Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-04


 3 league away was ferryboat, which Sould carry us many us two horses over tho river at n time. On tho farther side we might hit road leading to Santon, khreo leagues distant Should We go to Santon after all? Tho farmer thought the roads on that sido of tho river might not be flooded. We should then bo in touch once moro with our Dutch friends and might profit by Master Lindstroms ad- vice, on which I, for one, was now in slined to set a higher value.
 .'Tho river is bank full. Arc you sure the ferryboat can cross?" I asked. Our host was not certain, and thereupon an unexpected voice struck in.
 "Oh, dear, do not lot us run any moro ,isksv' it said. It was Mistress Anno's. Sho was herself again, trembling, excited, bright eyed, as different as possible from tho Anno of a few minutes before. great change had come over her. Perhaps the warmth had done it.
 A third course was suggosted-to stay JuiCtly where were. Tho farmhouse stood at some littlo distance from the road, and though 1t was rough-it was very rough, consisting only of two rooms, in One of which q cow was stallcd-still 1t could furnish food and shelter. Why not stay there?
 But the duchess wisely, think, decided against this. 1t is unpleasant to go wan derinG again." shC said with n shivCr. But 1 shall not rest until we arc within the walls of town. Master Lindstrom laid so much stress on that. And fancy that the party who overlook us last night arc not the main body. Others will havo gone to Wcscl by boat perhaps or along the other bank. ThcTo thoy will meet, and learning we have not arrived they will probably return this way and search for us
 "Clarcncc''-
 "Yos if WIG havo Clarence to deal with, Master Bcrtie asscntcd gravcly, TWO can not afford to losu n point. We will try the terry"
 It was something gained to start dry and warm but tho womcn'S palo facos- for little by littlo the fatigue, the want of rest, the fear, wCro telling even on tho duchcSs-wcrC sad to soo. was sore and stiff myself. Tho wound I had received so mystcriously had blcd afrcsh, probably during last nights fight We needed all our courage to put a bravo facc on tho matter and bear up and go out again into the air which for the first week in May was cold and nipping. Suspense and anxi- sty had told in various ways on all of us. While felt a fierce anger against thoso who were driving us to thCSC straits, Mas ter BCrtic was nervous and excited, alarmed fer his wife and child and in :lincu to sec an enemy in every bush. However, we chcercd up littlo when wo reached tho ferry and found tho boat sould cross without much risk. Wo had | to go over in two attachments, and it was nearly an hour past noon before WIG all | stood on the farther bank and badC fare | well to tho honest soul whose hClp had | been of su much importance to us. Ho told lis wu had three lraguCS to go, and we hoped to bo at rest in Santon by i | o'clock.
 The three leagues turned out tn he moro | nearly five, while the road was su founder ous that we had again and again tu quit it. | The evening came ON, tho light waned, 1 and still We were feeling our way, so to | sprak-thc women tirrd and on tho verge | 6f tears. the men muddy to tho waist say l ngc and impatient. It was o'clock, and | dusk was well upon Us before wo caught sight of the first lights of Santon, and in lear lest tho gates might be shut pressed forward at such speed n> our horses could compass.
 "Do you go on!" the duchess adiurcd us. Anne and will be safr enough be | hind you. Let me take tho child and dt | you ride on Wo cannot pass the night iI the fields. "
 The importancr of securing admission was su great that Master Bcrtir and agreed and cantrrrd on, soon uutstrippinE our companions, and almost, in tho gloom losing sight of them. Dark masses u | woods. the last remnants apparently of . forest, lay about the road We had to trav | erSc. We were passing one Uf thCSr scarce | ly 800 paCVs short of the tow n. and w a, l turning in IhC saddle tu see that the la,liv, were following safely, when heard Mas | ter BCrtiC who w;Ls q huw.hut in front O | mn, give n sudden cry.
 | 1whcclCd round hastily to learn tho req son and was just in time to sec three horse | men sweep into the road before him iron ! the cover of the trees. They were so clos, to him-and they filled tho road-that hi horse carried him among them almost be fore he could check 1t, or so it seemed tI me. heard thoir loud challenge, saw hi arm wavo and guessed that his sword wa out. l spurrcd desperately to join him l giving n wild shout of encouragement as did so. But before l could come up, or in deed cross half the distance, tho scuffl, was over. One man fell hCadlong iron his saddle, one horse flod ridCrlcss dowI the road, and at sight of this, or pcrhap of mo, the others turned tail without nor ado and made of, leaving Master Berti in possession of the field. Tho whole thinE had passed in the shadow of tho wood il less than half minute. When drew rein by him, he was shcathing his sword "Is it Clnrcncc!" I cried eagerly.
 No, no, I did not see him. thinl not" he answered. He was breathing hard and was very much excited. The. were poor swordsmcn, for SpaniardS, " h. addcd-''Very poor, l thought"
 jumped of my horse, and knecling be side the man turned him over Hc wa badly hurt, if not dying, cut across tn neck. We looked hard at him by sucl light us there was and did not rccogniz him as ono of our assailants of tho nigh before
 II do not think ho Is Spaniard," said slowly. Then n certain suspicion oC cured to my mind, and I stopped lowe over him.
 Not Spaniard''' Master Bertie sai, stupidly. How is that?"
 Before I answered raised the man il my arms, and carrying him carefully t the side of the road set him with his bacl to tree. Then got quickly on my horse The women were just coming up. Mas ter Bertie," said in low voice as
 looked this way and that to see If tn alarm had spread, Il am afraid there Is mistake. But say nothing to them. I Is one of the town guard you have killcd!'
 "One of the town guard!" he cried,
 light bursting in on him, and tho rein dropping from his hand What shall W do? We are lost, man!'
 Napoleonic Adornments. The popularity of Napoleonic insig } mia for bonnet pins is as great as tn