Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-01-11

on one of the bracken beds. and ex-
plain'd:
That's feyther."
With which she turn'd, dealt the old
man a cuff that stretch'd him Senseless.
and gathering up the turves, piled them
afresh on the hearth. And then, when
she had shifted my bed bit, to ease the
pain of lying she righted chair drew
it up and sat beside me. The old man
lay like log where he had fallen. and
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 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.
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 bu!; at me.
I've no business lyinl; here
Chose to come. lad; mono aX,d thee.
that | knows by"
Where's the mare? Must set me
across her back. Joan, and let NE ride
on"
Mares in stable. WI fetlocks swelled
like puddens. Chose to come, lad; an
choose or no. must bide.
Tis for the General Hoptou, al Bod-
min, / am bound, Joan; and wound or
no. must win there this night"
And that's seven mile away; wi q
bullet in thy skull, and a peat Quag thy
burial"
But go l must" cried I; and hereupon
broke out with all 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
told of the Kings letter in my breast.
and how found the Lord Stamford 5
men at LIunceston; how that Ruthen.
with the vanguard of the rebels, was now
AZ Lisbeard. with but n bare days
marching between the two. and moi but
TO c3Yry the warning And oh JOAN
tAltus AAA NoAllAS tAN AfAl upon kAt
road Brighter courage and truer heart
never man proved. and yet left by me
in the rebels hands. Alas. that could
neither save nor help. but must still ride
Oh: and here is the issue--to lie struck
down within ten mile of my goal. 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
I'll win to Bodmin yet"
Reckon, Jack. thou'd best hand me
thy letter"
Now, + did not az once catch the OK
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. il you do this--feel
inside my coat here, to the left-yOu will
save an army girl, maybe throne,
Here lis, Joan. sce--no, not that--here
Say the seal is that of the Governor OF
Bristol. who stole il from me for a while:
but the handwriting will be known for
the Kings, and No land 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 l told her the message over and
over. till she had it by heart.
"ShaD't forgit now" she said. at
length; IAN so hearken to me for a
change. Bide still. nor fret thysef
Here's pasty an cat cake. an keg O
water that I'll stow beside thee. Pay nc
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
heard the trampling of a horse; and
then. with a Try of hoofs, Joan was of
on the Kings errand and riding into the
darkness.
Little rest had / that night, but lay
awake on my bracken bed and watched
the burning peat turve turn to gray, and
drop, fake 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 Il 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 aud
waiting eagerly for Joan to return. II
was not until nightfall that there came
the trampling Of a horse outside. and
he II
started up and opened it. and in rushed
Joan, her eyes lit up, her breast heav-
ing, and in her hand naked sword.
Church and King, jack" she cried,
and flung the blade with clang on to the
table. Church and King! o brave day S
work, lad-O bloody work this day"