The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-05-27
Deer the
Border %;;
BARR,
=. 80. ;, Author Of "Jennis 8axfer.
FtsEsrick II. Sfekss Co. 10u'''oS's'' ETC.
Aushor 81 "Jsnnis Baxter.
JournoIisf." Etc.


communion Of men and knew little
Of the vagaries of the other sex, whom
he had ever regarded as the more talk
alive. And SO through Yorkshire the
silent progress continued
This is not unlike some parts Of Scot
land" he said at last, in an iii fated
attempt to revive a conversation which
yOnd his power to resuscitate. The
girl reined in her horse, and Bruce
stopped through sympathy, old John
hating. that the respectful distance he
tept might not be decreased. Frances
held her head high, and there was a
sparkle of determination in her eye.
1t was best to begin right, and she
would put this persistent man in his
place, a task already too long delayed.
And perhaps the putting of him in his
place would lessen the clamor of her
own conscience.
"Sir, who are your was her amaz-
ing inquiry
"Me?' gasped Armstrong. I'm a
| Scotsman"
Perhaps l should have said, what
are you?"
you mean Oh, I'm a drover-a
dealer in cattle"
did my brother tell you who am? p
HE told me his father was the late
Earl of Strafford.'
yesterday l was grateful to you for
the aid you afforded my brother. as
should have been grateful to my serv-
ant if he had occupied your place, but
l should not have forgotten the dis
lance between that servant and my
self. StraffOrd's daughter does not
recognize drover as her social equal.
| I ask you to take the position 1 set
for you when 1 began this journey"
do you mean, madam, that I am to
ride with your servant?'
THAT is what 1 mean"
( 81 have no objection in the least.
| From the conversations we had togeth-
| er he shows himself a man of knowl
| edge and lover of horses, which is an
easy passport to my liking"
Il am glad his company is so much
to your taste. and shall be obliged to
! you if you fall back with him, as l
wish to ride alone"
THAT will l not do under command,
! for, although may cherish old Johns
conversation, cannot admit the claim
Of superiority you set up. l am drov-
er, said, and so your ancient King
Alfred might with equal truth have
dubbed himself baker, if old tales are
true. am William Armstrong of Gil
nochie Towers, lord of the lands of
LanghOlm, Dalbetht, Stapil- Gortown,
Shield and Dalblane. I can trace my
lineage as far back as any noble in
England and come to my ancestral
thieves as soon as they. In courtesy
we Armstrong; are the equals of any
Englander, and in battle we have never
turned our backs on them. The castles
Of my clan line the river Liddel, and
when l ride with my friend, the Earl
Of Traquair, ride by his side and not
with his followers"
''Sir, you Overwhelm me with your
grandeur" said the girl loftily, re-
joiced to find herself in what promised
to be quarrel. She was human, and
thought it would prove easier to rob
| an enemy than a friend. Il thought
the crowns of England and Scotland
were united, but see was mistaken.
l travel with the king of Scotland, and
he is doubtless on his way to Oxford
to confer with his brother, the king of
England"
Madam, go to greet his majesty
Charles, and If he dare to address me
as you have done l will tell him l am
more king of the border than he is
king Of England, and my saying will
! be true"
Frances Wentworth bowed low in
mock humility.
"YOur highness of the border, will
you permit me to ride in your train:
l know am not worthy, but ask the
boon that l may seek consolation in
communion with my servitor"
Madam. you may ride where you
please" gruffly replied the thoroughly
angered Scot, tingling with wounded
pride.
"Sir, 1 thank you.' replied the maid
en-, bowling again, land am delighted
that you should exhibit to one so lowly
as l an example Of that courtesy Of
which you just now boasted.'
To this the indignant man made no
reply, thus changing his former rela-
tons as regarded conversation. He
urged on his horse, and she, after paus-
ing awhile and seeing that John would
approach no nearer, also went on, and
thus the three kept for the day their
new relative positions. Unheeded, the
sun passed the meridian, and at last
she was reused to a sense of her sur
roundings by the stopping Of her I'M
guided horse before a roadside inn.
Armstrong, his black steed brought to
standstill across the highway, sat
rigidly upright. and he said when she
thus Unexpectedly looked at him with
something Of startled appeal in her
eyes:
I'VE stop here for rest and refresh
ment."
II need neither rest nor refreshment,'
! she answered YEARLY.