Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-02-09
CHAPTER XVII.


IL was ono Of tho autumn fair days In
Lewes, and that Is why YOU could hardly
move In the streets for sheep Tho time
had come for shifting thUm up from tho
marsh lands, where they had summoned,
to tho furms Of tho higher world. BY the
custom OF Sussex graders II was there.
on the fringe OF thu forest, tho tlncks must
pass the suycn months uf winter and do
themselves as well ms they might upon
what tho upland farmers had prepared for
their keep,
1t was tho gront time, too, whom fooks
changed hands, and here wns gathered
thrnng OF men from every side OF tho busi.
ness; grnzlcrA who counted thuir sheen by
tho hundred and rode on we'll bred nngs lt
for squire, and grhsicrs that went aioot
and counted by tho score; gTIziers In
broadcIoth and grazicrs In smoclk; great
farmers and small, some civilized and
sleek. out uf the tat marsh country, aud
some rough Of clothes and manners, who
came from the uplnnds. "Wildishors," the
low country people called them, nnd the
nnno WINS not III chosen, 1hoy had still
plenty OF tho savage to rub on and tie
law they know best was tho law Of their
bats, " rs they called tho stout ash slaves
That oNery man carried, ns his father had
before him, from timc when laws wcru
not.
There wero dealers, too, and contractors
Tor bis majesty forces and his mninsty's
prisons, for, what with tho sonincu, and
tho militia, and tho French prisoners thorp
was deal OF oating being duno along tho
southern coast OF his mAjesty's oNp0nsr
FOR further variety might DO seen riding
officer or two OF the klug's preventive scrv-
Zoe, and here and there u bright SPOT OF
blue that belonged to the famous Deaths
Head" dragons, and hcro and there q
splash OF rcd from the O4fordshlru militia
For those were the days whom the fear
of Invasion was very real thing. Tho
young republic was swearing Vengeance
for the LIST Of juno; ovury week came news
OF tho great camp that was gathering in
Normandy, and the forces of tho inland
counties had been moved down to tho
south coast, to ho handy II tho French
should really attempt anything.
To-day, moreover, there was great
gathering Of tho gentry to settle tho tinnl
details of the flight TO Copthorne. For that
notable haunt OF smugglers md horseoop.
ors, lying as 1t did Unnecessarily ON the far.
thcSt fringe Of tho forest, had been fixed
upon by the gentlemen OF tho Lewcs Rnpe
as tho place their families must bo scnt to
upon tho frat alarm that tho French wero
landing,
So th'rS and prooccupiod was tho throng
That rs 'hn squircs CAME riding Into town
they found II no onsy matter to make their
way mp the steep street MS far as thu inn,
y fresh oolurcd cid gentleman, who sat
his hor"o Ike man hall his age, seemed
to bo Especially we'll known. lilo had d
word for oyory ono, bit OF banter, us u
rmla nun tpf,
was "Guod day, Sir Beyll;" "wclI mot.
Sir Bowl" and "Slr Bowl, your servlue''
as hc rodnwlth easy care through the Inoy-
Ing crowd and opened 1t before him with
his rnlllery
AZ the Inn tho hurry and confusion OF
much business seerned TO reach its height,
Tor besides The ordinary custom Of a fair
day anu tho gathering OF tho gentry there
was deal more. Tho Star was tho house
whero tho dragons messed, and half tho
bls yar'i at Tho back was occupied by their
servants and horses Tho coffee romn
wlndows wcro Oiled with officers amusing
themselves With tho humors OF tho crowd.
Now and again the people would set up a
cheer for than, for since tho list of juno
tho war had become very popular, and
now that tho Fronoh wore coming tho sol.
d!crs, In spite OF the sorry performances OF
'no army IN Holland, wore as great "a.
yorites ~ tho sailors.
Tho officers secmcd bent on making tho
most OF their popularity and were handing
out mugs OF bOrr very freely to the crowd,
The young squires who were mingled with
thom In tho windows, with n pardonnblo
eagerneas to mako themselves conspicuous
while In such nno company, wero oontin.
uaily shouting for rum and calling tho
health OF the King and the repincnt aud
confusion TO Frcnchmon' md Jaoohin tral.
tors, Ike loyal and patriotic gentlemen,
The natural result was that tho sprynnts
In their fur crested helmets and bright
biuo tunlca and crimson pantaloons, who
had takon their place before tho great cato.
way OF the inn, were making worry pretty
haul OF recruits.
II would seom that orders had come
down from London TO bring up the rcei.
ment 70 tho full strength as soon as posi-.
bio That Is an order which, as every ono
Knows, sots tho blood stirring, and every
time some spirited or woakmindod lad
donned tho ribbons the young squircs
called his health uproariousiy and sent q
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