Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-20
CHAPTER III.
STANLEY J'MENMAN.
HuINoR OF THE MN IN RlACN.,
A GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE, ErE~.
COPYRIGHT 1885, ~ cAsseiLpuslsn

known TO few save tho woodcutters, but
with which many a boyish exploration
had made Inc familiar. From Cotton End
the London road lies plain and fair through
StratfCrd-on-Avon and Oxford. But my
plan, the better to evade pursuit, was, in
stead, TO cross the forest in a northeasterly
direction, and passing by Warwick to
strike the great north road between Cow
entry and Daventry, which, running
thence southeastward, would take me as
straight as bird might fly through Dun
stable, st. Adams and Barnet to London.
My baggage consisted only of my cloak,
sword and dagger, and for money had
but gold angel and few silver bits of
doubtful value. But l trusted that this
store, slender as it was, would meet my
charges as far as London. Once there I
must depend on my wits either for provi
dence at home or passage abroad.
Striding steadily up and down hill, for
Arden forest is made up of hills and dells
which follow one another as do tho wave
and trough Of the sea, only less regularly,
i made my way toward Wootton Wawen.
AS soon as espied its battlementcd church
lying in q wooded bottom below mo I
kept a more easterly course and leaving
Henley-in-Arden far to the left passed
down toward Lock Wootton. The damp,
dead bracken underfoot, the leailcss oaks
and gray sky overhead-nay, the very cry
of the bittern fishing in the bottoms
seemed to be at one with my thoughts, for
these were dreary and sad enough.
But hope ard fixed aim form no bad
makeshifts for happiness. Striking the
broad London road as had purposcd, l
slept that night at Ryton Dunsmoor and
the next at Towcester, and the third day,
which rose bright and frosty, found mo
stepping gnyly southwark, travel stained
indeed, but dry and whole. Ny spirits
rose with the temperature. For time l
put the past behind me and found amuse-
ment in the sights of the road-in the
heavy wagons and long trains Of pack
horses and the CHEEKY greetings which
met me with each mile. After all, had
youth and strength, and the world before
me, and particularly Stony Stratford,
where l meant to dine.
There was one trouble common among
wnyfarers which did not touch me, and
that was the fear Of robbers, for he would
be sturdy beggar who would rob an
armed foot passenger for the sake of an
angel, and the greats were gone. So i felt
no terrors on that account, and even when
about noon heard horseman trot up
behind me and rein in his horse so as to
keep pace with me at a walk, step for step
a thing which might have seemed sus-
picious to some-I took no heed Of him. /
was engaged with my first view of STRAIT
ford and did not turn my head. We had
walked on SO for 80 PAGES or more before
it struck me as odd that the man did not
pass me.
Then I turned, and shading my eyes
from the sun, which stood just over his
shoulder, said, Good day, friend"
Good day, MASTER" he answered.
He was a stout fellow, looking like a
citizen, although he had a sword by his
side and wore 1t with an air of importance
which the sunshine Of opportunity might
have ripened into swagger. His dress
was plain, and he sat n good hackney rs a
miller's sack might have sat it. His face
was the last thing l locked at. When 1
raised my eyes to it, got an unpleasant
start The man was no stranger. knew
him in moment for the messenger who
had summoned me to the chancellor's
presence.
The remembrance did not please me,
and reading in the fellows sly look that
no recognized me and thought he had
made happy discovery on finding me I
halts, abruptly. He did the same.
Is u Uflc ne sAiu, tlheu
aback by my sudden movement, but affect
ing an Indifference which the sparkle in
his eye belicd. IA rare day for the time
of year.
lit is" answered, gazing steadily at
him.
Going to London' Or may be only TO
Stratfordl" he hazarled. He fidgeted I'M
comfortably under my eye, but still pre-
tended ignorance OF me.
THAT is as may be, answered.
.No offense. am sure" he said.
I cast quick glance up and down tho
road There happened to be no one in
sight Look hercr' 1 replied, stepping
forward to lay my hand en- the horses
shoulder, but the man refined back and
prevented me. thereby giving me clew
to his character. you are in the service
of the bishop of Winchester"
His face tell. and he could not conceal
his disappointment at being recognized,
Well; master" he answered reluctantly
perhaps am. and perhaps l am not
That is enough " l said shortly. And
you know me- You need not lie about it,
man, for I can see you do. Now, look here.
Master Steward, or whatever your name
may be-
1t is Master Pritchard. he put in
sulkiIy land I am not ashamed Of It..
Very we'll. Then let US understand
one another. Do you mean to interfere
with mes'
He grinned well, to be plain. do, I"
he replied, refining his horse back another
step Il have orders to look out for You
and have ycu stopped IL 1 find you. And
/ must do my duty, sir. am sworn to 1t,
Master Cludde."
Right" said calmly, "and must do
mine, which is to take care of my skin !"
And 1 drew my sword and advanced upon
him with a flourish. We will soon de-
eide this little matter" added erimly.
one eye on him and one on the empty
road, If you will be good enough to de-
fend yourself.
But there was no fight in the fellow.
By good luck. too. he was SO startled that
he did not do what be might have done
with saioty-namely, retreat and keep me
in sight until somo passersby came up.
He did give back indeed, but it was
against the hank. Have care." he cried
in q fume, his eye following my sword
nervously He did not try to draw his
own. There is no call for fighting, 1
say"