Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-04-22
THERE'S FOR YORK

came again, sharp and hard, as
though the man without were in III
mood for delay. ! lifted the latch
and threw wide the door and in the
light of the lantern saw his hand
lifted in act to knock again.
"In the kings name!" saws he
with one foot across the threshold
And welcome" says l, and made
way for him.
He stopped, glancing over his
shoulder at the horse
"Nay,' says |, have him in too
There is naught to spoil" says,
looking round me, but if there
We're he were welcome. We are for
the king" says l, willing to make
him comfortable ON the main point.
He pulled the horse inside. When
l turned to it from barring the door,
saw with glance that there was
not another half mile left in it. The
next moment it had dropped to the
floor, with sharp grOan.
lis the most cursed luck, " says
he. Sure, | have been followed by
i'll fortune He broke off and
looked suspiciously ut the door and
window. you are we'll protected,
master" he says, turning his eyes
to mine.
1--WE can stand tilt" says 1.
Rest easy on that score"
"A quart of old ale made hot and
poured down its throat, says l as
much to myself as to him, will do
it no harm and may do it much
good"
Standing by the pan and keeping
my fingers in the draft that had
mixed so that / could tell when
the right heat was attained, l took
careful look at the man at my
side. He was of my own size ant
build-a tall, spare fellow, with {
deep chest and square shoulders
straight as Il pikcstaff and having {
certain stern look about his mouth
and eyes. His uniform was very
plain, but there were jewels in thu
hilt of his sword, and the feather,
that dropped from his hat, dragged
as they were, were rich and thick
as gallant'S should bc.
Between us we poured the al,
down the poor beasts throat.
There's naught to hope for il
him tonight" says he gloomily
IT'S my usual i'll fortune
Hn tro1-n ma N p,,;,ly ,>,>
$50 you are for the king, farm
err" he says. Sheath, tits a piec,
of the rarest luck that / CHANGED t.
knock at your door. l am at tn,
most desperate pass, but you are TO,
the king, ehl" says he with empha
Sis.
Il said SO and mean 80, says l.
lis necessary to be sure O
things in these times" says he
with a sigh of relief, land l hav,
that to tell you which would no
willingly tell to the kings lightes
enemy. Here l am, he says, low
ering his voice, carrying a dispatcl
of the strictest Importance to Ru
pert and Newcastle at York. Harl
you, farmer, It's the kings owl
signature that foots il. and ! fine
myself stopped'-his eyes wander
ed to the hOrse-''and followed
They turned uneasily TO the door.
"Followedi" says /
AS said, says he coolly enough
They have been at ny heels 70:
the last ten miles. Three a cheu
there are, and al we'll mounted
Plague take them"
They are without. then say= I
They We're within 200 yards Il
me when 1 turned in at your gate. e.
says he. But where they are no-S
the Lord knows"
! opened the shutter OF the hatch
and got out into the little garth BE-
tween the great ash and the hedge
row, taking good heed not 70 crack
even a dry twig, when / became
aware of the three troopers.
They We're out on the road. and
each man sat his horse in such a
strict quietness that you might have
sworn horse and man were Of
bronze or marble.
That he turned in here" says
one, is certain. Why he turned
aside Is not SO certain. But if he
carries dispatches for Rupert at
York It's certain that he must go
northward and along this road.
And SO the question is where to
stay him III his progress.
II know this country, every inch
of it, says the third man. Leave
1t to me. Two miles ahead lies
MarshfOrd cOmmOn-there : no like
lier spot 'twiXt here and York--as
desolate "a waste it is as you could
wish.
Then they talked again, and the
end of it was that they backed their
horses into the coppice and waited
for his coming forth
The man sat on the edge Of the
table just as had left him. They
are without l says, turning to-
ward the fire. They will wait your
going forth and then follow you to
Marshford common, where they
purpose to take you in the rear"
DO they so2" says he. But
come, master farmer, are we to be
outwitted by three crop cared
Roundhcads"
lis the kings dispatch, says I.
His eyes fixed themselves on mine,
and saw the white teeth shut slow
ly down on his lip.