Evening star., 1903-07-18

| that this not a time for controversy
| A standing man, well armed. has manifest
| advantage over an enemy bruised and or
| the ground and some thought of this came
to the mind of the generous victor now
that his anger was cooling. He felt that /,
was rather undignitied to threaten a help
less adversary. ard if he We're a traitor to
| the king let the king deal with him. So
| WhStilnG to his horse, he Sprang on his
back and rode to Banbury al a slower pac.
| than he had traversed the same road some
minutes before.
The hostler made grievous pretense that
he tad been all but murdered by his fal
ana Armstrong examined him minutelv as
he would have done with a favorite horse
| pronouncing him none the worse for his
! tumbling, but rather the better as he wa {
| no" more supple than he had been for
years: He rewarded the man lavishly. new
ertheiess and gave him the receipt for a
| llniment good for man and beast should
| alter complications ensue
| Il hope, sir. Whined the man that Won
| dld not treat the gentleman you were in
| me- ~ ~
Very much the same" cried Armstrong,
! With laugh. but you are the better off
! because left him neither gold nor medi-
| cine taking from him. rather than bestow-
| ing.
All is that your game?'' whispered the
hostler a CLINT of admiration lighting up
| ms eyes. Dang me If | did not take thee
| for gentleman of the road when first
| capped eyes on thee. Be sure III say
| naught, for I've cut a purse. myself in
! younger days. Those times We're better
! than now. There's too many soldiers and
10" Ic" gentlemen with fat purses travel
| ing the roads nowadays. for our trade
Again William laughed and shook hands
with the old man. as one highwayman in
a good way of business might condescend
10 another less prosperous. and the veteran
| hoStler boaSted of his intimacy with a
noted freebooter for the rest of his davs
Rub down horse 7
at breakfast said Armstrong and re
ceivfng every assurance that the beast of
so excellent man should receive every
attention. he went to the inn and there
found Frances awaiting him.
The girl was standing by the window
which was low and long, with valance of
crimpled spotted muslin running a1hwart
the lower half of it. A bench was fixed
beneath the window. and on this bench tho
girl had rested a knee. while her cheek was
placed against the diamond panes The
light struck her face and Illuminated 1t
strongly and she stood so still that she
seemed TO form part of a tabeau which
| might have been entitled "Watching.' On
the table placed in the center of the room
breakfast was spread
II was jubant man who disturbed this
quiet picture by his abrupt incoming. The
early morning galop. the excitement OF
contest the flush of victory all had their
effect on his bearing, and he came In with
the men of a Saxon prince his yellow hair
almost touching the beams of the low cell
ing. The two formed a striking contrast
when the embodiment of elation an
preached the embodiment of detection
There was a new furtiveness in the brief
glance she cast upon him. and after her
first startled cognizance. she looked beyond
him. on either side of him. over his head or
at his feet. but never turned her eyes full
upon him as Of yore.
"Ah. my girl" he cried. you have not
slept well. 1 can see that at once This
will never do; never do at ALL But you are
certainly looking better this morning than
you did last night. Is that not so?"
You are looking very WELL" she said.
| avoiding his question.
"Oh, I've had morning gallop already'
What! With the ride to Scotland still
before you. Is not merciful man merci-
full to his horse?"
He should be: but 1 may say this for
Bruce, he enjoyed the ride quite as much
as did. And now. I am ravenous for
breakfast. and eager for the road again."
He tinkled a little hand bell that rested On
the table. I'VE have another splendid day
for 1t. The sunrise this morning was posi-
lively inspiring Come lass, and sit YOU
down. We must get the roses back into
those cheeks and think the ride today Will
do 1t. for we will be nearing the north ever
nearing the north, and you are just like
me, you are yearning for the northand
where all the men are brave and all the
women fair
Fair and false. perhaps you would add.
That was your phrase. I think"
William laughed heartily, drawing in his
chair.
Yes, about our Stuarts not about our
ladies'. They are ever leal and true. And,
indeed. many of them dark as we'll as
fair, and they are the best Dark hair, far