers coming? and what il my hand but
lovers hour glassi Sure the stars of heav'n
must have a hand in this conjuncture-and
only thirteen pence, my pretty fellow, for a
glass that will tell the weather i your sweet
hearts face, and help make it fine"
There were many country fellows with
their maids in the crowd, that turned their
heads at this address; and as usual the women
began.
"'Tis Joan o. the Tori"
"Joan's picked up wi sweetheart-tee-
heel-an' US reckoned herd forsworn man
kindl"
''Who is heg"
''Some furriner, sure, that likes garlick."
Hes bought her no ribbons yet"
"How should he, poor lad, that can find no
garments upon her to fasten 'em to7"
And so on, with deal of spiteful laughter.
Some of these sayings were half truths, no
doubt; but the truthfulest word may be in
felix So, noting a dark flush on Joan's
cheek, thought to end the scene by taking
the Cheap Jacks mirror on the spot, to stop
his tongue, and then drawing her away.
But in this L was moment too late, for
!