Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-04-19

7
making too close a pursuit of me. One
trooper did indeed throw himself across
my path, but mine old back handed cut
I was too much for him. Alas, / have
much upon my Conscience | have made
both widows and orphans. Why will
they brave me when--tfod of mercy,
/ what is that:''
lis my horse in the stall below" l
Il thought it was the dragons" quoth
the. clerk. wiping away the drops which
had started out upon his brow. You
and | would have gone forth and smit-
ten them
Or climbed into the -four bin" said l..
| have not yet made clear TO YOU
how came there he continued. HAY
ing ridden, then, some leagues from the
neld. and noting this windmill, it did oc-
| cur 10 ME that stout man might single
! handed make it good against a troop of
horse. We have no great love of flight,
| we Ietheridges. 1t may be mere empty
pride, and yet the feeling runs strong
| in the family. We have a fighting strain
In use ever since my kinsman followed
lreton army as sutler. | pulled up,
therefore, and had dismounted TO take
my observations, when my brute of "A
charger gave the bride twiteh, jerked
itself free. and was off in an instant over
/ hedges and bitches. | had therefore only
my good sword left to trust TO- climbed
/ up the ladder, and was engaged in plan
ming how the defense could best be con-
Quoted when | heard the clank Of hoofs,
and on the top of ii you did ascend from
| below. | retired ut once into ambush,
| from which | should assuredly have
made sudden outfall or sally, had not
the -four so choked my breathing that
| felt as though / had a two-pound loaf
stuck IN my gizzard. For myself, ann
glad that II has SO come about, for III my
blind wrath | might unwittingly have
dene you an injury, Hearing the clank
1 OF your sword as you did come up the
ladder, ! did opine that you We're one
of King James minions. the captain per-
chance eff some troop in the fields be-
low"
| All very clear and explicit, Master
| TetheIIdse, said /, relightiug my pipe.
mo doubt your demeanor when l did
draw You from your hiding place was al
so a mere cloak for your valor. But
enough of that Ii is to the future that
we have to look. What are your inten-
| tionsg''
ITO remain with you, captain said
he.
NAY. that you shall not answered;
Il have no great fancy for your COM
panionship. Your overlooking valor may
| bring me into ruffles which | had other
wise avoided"
NAY, nayi / shall moderate my spir-
| IL. he cr1eu. IN Sucn IfouDiOuS times
/ you will find yourself none the worse for
| the company of tried fighting man"
Tried and found wanting" said L,
weary of the mans braggart talk. Il
tell you will 60 alone"
NAY. you need not be so hot about it!'
he exclaimed, shrinking away from me.
I'm any case we had best stay here un-
| til nightfall, when we may make our way
TO the coast"
THAT is the first mark of sense that
YOU have shown said 7. THE Kings
horse viii find enough to do with the
/ Zoyland cider and the Bridgewater ale.
If we can pass through, / have friends
on the north coast who would give us Il
/ lift in their lugger as far as Holland.
This help | will not refuse to give You,
since you are my fellow In misfortune.
| would that Saxon had stayed with me!
l fear he viii be taken
IF you mean Col. Saxon" said the
clerk, Il think that he also is one who
hath much guile as well as valor. A
stern, fierce soldier he was, as | know
well, having fought back TO back with
him for forty minutes by the clock,
| against troop of Sarsheld's horse
Plain Of speech he was, and perhaps a
tTifle inconsiderate of the honor of cav
alier, but in the field it would have been
well for the army had they had more
such commanders
You say truly / answered: "but now
that we have refreshed ourselves. it is
time that we bethought us of taking
some rest, since we may have far TO tray
| 81 this night. | would that / could lay
my hand upon fiagon of ale.''
Il would gladly drink to our further
/ acquaintance in the same, said my com
panion, but as to the matter of slum-
Der, that may be readily arranged. IF
| YOU ascend that ladder you will find in
! the loft a litter of empty sacks upon
| % I will
stay down here for while and cook
myself another cake"
do you remain on watch for two
hours and then arouse me-" | replied.
| Il shall then keep guard while You
| sleep" He touched the hilt of his sword
as sign that he would be true to his
post: so. not without some misgivings,
| climbed up into the loft. and throwing
myself upon the rude couch. was soon in
a deep and dreamless slumber, lulled by
| the low, mournful grooming and creaking
! of the sails.
| was awakened by steps beside me.
ard found that the little clerk had come
IlI the ladder and was bending over me.
I asked him If the time had come for me
, rouse: on which he answered in a
strange, quavering voice that | had yet
an hour, and that he had come up to
could render me. ] was too weary to
take much note of his sinking manner
and pallid cheeks; 50, thanking him for
his attention, turned over and was soon
asleep once more.
My next waking was rougher and a
sterner one. There came a sudden rush
of heavy feet up the ladder and n dozen
redcoats swarned into the room. Spring
| ing onto my feet, | put out my hand for
the sword which / had laid all ready by
my side, but the trusty weapon had gone.
| 1t had been stolen while I slumbered.
| Unarmed and taken at a vantage, | was
struck down and pinioned in a moment
One held pistol to my head. and swore
that he would blow my brains out if
stirred. while the others wound q coil Of
rope round my body and arms. until
Samson himself could scarce have got
free. Feeling that my struggles were of
no possible avail, / lay silent and wait
ed for whatever was to come. Neither
now nor at any time, dear children, have
/ ! laid great store upon my life, but far
less then than now. for each of you is a
tiny tendril which binds me to this world.
] ct, when / think of the other dear ones
who are waiting for me on the farther
shore. I do not think that even now
death would seem an evil thing in my
eyes. What hopeless and empty thing
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