Evening star., 1903-08-01

OF the captain Of your supposed company.
l think the night attempt more like to
prosper"
I'm the night every one is on the alert.
and a Roundhead cannot be distinguished
from a cavalier. so there is closer scrutiny.
l can enact the stupid trooper to perfec-
ton, having natural gifts reward stupidity.
There is risk of course. but this is
risky Journey at best. If l once get over
the bridge at Carlisle I'll beat all England
in a race for the border
Il hope you will. l said I would see
you across into Scotland. but 1 am con-
vinced that purpose is futile. and l shall
prove but danger to you. Warwick
trooper on duty does not wander over the
country a-SQuiring of danes. l have given
you good advice and a Roundheads equip
ment. and have acted as your scout, so
must not imperil your mission by hanging
to the skirt Of that sopping cloak Tonight
we shall likely reach Yorkshire, and tomor-
row bid you God speed. and make across
the country to my own home
Indeed. lass. 1 have come SO to depend
on YOU I shall be but a lost sheep, shorn
at that. II you leave me"
''The wind Is tempered to all such. and
II you depend on your own wit you are
likely to prosper. But you should have
some care for me. 1t is my own safety l
am thinking Of"
Although the day was far from being one
that melted toward hilarity Armstrong
laughed and turned his dripping face up to
the storm. The girl joined him. but with
less OF merrlment IN her tones.
You will never persuade me-" he said
that there Is a tinge of selfishness about
you. or that you even think Of yourself
when there is a friend to think Of
There Is worse to come she went on
Il must beg of you to sacrifice that mus
tache. You will never get through Carlisle
with that on your lip. Any one who has
ever seen you before would resognize you
now in spite OF cloak and cap
Madam. you ask too much. The king
dom of England may fall. but this mus
tache, never"
Really laughed the girl. IF you saw
1t at this moment you would not be so
proud OF it. 1t has dropped and wilted in
the rain like a faded flower. 'Twere better
done away with. for 1t will mark you out
from the smooth-faced troopers who throng
Carlisle
William somewhat wistfully wrung the
water from it and attempted to draw 1t out
across his cheeks
Madam. 1 suspect your design. One by
make up borderer and gradually you
have reduced me to the commonplace level
of those crop-cared villains who fight
ing against their king. Then when 1 come
to you and say, I beseech you to fulfil your
promise to me- you will reply. Away,
Hezekiah know you not.
"'Tis near to that point now, and little
more or less will make slight difference
with me, while 1t will greatly aid your
passage through Carlisle"
Would 1t not be well to have my ears
cropped also3'
'They are somewhat prominent. now that
your locks are gone. 1 wish l had brought
those shears with You now why
I must leave you. Oh, the vanity of man!
The self-conceit of woman is a molehill
compared with q mountain. But take cour-
age. William. I shall not be near you when
the deed is done, and the muStache sacri-
feed. and you will wait in Scotland until it
grows again. Perhaps by that time our
English troubles will be finished and thus
Armstrong and England will be their true
selves at the same moment.
They had long since reached the man
road. and were making way as well as they
could through the mud The rain had not
ceased. nor did 1t show any sign OF ceas-
ing. 1t needed frivolous talk to keep the
spirits up in such weather. The young wO-
man was earnest enough in her resolve to
further his disguise by the means she had
suggested. but to this she could get Arm
strong to say neither yea nor nay. He
changed the subject.
You never told me how you managed to
get SO much information in the camp. Did
they let you pass unquestioned?"
1T happened that l knew the officer In
charge. and he knew me, and was rather
apologetic in his demeanor toward me. for
he Of those of the court-martial
who condemned my brother. l told him,
truly enough, that had been to see Crom-
well, and had obtained his complete par
don. That l had seen the general at North
ampton. where he had made me promise,
had redeemed 1t. i was now on my way
home: that was all. The officer was very
glad. indeed, to hear of my success and
said. what was also true that he had deeply
regretted the condemnation, but that the
court could not do otherwise with the evil
dence before It, He had no suspicion that
I was the female f1end who accompanied
the man they sought and as the talk was
all of this man I could not help but hear,
and was indeed very glad to listen"
AS evening drew on the talk Jagged, and
at last they rode silently together, keeping
doggedly to the work in hand. in spite of
the tagging energies Of their horses and
their own bedraggled wearineSs The rain
fell with pitiless steadiness and darkness
came on early. with no chance of a moon
being visible that night. The welcome
lights Of a town twinkled ahead at last
and they resolved to stop there unless the
risk threatened to be overwhelming. At the
outskirts they learned that they had
reached Clitheroe, and that the Star Inn
offered fair accommodation for man and
beast. They were not to reach Yorkshire
that night, and had accomplished less than
thirty miles from Manchester. They dis
mounted at the Star Inn, two very water
soaked persons, and their reception was far
from being particularly cordial.
Are you one of the troopers billeted here
tonight?" asked the host. who appeared
not overpleased to welcome such enforced
guests
No: pay for my accommodation. I am
an officer of the Warwick horse"
1
the room had for a company from Man
chester"
Then that need not trouble you. They
will not be here tonight They did not
strike camp until this afternoon. later than
they expected. Should any arrive who have
a better right here than 1 1 will turn out,
at whatever time of the night 1t is neces-
sary. l want two rooms and a sitting
room. with a big fire. And get us hot
supper as soon as you can. There is good
stabling for the horses. hope?"
THE best In Lancashire. You are on this
hide -and-seek business I suppose?"
The landlord had become wonderfully
genial. now that there was the prospect of
good orders and gold ahead
What hide and seek business?'
This slippery Scot. Have you got him
yet?'
mo. 1t Is thought he has made for the
coast"
Never you fear. sir. know that kind Of
cattle, and have had them staying with
me manys the time. He'll take to the hills
and you mark my word, unless you hold
hands across England, you'll not catch
him, and even then you'll have to look we'll
to your feet or he'll slip through between
them"
II hardly see how a man on horseback
can do that"
you mark my word, they'll be looking
for a man on horseback. and he'll be sneak