Evening star., 1903-08-01

on a steel cap that looked like an over
turned pot on a bundle Of cloth, all neatly
strapped on.
'The cathedral is a storehouse for uni
forms and accouterments enought to ft out
| a regiment. 1 selected the largest suit I
could find, with cloak and cap and belted
them to your saddle Now shall hold your
horse whole you go into the thicket and
change your raiment Conceal that caVa-
! lier costume well you can, so that If
Trey trace US over this fog -sodden turf,
which is likely, they will get no hint of
your new appearance. 1t might be well to
climb a tree and tie your discarded Shell
among the leaves. with the straps that bind
the bundle to your horse. and be careful to
leave neither the kings message nor your
purse with your finery"
1t was happy omen for future domestic
peace that the huge man did at once and
without question what the comparatively
fragile young woman bade him, she holding
his horse while he made the rapid change
When he emerged the horse plunged and
she had some ado to hold him until he
heard his masters voice and laugh.
Yea. verify. this is a transformation in
deed" cried Armstrong, looking at himself
in the moonlight MY name Is Hezekiah
| and the steel cap is a thought on the small
side. but the rest O. the duds are not So
bad
The cap was the largest l could And
| laughed the girl, land will ft closely
| enough when your locks are shorn."
'Oh. Must ! sacrifice this vanity OF Abb
solem well?'
Surely. If I am to be your Delilah.
must fulfil my duty. I searched the whole
! cathedral for that which would do the work
of shears, but could find nothing. However,
| the first cottage we come to will supply us
with @ suitable instrument. Now mount,
and let US away
They speedily came upon the main road
and cantered on through the beautiful
| night determined to put fifty miles or
thereabout between themselves and Lich-
| field, but before they had accomplished half
| that distance Armstrong saw that the girl
was completely tired out, In spite of her
| disclaimers, for. aside from the tiresome
| days travel, she had had little sleep the
night before. 1t was most tempting to push
! on, for the night was perfect and the road
| was good. Even though they passed
! through several villages, they were not
| questioned. Soldiers in drab cloaks and
| steel caps were too common on the road to
| cause comment, and they were as yet In
advance of any news OF escape.
At last they came to a farmhouse near
the roadside and Armstrong beat up the
inmates, bringing womans head to an
opened window. At first she would admit
no one at that hour of the night. but the
moon shining on the steel cap and the long
cloak apparently gave her confidence. Her
husband was in the south with Cromwell,
she said She could find place in the
house for the lady, but the soldier would
find better accommodation than he was ac-
customed to in an Clubhouse. With this Arm
strong expressed himself as amply satisfied.
They dismounted and he led away the
horses. He found place for them in
shed: examined and rubbed them down with
care. Having satisfied himself that they
We're none the worse for their long journey,
he attended to their wants. and flung down
some bundles of straw for his own nights
lodging. He began to think he must go
supperless. or run the risk of foraging IN
an unknown pantry, If he could find en-
trance. when he saw Frances approach
from the house with a loaf of bread and
lump Of cheese on trencher, with meas
ure Of ale. He met her half way and re-
lieved her of the load Under her arm she
carried some cumberous weapon. which she
brought out when he assumed the burden
of the provender.
1T Is pair of sheep shears which the
woman tells me Is all she has, but l as
sured her they were most suitable for my
purpose. Now sit on this stone here in the
moonlight and be shorn. for we must set
out at daylight without those long locks OF
yours You look too much like the king,
even with your cloak and steel cap
The girl laughed softly as she said this.
and snapped the big shears menacingly
He sat on the stone like the obedient young
man he was, shook out his lions name and
In few minutes was bereft of IT. The girl
stood back and surveyed her work laugh
ing but nevertheless with a tinge Of regret
in her laughter
"Oh. it's a pity she cried "All the
kings horses and all the kings men are not
worth the sacrifice. 1 hope 1t will grow
again, for If not. the Philistines be upon
thee. Samson. Your dearest friend would
not know You now"
Armstrong smiled ruefully and passed his
| hand in anxious doubt over his cropped
head.
Il suppose It will grow again unless my
dearest friend refuses to acknowledge me
with this curtailment, when | shall become
bald through grief at her detection"
Il make no promises If you mean me-
shall very likely reconsider. You are never
the man who cast a glamor over me at OK
ford and elsewhere. l fear l am no true
parliamentarian after all, but 1 shall not
come to a decision until I see you In the
daylight Perhaps the cap will be an I'm
provement but l doubt it,
lie squeezed on the cap which was still
too small
"Ry the bones OF my ancestors. It will
need Peter, the blacksmith of Gilnockie. to
get this off again.
That is worse and worse" urged his tor
mentor. Il cannot bear the sight any long
er. or 1t will drive sleep away from me
Good night. my poor shorn Samson" and
she was off before he could spring up and
intercept her.