The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-08-06

The first streak of daylight found me al
ready footing it through the forest by paths
known to few save the woodcutters, but
with which many boyish exploration
had made me familiar. From Cotton End
the London road lies plain and fair through
Stratford ON Avon and Oxford. But my
plan, the better to evade pursuit, was, in
stead, to cross the forest in n 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
Ny baggage consisted only of my cloak,
sword and dagger and for money had
but gold angel and a few silver bits of
doubtful value But / trusted that this
store, slender as 1t was, would meet my
charges as far as London. Once there
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 uens
which follow one another as do tho wave
and trough of the sea, only less regularly,
/ made my way toward Wootton Wawcn.
As soon as espied its battlemented church
lying In a wooded bottom below me i
kept a more easterly course, and leaving
Henley -in-Arden far to the left passed
down toward Leek Wootton. The damp,
dead bracken underfoot, the leafless oaks
and gray sky overhead-nay, the very cry
Of the bittern fishing In the bottoms
seemed to he at one with my thoughts, for
these were dreary and sad enough.
But hope and fixed aim form no bad
makeshifts for happiness. Striking the
hrna Il had Il
slept that night at Ryton Dunsmoor and
the next at Towcester, and the third day,
which rose bright and frosty, found me
stepping gayly southwark, travel stained
indeed, but dry and whole My spirits
rose with the temperature. For time
| 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 / meant to dine.
There was one trouble common among
wayfarers 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 felt
no terrors ON that account, and even when
about noon heard a 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-
pioious 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 90 PAGES or more before
1t struck me as odd that the man did not
pass me.
Then / turned. and shading my -.---
from the sun, which stood Just over his
shoulder, said, Good day, friend"
Good day, MASTER" he answered.
He was stout fellow, looking like a
citizen, although he had 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 good hackney as
miller's sack might have sat it. His face
| was the last thing l looked at When
raised my eyes to 1t, l got an unpleasant
start. The man was no stranger i 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
he recognized me and thought he had
made happy discovery on finding me |
halted abruptly. He did the same.
1T is fine morning" he said, taken
abaok by my sudden movement, but affect
ing an Indifference which the sparkle In
his eye belied. "A rare day for the time
of year"
1t Is" answered, gazing steadily at
him.
Going to Londoni Or may be only to
stratfordi" he hazarded He fldgeted 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.
cast quick glance up and down the
road There happened to DO no one in
sight Look heref' l replied, stepping
forward to lay my hand on the horses
shoulder, but the man refined back and
prevented me, thereby giving me olew
to his character, you are In the service
of tho bishop Of Winchester"
To be Continued.