The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-03-08
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was now snoring. Presently the fumes
of the liquor, or mere faintness, mastered
me, and my eyes closed. But the picture
they closed upon was that of Joan. as
She. leaned forward, chin on hand. with
the glow of the fire on her brownish
skin and in the depths of her dark eyes.
But the pain of my heart followed into
my dreams. l woke with a start and
tried to sit up Within the kitchen all
was quiet. The old savage was still
stretched on the floor; the cat curled
upon the hearth. The girl had not stir
red; but looking toward the window hole,
l saw night outside, and a frosty star
sparkling far down in the west.
John, what's the hour
Suns been down these four hours"
She turned her face to look at me.
I've no business lying here"
Chose to come, lad; none axed thee,
that | knows by
Where's the mare? Must set me
across her back, Joan, and let me ride
or"
Mares in stable. wi fetlocks swelled
like %puddens. Chose TO come. lad; an
choose or no, must bide."
lis for the General Hopton. at Bod
min, | am bound, Joan; and wound or
no, must win there this night"
AND that's seven mile away; wi a
bullet in thy skull, and a peat quag thy
burial"
But go | must" cried I; and hereupon
1 broke out with ali the trouble that was
on my mind, and the instant need to save
these gallant gentlemen of Cornwall, ere
two armies should combine against them.
L told of the Kings letter in my breast,
and how / found the Lord Stamford's
men at LaunceStOn; how that Ruthen.
with the vanguard Of the rebels. was now
at Llsheard, with but a bare days
marching between the two. and none but
| to carry the warning. And "Oh. JOAN
L cried, my comrade / left upon the
road. Brighter courage and truer heart
never man proved. and yet left by me
in the rebels hands. Alas. that I could
neither save nor help, but must still ride
on; and here is the iSsue-to lie struck
down within ten mile of my goal-I. that
have Travelled two hundred. And if the
Cornishmen be not warned to give fight
before Lord Stamford come up, ais lost.
Even now they be outnumber'd. So lift
me, Joan, and set me astride Molly, and
III win to Bodmin yet"
Reckon, Jack, thou'd best hand me
thy letter.
Now, | did not at once catch the ex-
tent of these words, so simply spoken,
but stared at her like an owl.
There's horse in stall, lad" she went
on. "~Tearaway's the name and straw
berry the color"
But. Joan, Joan, if YOU do this-fecI
inside my coat here, to the left-you will
save an army, girl, maybe 2 throne.
Here It's, Joan, sce-no, not that-here.
Say the seal is that of the Governor of
Bristol, who stole it from me for Il while;
but the handwriting will be known for
the Kings, and no hand but yours must
touch it till you stand before Sir Ralph
Hopton. The King shall thank you.
Joan; and God will bless you fo't."
Hope so, I'm sure. But larn me what
to say, lad; for | be main thick witted."
So | told her the message over and
over, till she had it by heart.
"Shan't forgit now" she said, at
length; AN so hearken to me fer a
change. Bide still, nor fret thysel'.
Here's pasty an oat cake, an a keg O.
water that I'll stow beside thee. Pay no
heed to feyther, an if he wills to fight
wi Jan Tergagle-that's the cat-why.
let'n. Drunk or sober, he's no count"
She had the letter in her bosom and
stepped to the door. In a minute or so
L heard the trampling Of a horse; and
then, with a scurry of hoofs, Joan was off
on the Kings errand and riding into the
darkness.
Little rest had l that night, but lay
awake on my bracken bed and watched
the burning peat turve turn to gray, and
drop, flake by fake, till only a glowing
point remained.
As day began to break the old man
picked himself up, yawned and lounged
out, returning after a time with fresh
turyes for the hearth. He noticed me
no more than a stone, but when the fire
was restacked drew up his chair to the
warmth, and breakfasted on oat cake and
a liberal deal Of liquor.
All day long / lay there helpless and
waiting eagerly for Joan to return. 1T
was not until nightfall that there came
the t%rampling Of a horse outside, and
then a rap on the door. The old man
started up and opened it, and in rushed
Joan, her eyes lit up, her breast heay-
ing, and in her hand a naked sword.
Church and King. Jack!' she cried.
and flung the blade with a clang on to the
table. Church and King! o brave days
work, lad-O bloody work this day!,'
And l swooned again.
CHAPTER XVI.
There had, indeed, been brave work on