Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-06-24

ing the turn of the woodland
path and about to emerge upon the
open next the heath. He who rides
the lame roam has his eyes bent upon
the ground. thousand sad and con-
f1icting thoughts crowding his brain, as
tits impossible even to urge his hurt
steed. and jog trot is all that can be
got out of her ever again. Carrot lane
had sent him away only with his own
again.
''Sir Percy, with submission. SIR"
exclaims Grigson. ''this be Farnham
heath, sir, and 'pon my life, sir" jump
ing from his saddle and darling to the
grassy side of the way, "a rapier. Sir
Percyw picking it up and dragging
with 1t the struggling BEDFORD and its
appending bundle.
Percy leaped to the ground and
seized the weapon.
''Grigson," cried he. there's been
foul work hereabouts. This is the
sword Of gentleman l know, or my
names not Percy de Bohun! He is a
scurvy fellow. and my enemy, but If
heaven above us. I'll rescue him. even
If tits to punish him later according to
my own will! Take the rapier"
AS he hands it back to his man the
BEDFORD from the Queen and Arti-
choke, being full century old. gives
entirely away. and my Lady Peggy's
buds. long tail of dark hair. pins. nee
dies. whatever else beside. fall. scatter,
topsy turvy to the ground. and Mt the
very same moment Percy sees before
him, as in a nest among the sedges and
ferns of the marshy brookland, the
wig that her ladyship had flung of and
a scrap Of tumbled paper addressed to
himself, tapping. spiked on a thistle
top, near it. Thunderstruck. he is about
to read it when Grigson, who has gone
on afoot few steps. starts back. and.
reckless Of all things, seizes his mas
ter's arm and drags him to the turn Of
the road.
''Sir Percy! Hist! Lookv'
Thrusting the bit of paper into his
waistcoat. Percy gasps and gazes. He
beholds Sir Robin and his man lifting
a limp and slender form, i'll defined,
tits true, in its swathe Of camlet cloak,
into the coach; he beholds n head of
dark, short hair, face Of ashen pallor.
and In two seconds more, before he
can rush back and leap into his saddle.
mOtiOning Grigson to do the same. the
coach containing Sir Robin and his
prize is dashing as fast as whip, spur,
sixteen thoroughbred legs and a back
ing up Of wholesome terror can urge
It over the bleak and grewsome waste
Of Farnham heath.
"'Slife, Grigson. man, cries Percy.
digging steel into the poor roan's TANKS
till they squirt blood in a stream. I'VE
must overtake 'em. unhorse 'em. spill
out the wretch inside. I'll into the
coach then to protect the lady; you
mount the leader and gallop us over
the heath for your life"
'Trust me, Sir Percy" answers Orig
son from a length behind his master.
''God grant. sir. that the roam drop not
out Of the race and leave as but one
saddle betwixt you and me. SIR"
"Poor beastr' says Percy, prickinS
her hard and striking her shoulder
with the fat Of his rapier. She'll die
and In q good cause II she gain me the
goal"
And all the while they're speaking,
fash and crack 60 the whips of Sir
Robins positions, and Sir Robins
splendid beasts cover the ground with
q swing and will that keeps the coach
rocking, but yet awakens not Lady
Peggy, whose dark cropped head re-
poses on the crooked shoulder Of Sir
Robin, while her white eyelids remain
sealed and no culver of returning con-
sciousness thrills about her drawn and
bloodless lips.
"Gadw exclaims Percy, as he beholds
the vehicle swinging and spinning far
Their and farther from him and as
nose with his own expiring mare.
"Gad, GIRL" bending his lips to the
soan's laid back ear, go on! Help me
to save her! To reach her! Go on, ]
sayw
As IL the faithful creature cOmpre-
hended her masters entreaty, with
that not uncommon last flash OF super
human strength that inheres in man
and beast alike, the roam raised her
fine head in the air, pricked her ears,
stretched out her neck, gathered her
self up with twitch Of her nerves that
thrilled to her riders heart, and off. AS
in her best days, when she could dis
lance the fieetest mount In the county;
off, with the whirl and whir Of those
coach wheels reckoning to her: of,
with that pair of straining eyes, those
parted lips, blessing her as she began
to gain ON Sir Robin. Began to? Nay.
twas all a matter of beginning and
ending in a breath. Before the pos
tilions, amid their own clatter and
calling. had caught hint Of the pursuit
the roam was up with the windows,
out Of which the apprelensive little