The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-27
CHAPTER XIV.
TRAPPED.

-
1t was a pair no less joyous than beau
tiful that rode forth from York next morn
ing, and journeyed for two days toward
the south without care or hindrance. The
girl was elated with her first intoxicating
taste Of power; the supreme power of q
beautiful woman over strong, detern-
ined man. She had shorn him of his
fixed intentions as Delilah had shorn
Samson Of his locks. AS the smile oc-
Cured to her, her JOY in the day was
clouded. SHE glanced sideways at her
yellow haired Samson, riding so grace
fully on his splendid horse.
He turned and saw the sudden gloom
on her brow. He brought his horse close
beside hers, reached out and touched her
hand gently. --,s - --
Dear heart, do not grieve," he said,
tenderly. Il pledge my faith your brother
is better already. Would had thought of
it in time, and there might have been a
horseman travelling all night to York
bringing you later tidings of him, but ]
am ever stupid in my treatment Of YOU
The girls eyes filled. A helpless rage at
the part assigned to her filed her heart
It was only by dint Of repeating to her
self what Cromwell had said to her
brother, and by persuading her mind tc
hold fast the knowledge that, without hel
fulillment Of Cromwells orders Arm
strong would die as a spy, that she could
prevail upon herself not to stop her horse
and tell him all.
strong spoke not lovingly Of the king, and
characterized the whole race of the
Stuarts as fair and false. Whatever mo-
tive had sent him on his dangerous mis-
sion, she observed, it was neither love
for the king nor loyalty towards his cause
Thus rejecting, she did not notice thai
they were drawing near Northampton
until suddenlysthe tramping of squad.
ron Of horsemen came to their ears from
| behind them.
Armstrong suggested that it would be
| well to draw into the hedge while the
troopers passed, and this they did. The
Scot sat easily on his horse, watching
the somewhat imposing oncoming, thu
breastplates of the men scintillating II
| the declining sun, which shone full upor
them.
consciously, perhaps, his hand graspec
that of the girl.
"Have you ever seen Cromwell?' he
asked:
mo-
'That is he at the head of the cav.
airy ss
| She drew away her hand, and sat there
scarcely Dreaming, Iear1ul or the ap.
proa ching encounter, which could not be
avoided now
If Armstrong were equally perturbet
| he showed no sign of it, and quick ad
miration Of his calmness surged thru hel
as she looked at him
| But her eyes turned 1nstinctive1y again
to the leader of the troops. There wa
something masterful in his very bulk: HI
seemed a massive man on his huge horse
power personified was horse and man
His unblinking eye faced the sun like al
eagles, and he came stofidly past them
looking neither to the right nor the left
The firm face was as inscrutable and a.
| ruthless as that of the Sphinx.
| Four and four came the men behind him
some old, but erect. the majority middle
aged, all cast in tlae same mold as ttlei
leader. They sat like him, and locke,
straight ahead like him. Polished stee
on head and front, but nothing ornamental
| in their outfitting No drums, no flags
no trunpets; shining yellow bugle a
the hip Of the foremost, that was all
Everything for use, nothing for display
Clanking past they came four and four
flour and four. In seeming endless process