Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-05-15
Continued.

and one you'll like to hear"
But l haven't time, says May, hall
laughing, half-blushing.
Always time for good news, my
pretty lady," says the girl, showing
her white teeth.
May shakes her head, and bending
down, drops shilling in the brown
palm. The gypsy girl looks I'D at her
with a swift smile.
"Thank you kindly, lady," she says
"'Tisn't every hern that gets SO fair
a bird!"
Sir Heron laughs, and throws her
half sovereign.
well said," he says, in his curt
fashion, as he drives on.
What on earth did she mean?" Says
Carrie, eagerly.
"Mean2" he says. Didn't you un-
derstand? A hern is heron; and
but you understand now. 1t was
clever"
ct was also rather rude" says May;
but she laughs, and the color mounts
to her face.
), ell forgive her the rudeness for
the sake of the truth he says. ut
isn't every hern that gets so fair a
bird. True, indeed. She may have
every fowl on the home-farm if she
likes. BY Jove, if wanted a motto
for a crest, I'd choose that. steady,
Dutchman, what's the matter?"
For just in from Of them, right in the
center of the thickest part OF the
crowd, there is a sudden commotion,
which causes the chestnut to shy and
throw up is head.
What is it?' asks Carrie, leaning
forward. ct looks like fight! Oh,
Sir Heron, what is it?''
"'Hush-be quiet, sit down. he
says. easily. 1T is nothing" but he
arises and strains his neck.
"Is it a Aght?" says May, gently
NO." he says; II can't make it out.
Steay, Dutchman! There are couple
of soldiers; they-confound it,"
And he grips the reins tight, for as
he speaks the crowd has parted sud-
denly, and from out the crush a tail,
fair-haired young man darts like an
arrow from a bow, and dashes right
under the chestnut's rose.
Immediately afterward, and evident
" giving chase, the soldiers follow in
the same line.
The GROVE roars and sways to and
fro behind theln, and in the most un-
accountable manner the fugitive, for
that he evidently is, doubles, and
once more ducks under the Dutch
mans head.
AS he does so he looks up, looks up
with a white, set face of hunted
man, and May, who has bent as far
forward as she can in safety, springs
to ner feet and utters a strange, w44d
cry. VI
The man turns in his zigzag flight,
and, seeing her standing with white
face and outstretced hands, stops
short with startle surprise.
1t is a fatal pause, for the soldiers,
thrown back by this unexpected double,
regain their lost ground, and are al
most upon him.
Another moment and they will have
him in their grip, but in that moment
a cry of agonized entreaty rings from
Mays lips.
ooh save hinl-save him"
AS if her cry had gone straight to-
their hearts, the crowd which had, up
till now, taken mere spectator part
in the chase, awoke to find that they
had hearts and sympathies.
With an answering yell they closed
in one compact, unmovable mass be,
tween the man and pursuers, and then
surrounding the soldiers, pressed them
together like a couple OF sardlnes.
1t was all done in minute; the i'm
minent capture and the prompt, eff
fectual rescue were over before Heron
could utter a word, either one way or
the other.
Already the tail, 1.-the figure of the
fugitive had sped down the lane the
crowd had made for him, and was lost
to sight.
May sank back to her seat with
white face and half-closed eyes, strug-
Cling, with an heroic effort, against
the deadly faintness which threatened
to overwhelm her.
For Heavens sake, my darling,
breathes Heron, half distracted by hel
distress, and yet not daring to with
draw his hand from the grip of the
almost ferocious Dutchman, don't
faint. 1t is all over. The fellow is
safe, How could you distress yourselr
SOL Lean against me. Conlound the
fellow! Carrie, haven't you got IA
sme1ling-bOttle Or-Or something?
Take your hand Off the horses head,
YOU idiot" this to the oficious in.
dividual whose efforts at soothing the
Dutchman were making the horse
staring mad.
care you better, darling? Don't
think anything of it."
"No-No!" she says, struggling with
the deathly, faintness. II am-am all
right. Are you sure he is safe?"
"Safe!" and he laughs shortly. I'D
answer for his safety with my life.
81