Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-01-04
MICAH CLARKE
> > By A. Conan Doyle. = y
XXIII.
or THE SNARE ON THE WESTERN
ROAD.

If the mayor $ servants who brought
word that the Honorable Master Wade
was awaiting me downstairs. Having
s.essed and descended. / found him seat
N by the table in the sitting-room with
napers and wafer-box, sealing up the
missive which ! was to carry. He was
small, worn, grayfaced man, very
erect in his bearing and sudden in his
speech, with more Of the soldier than
II the lawyer in his appearance.
SO" said he, pressing his seal above
the Fastening of the string, Il see that
YOUR horse is ready for you outside
You had best make your way round l.y
Neither Stowey and the Bristol Channel.
for we have heard that the ene1ny's
horse guard the roads on the far side
of Wells. Here is your packet"
bowed, and placed it in the inside uf
my tuRic.
1T is a written order as suggested
in the eouacil. The dukes reply may
be written, or it may be by word of
mouth. In either case. guard 1t well
This packet also contains a copy of the
DISPOSITIONS OF the clelgymen at The Hague
and Of the other witnesses who saw
Charles of England marry Lucy Walters,
the mother Of his majesty. Your mission
is ONE of such Importance that the whole
success OF cur enterprise may turn upon
i. See that YOU serve the paper upon
beaufort in person. and not through any
a court OF law
l promised to do so if possible.
Il should advise You Also he contn-
Ucd. "t3 carry, sword and pistol as a
protection against the chance dangers
Of the road. but to discard your head
piece and steel-front as giving you too
Warlike an aspect for a peaceful meSsen-
ger
4 had already come to that resolve"
said !.
There is nothing more to be said
said the lawyer, giving me his hand
May all good fortune go with YOU
Keep a still tongue and quick ear
Watch keenly how all things 20 Mark
whose face is gloomy and whose content.
The duke may be at Bristol. but you
had best make for his seat at Badmn-
ION. Our sign OF the day is Tcwks-
bury"
Thanking my instructor for his a,Ivicc.
| went out and mounted Covenant. who
paved and champed at his hit in his de
light at getting started once more Few
Of tho tOwnsmen We're stirring. though
acre and there Il pight-bonneteG head
stared out at me through a easement.
| took the pFecaution of walking the
horse very quietly until we were some
distance from the house, for | had toll
Reuben nothing of my intended journey
and / was convinced that if he knew
Of it. neither discipline, nor even his new
ties of love. would proven him from
coming with me. Covenan $ ironSh0d
feet rang sharply, in spite 90 my care,
upon the cobblestones but looking hack
saw tlat the blinds of my faithful
friends room were undrawn, and that
al seemed quiet in the house. | shook
my bride, therefore. and rode at a briSk
tr0t through the silent streets, which
were still strewn with faded flowers and
cay with streamers. At the north gate
a guard OF half a company was sta
toned who let me pass upon hearing the
word. Once beyond the old walls \
found myself out ON the countryside.
With my face to the north and a clear
rad in front of me.
1t was a blithesome morning. The sun
was rising over the Brendon hills, and
heaven and earth We're ruddy and
golden. The trees in the wayside orch
ards were full of swarms of birds. who
chartered and sang until the air was fuh
Of their piping. There was lightsome-
ness and gladness in every breath. The
wistful-eyed red Somerset kline stood
along by the hedgerows casting great
shadows down the fields and gazing at
me as / passed. Farmhorses leaned over
wooden gates and snorted Il word of
greeting to their glossy-coated brother.
\ great herd of snowy-Heeced sheep
Streamed towards us over the hillside
aud frisked and gambOlled in the sun
shine. All was innocent life, from the
lark which sang on high to the little
Shrew mouse which ran among the ripen-
ing corn, or the martin which dashed
away at the sound of my approach. All
alive and all innocent. What are we to
ihink, my dear children. when we see the
beasts of the field full of Kindness and
virtue and gratitude? Where is this SUI
periority of which we talk?
From the high ground to the north |
looked back upon the sleeping town with
me broad cdging of tents and wagons,
which showed how suddenly it's popula
ton had overgrown it, The Royal Stand
ard still ffuttered from the tower of st.
Mary Magdalene, while close by its beau
lful brOtherturret of st. James bore
aloft the blue flag of Monmouth. As |
gazed the quick. petulant roll of drum
rose up on the still morning air. with the
clear ringing call of bugles summouing
the troops from their Slumhers. Be
yond the town. and on either side of it,
stretched a glorious view of the Somerset
SHIRE downs, rolling away to the distant
seq, with town and hamlet, castle turret
and church tower. wooded coombe and
stretch of grainland-as fair scene as
the eye could wish TO rest upon. AS
wheeled my horse and sped upon my way
felt. my dears. that this was land
worth fighting for and that mans life
was a small thing if he could but aid, in
however trifiing O degree, in working out
rs freedom and its happiness. At Il lit
lie village over the hill / fell in with an
outpost of horse, the commander of which
rode some distance with me and set me
m my road to Neither Stowey. 1t seemed
strange to my Hampshire eyes to note
hat the earth is all red in these parts
very different to the chalk and gravel of
Havant. The cows, TOO, are mostly red.
HE cottages are built neither of brick
nor of wood. but of some form of plaster,
which they call cob, which is strong and
mooth so long as no water comes near
T. They shelter the walks from the rain,
.iaerefore, by great oyerhanging thatche$.
IheYe is scarcely a steeple in the whole
countryside, which also seems strange 10
man from any other part of England
Every church hath square tower, with
Nnnaclcs upon the top. and they are
mostly very large, with fine peals of bells
Ny course ran along by the foot of
me beautiful Quantock hills where
leavy wooded coombeS are scattered over
,he broad heathery downs, deep with
nFacken and whortlebushes. On either
>tde OF the track steep winding glens
N'oped downward. lined with yellow gOrse,
,MA,hlch blazed out from the deep-red soil
Aka 2 Harr1a -onlarpd