Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-07-03

me. When they came up, was greet
ed in chorus. where is the princess?"
I said she had gone of with her hawk
and had left me to bring them after
her. l held them talking while could.
and when we started to follow took up
the wrong scent. A short ride made
this apparent, when came In for my
full share of abuse and ridicule, for |
had led them against their judgment.
l was credited with being blockhead.
when, in fact, they were the dupes.
We rode hurriedly back to the point
Of Mary's departure and wound our
horns Justify, but my object had been
accomplished, and l knew that within
twenty minutes from the time I last
saw her she would be with Brandon
on the road to Bristol. gaining on any
pursuit we could make at the rate OF
three miles for two. We secured the
forest far and near but Of course found
no trace. After a time rain set in and
one Of the gentlemen escorted the la
dies home, while three Of US remained
to prowl about the woods and roads all
night in a soaking drizzle. The task
was tiresome enough for me. rs 1t lack
Cd motive. and when we rode into
Berkeley castle next day sorrier set
Of bedraggled. rain stained. mud COW
cred knights you never saw. You may
know the castle was wild with excite
ment. There were all sorts of conJec
lures, but soon we unanimously con-
cluded 1t had been the work Of high
waymen. Of whom the country was
full and by whom the princess had Ger.
tainly been abducted.
The chaperons forgot their govt and
each other, and Jane, who was the
most affected Of all. had genuine ex.
cuse for giving vent to her grief anc
went to bed-by far the safest place
for her.
What was to be done? First, We sent
a message to the king, who would
probably have US all hayed alive, feai
which the chaperons shared to the full. |
est extent Next an armed party rode /
back to look again for Mary and, II |
possible, rescue her.
The fact that had been out the en-
tire night before, together with the
small repute in which l was held for
deeds Of arms. excused me from taking
part in this bootless errand. SO again ]
profited by the small esteem in which
I was held. l say I profted, for !
stayed at the castle with Jane, hoping
to find my opportunity in the absence
Of everybody else. All the ladies but
Jane had ridden out, and the knights
who had been with me securing the
forest were sleeping, since they had not
my incentive to remain awake. They
had no message to deliver, no duty to
perform for an absent friend. thou
sand! Only think Of it! l wished II
had been million, and SO faithful was
l to my trust that swore in my soul
would deliver them, every one.
And Jane loved me! No more walk
ing on the hard, prosaic earth now.
From this time forth would fly; that
was the only sensible method of loco.
motion. Mary had said, "She told me
So" Could it really be true? You
will at once see what an advantage
this bit of information was to me.
I hoped that Jane would wish to see
INC W TAIN oNcI hdTs cSCtpe, 80 L
sent word to her that 1 was waiting,
and she quickly enough recovered her I
health and came down. 1 suggested
that we walk out to a secluded little !
summer house by the river and Jane !
was willing. All. my opportunity was
here at last! 1
James whole attitude toward me was Z
changed, and she seemed to cling to q
ne In a shy. unconscious manner, that Z
was sweet beyond the naming, az the Q
,ne solace for all her grief
After l had answered all her Ques- 4
ions and had told her over and over '
lgafn every detail Of Nary's flight and q
lad assured her that the princess was b
Il that hour breasting the waves with b
srandon on their highroad to paradise, q
thought it time to start myself in v
he same direction and to say a word b
q my own behalf. So l spoke very v
RELY and told Jane what 1 felt and b
What wanted. o.
ooh, Sir Edwin" she responded. v
let us not think Of anything but my q
distress. Think Of the trouble she is d
l." q
mo. no, Jane. Lady Mary Il out of
er trouble by now and IL a. happy as q