The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-15
By ARTHUR T. QUILLER COUCH:
VI.

below. And in the streets men were
fighting, as could be told by their
shouts and the rattle and blaze OF
musketry.
Now, the town was Marlboro and
the attacking force a body of royal
troops sent FROM Oxford to GUST the
garrison of the Parliament. which
they did this same night with great
slaughter, driving the rebels out of
the place and back on the road to
Bristol. Had we guessed this much
ill-luck had been spared US, but we
knew nought of it, nor whether friends
or foes were getting the better. So
Della being by this time recovered a
little) we determined to pass the night
in the woods. and on the morrow to
give the place a wide berth.
Rctreating. then, to the hollow Chat
lay on the lee side of the ridge, away
from the north wind, I gathered a
pile of great stones and spread my
cloak thereover for Della. To sleep
was impossible, ever with the will for
1t. For the tumult and fighting went
on and only died out about an hour
before dawn. and once or twice we
were troubled to hear the sound of
people running on the ridge above.
So we sat and talked in low voices till
dawn. and grew more desperately
hungered than ever.
With the chill of daybreak we start
ed. meaning to get quit of the neigh
borhood before any espied us, and
fetched a compass to the south with
out another look at Marlboro.
But before an hour had passed by
we were captured by a troop of rebels
and taken to Bristol, where l was
searched and my letter to the King
taken from me by Colonel Essex.
You are now to be ask'd to pass over
the next four weeks in as many min
utes: as would l had done ut the
time! For l spent them in a bitter
cold cell in the main tower of Bristol
keep, with q chair and a pallet Of
straw for all my furniture, and moth
ing to stay my fast but the bread and
water which the jailer-a sou man, if
ever there were one-brougbt me twice
q day.
What concerned me most was the
cold that gnaw'd me continually these
winter nights as I lay thinking of
Della Whom l had not seen since our
capture), or gazing on the patch Of
frosty heaven that was all my view.
Twas thus l heard Bristol bells ring
ing for Christmas in the town below.
Colonel Essex had been thrice to
visit me, and always offer'd many ex-
cuses for my treatment; but when he
came to question me. why, Of course,
I had nothing to tell, so that each
visit but served to vex him more.
Clearly l was suspected to know a
great deal beyond what appear'd in
the letter; and no doubt poor Anthony
Killigrew had receiv'd some verbal
message from His Majesty which he
lived not long enough to transmit to
me. AS twas, l kept silence; and the
Colonel in return would tell me moth
ing Of what had befaiien Della.
One fine. frosty morning. then. when
I had lain in this distress just four
weeks, the door of my cell open'd.
and there appear'd q young woman,
not uncomely, bringing in my bread
and water. She was the ~jailcr's
daughter, and wore a heavy bunch Of
keys at her girdle.
"Oh. good morning" said I, for till
now her father had visited me, and
this was a welcome change.
Instead of answering cheerfTlly las
1 look'd for, she gave q little nod OF
the head, rather sorrowful, and an
swer'd:
Fathers abed with the ague."
"Now, you cannot expect me to be
sorry"
Nay" she said. and l caught her
looking at me with something like
compassion in her blue eyes, which
mov'd me to cry out suddenly:
\ think you are enough to
like n pair of lovers
"Oh, aye; but where's t'other half
of the pair|
1OC lS lISlll. 1ut SouIS SCiliC
woman that was brought hither with
mel know not if she loves ne: but
this I do know-I would give my hand
to learn her whereabout and how she
fares"
Better eat thy loaf" put in the
girl very suddenly, setting down the
plate and pitcher.
Twas odd. but I seem'd to hear a
sob in her voice. However. her back
was toward me as l glanced up. And
next moment she was gone, locking
the iron door behind her.
l turn'd from my breakfast with q
sigh. having for the moment tasted
the hope to hear something of Della.
But in a while, feeling hungry, |
pick'd up tie loaf beside me and
broke it in two.
To my amaze out dropp'd something
that jiEgled on the stone floor.
Twas a small file; and, examining the
loaf again, ] found a ~clasp-knife also.
and a strip of paper, neatly folded.
hidden in the bread.
"Dear Jack:
"Coloncl Essex. finding no good come
Of his interrogatories. hath set NE at
large; tho I continue undcr his eye,
to wit. with a dowager Of his acGuaint.
ance. a Mistress Finch. We dwell
in n private house midway down st.
Thomas street, in RedrIife; and
sic hath put q dismal dress upon me
Gack. IT'S h%ideous), otherwise uses me
not i'll. But take care OF ;hyse:f. my