Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-08-24
MICAH CLARKE
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I, Aaihor OF Adventures Of Fl
Sherlock Homes, Ne X
moirs Of Sherlock Holmes" \
The Refa9ees,' Etc. y
= y BY A. Conan Doyle. = -

ever. FAREWELL He clambered into his
saddle, and we heard the clatter of his
hoofs dying away down the London road.
The time has come for You TO &c,
Micah. said my father. sOlemnly. NAY.
WIFE do not weep, but rather hearten the
lad on his way by a blithe word and a
merry face. | need not tell you to fight
manfully and fearlessly in this quarrel.
Should the tide of war set in this direc-
ton, You may find Your old father riding
by your side. Let us now bow down and
impiOre the favor of the Almighty upon
this expedition
We all knelt down in the low-roofed,
heavy-rafted room. while the old man of
fered up an earnest. strenuous PRAYER for
our success. Even now. as | speak to We.
that group rises up before mine eyes. |
see once again your ancestors stern.
rugged face, with his brows knitted and
his corded hands writhed together in the
fery0r of his supplication. My mother
kneelS beside him with the tears trickling
down her sweet, placid face, sitting her
SObs lest the sound Of them make my
leaye-taking more bitter. The children
are in the sleeping room upstairs. and we
hear the patter of their bare feet upon
the floor. The man Saxon sprawls across
one of the oaken chairs, half kneeling.
half reclining, with his long legs trailing
out behind, and his face buried in his
hands. All round, i'll the Pickering light
of the hanging lamp. | see the objects
which have been so familiar to me from
childhood-the settle by the fireplace, the
high-hack, stiff-elbOw chairs, the stuffed
fox above the door. the picture of Chris
tian viewing the Promised Land from
the summit of the Detachable mountains
all small trihes in themselves. but max
ing up among them the marvellous thing
we call home, the all-powerful loadstOne
which draws the wanderers heart from
the farther end of the earth. Should
ever see it again, save in my dreams-I
who was leaving this sheltered cove Il
plunge into the heart of the storm?
The prayer finished, we all rose with
the exception of Saxon, who remained
with his face buried in his hands for q
minute or so before starting TO his feet
| shrewdly suspect that he had been fast
asleep, though he explained that he haj
paused to offer up an additional Supplica
ton. My father placed his hands upor
my head and invoked the blessing Of
Heaven upon me. He then drew my
companion aside. and heard the jinglina
Of coin. from which l judge that he wa;
giving him something wherewith 10 star
upon his travels. My mother clasped me
to her heart, and slipped a small square
of paper into my hand, saying that was
to look at ii at my leisure, and that
should make her happy if would but
conform to the instructions contained II
it. This | promised to do. and. tearing
myself away, l set off down the dark,
ened village street, with my long-llmbet
companion striding by my side.
1t was close upon ] in the morning
and all the country folk had been long
abed. Passing the Wheatsheaf and the
house of old Solomon, | could not but
wonder what they would think of my
martial garb were they afoot.
had scarce time to form the same
thought before Zachary Palmer
cottage when his door flew open. and me
carpenter came running out, with ms
white hair streaming in the fresh nght
Il have been awaiting you, Micah,
he cried. Il had heard that Monmouth was
nm. and / knew that you would not lose
night ere starting. God bless you
lad; God bless you! Strong OF arm
and soft of heart, tender to the weaS
and stern to the oppressor. you nave tht
prayers and the love of all who know
YOU" / pressed his extended hand, and
the last | saw of my native hamlet was
tbe shadowy figure of the carpenter as nc
waved his good wishes to me through the
darkness.
We made our way across the helds "a
the house of Whittier. the Wing farmer
where Saxon got into his war harness
We found our horses ready saddled and
hridled, for my father had at the hrst
alarm sent Il message across that we
should meet them. BY in the morn
ing we were hrcaSting Portsdown NIL
armed, mounted, and fairly started onoui
Journey to the rebel camp.