Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-05-10
Continued,

But | haven't time, says May, hall
laughing, haIf-blushing.
Always time for good news, my
pretty lady says the girl, showing
her white teeth.
May shakes her head, and bending
down, drops a shilling in the brown
palm. The gypsy girl looks up at her
with swift smile.
Thank you kindly, lady" she says.
'Tisnt every hern that gets so fair
bird!"
Sir Heron laughs, and throws her
half a sovereign.
We'll said,'r he says, in his curt
fashion, as he drives on.
What on earth did she mean?" says
Carrie, eagerly.
Mean?" he says. Didn't you un-
derstand? A hern is a heron; and
but you understand now. 1t was
clever"
1T was also rather rude" says May;
bat she laughs, and the color mounts
to her face.
ell forgive her the rudeness for
the sake of the truth" he says. 1T
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 Joye, if l 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 eommotion,
which causes the chestnut to shy and
throw up is head.
What is it?" asks Carrie, leaning
forward 1T looks like a fight! On,
Sir Heron, what is it?"
"Hush-be quiet, sit down he
says, easily Ut Is nothing" but he
arises ANA strains his neck.
is it a neht?' says May, gently
No he says; Il can't make it out
Steay, Dutchman! There are a couple
of soldiers; they-confoUnd it,"
And he grips the reins tight, for as
ne speaks the crowd has parted sud
deny and from out the crush a tall,
fair-haired young man darts like an
arrow from bow, and dashes right
und + the chestnut's rose.
Immediately afterward, and evident
~ giving chase, the soldiers follow in
the same line
The crowd roars and sways to and
fro behind them, and in the most I'M
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
for ward as she can in safety, springs
to her feet and utters a strange, wAd
cry.
The man turns in his zigzag flight,
and, seeing her standing with white
face and outstretced hands, stops
short with startle surprise.
It is d 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.
oh, save him-Save MIN
As if her cry had gone straight toI
their hearts. the crowd which had, up
till now, taken a 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 couple of sardines.
1t WAS all done in a minute; the i'm
minent capture and the prompt, eff
fectual rescue were over before Heron
could utter word, either one way or
the other.
Already the tall, 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,
hreathes 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 yourself
so! Lean against me. Coniound the
fellow. Carrie. haven't you got a--a--
smelling-botle or--or something? |
Take YOU hand off the horses head, /
YOU i6iet," this TO the ofiicious in. !
diyidua whose efforts at soothing the
Dutchmaa we've making the horse
staring mad.
Are you better, darling? Don't
think anything of it." /
'No-Not" she says, struggling with
tine deathIy faiuness. I am-am all
right. Are you sure he is safe?"
safe. and he laughs shortly. I'D
answer for his safety with my life.
WHAT a tender heart it is"
who was he?" asks Carrie,
TREMENDOUSLY She had not seen the
white face OF the hunted man.
Who was he? Oh, / don't know.
Confound the 1ellow-a deserter,
suppose
Yes. sir. said one OF the soldiers,
coming up, and making q salute, the
perspiration streaming from his fore
head. a deserter, sir. We shou
have got him if II had not been for
the young lady. He's given US a goou
chase. but we're bound to have him.
ON. go TO the dey---. There,