The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-03
OVER the
BORDER
CHAPTER XVII.


her fatigue Of the day before Frances
was the first afoot, and at this setting
forth Armstrong and old John were
The laggards, as she blithely Informed
them when they appeared.
As they rode away from the ancient
town the girl could scarcely refrain
from joining the larks in their matin
song, such a strange feeling of elation
filled her being. She glanced sideways
at Armstrong riding so easily on his
splendid horse What a noble looking
youth he was, and how we'll his new
attire became him! Again she glanced
ut him, and thus caught his gaze bent
upon her. He smiled at her-was smil-
ing when she turned her head.
Il can read your thoughts in your
face" he said.
"Can you" she asked in alarm.
Yes. At first the pure sweet beauty
of the morning appealed to you. You
were glad to leave the shut in streets
Of the town and be once more in the
fresh open country. The thought Of
your brother came to you, and the SUM-
shine of your face died out in sorrow
for him, wishing you had news of him.
Do not be concerned for him. l have
seen many a wound deeper than his
and they were Of small account with
youth and health to contend against
them"
The girl sighed and turned her face
away, making no comment upon his
conjectures, which were so far astray
from accuracy. Why had she given
no thought to her brother, whose well
fare had never before been absent from
her mind, yet who never before was in
such danger as now? Why had a
strangers image come between them,
so monopolizing her mental vision that
all her pity had been for him? A help
less rage at the part assigned to her
filed her heart with bitterness and her
eyes with tears.
The young man saw that some strong
emotion had overpOwered her, against
which all her struggles were in vain.
Instant sympathy with her sorrow man
ifested itself in his action. He brought
his horse close beside her, reached out
and touched her hand.
Dear heart, do not grieve," he said
tenderly. Il pledge my faith your
brother is better already. Have no
fear about him. He'll be out and
about by the time you are home again.
But come, we have now level road
before us. Let us gallop. There's moth
ing so cheers the mind as a charge on
a good horse. We will make old John
stir his stumps."
They set off together, and old John
did his best to keep them in sight
Some fourteen miles from York they
baited their horses, then pushed on
through Bawtry until TuxfOrd came in
sight more than an hour and halt
after noontide, a longer stretch than
Armstrong thought good for either
man or beast. 1t was not yet in
the morning when they left York, and
with the exception Of bite and sup
at their only halting place they had
nothing to eat until 2 o'clock. Many
Of the numerous inns along the road
were deserted and in ruins; the farther
south the journey was prolonged the
more evident became the traces of war,
and Armstrong found that he had
scant choice as to resting places.
Il hope" said the girl, who knew
the road, that the Crown at Tux
ford has not been blown down again.
It was a good inn."
More chance Of its being blown
up" replied Armstrong flippantly.
WAS it blown down onceY'
Eyes, about half century since, in
a tempest, but it was rebuilt You
should have kindly feeling for it,
why"
1.-THE Princess Margaret Tudor rest
ed there in 1903, when she went to
Scotland to marry your king"
by my forefathers, then, the
Crown is place Of evil omen for me.
Would that the fair Margaret had slept
in it on the night Of the storm"
and now l ask, why?"
Because her son, James ", came
down to the border, and by treachery
collected the head of my clan, with
about forty or more of his retainers,
and hanged them, denying either trial
or appeal. jamie missed those two
score men later in life, when his cow
ardly crew deserted him. We Arm
strongs seem ever to have been q con-
fiding race Of simpletons, believing
each mans word to be true as the steel
at his side. Margaret was as false as
fair, and poor queen for Scotland,
yet here am l now risking life or lib
erty for one of her breed, the descend
ant Of those fell Stuarts who never
honored woman or kept faith with
man."
"Sir, what are you sayingw cried
the girl, aghast at the unheeding con-
fession into which his impetuosity had
carried him.
God, you may well ask" said the
young man, startled in his turn at the
length he had gone. "Still, it does
not matter, for you would be the last
to betray me. I'll tell you all about
it some day, and we will laugh over
our march together, if you forget what