Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-01-18
customed to any vagaries on the part
of their owners, stood quietly close to-

customed to any vagaries on the part
Of their owners, stood quietly close to-
gether.
"Goodby, goodby, goodby," she cried
breathlessly, then whisked herself from
him and was gone, never looking back,
but waving her hand as she rode. He
sat motionless as she had left him. at
the top of the distant hill, outlined
against the dark sky. she drew in and
stood. Dimly he saw the flutter of
something white in her waving hand.
and he drew from his breast her own
handkerchief and waved in return.
He pressed his hand across his eyes
and. when he saw more clearly, only
the blank sky and the bare hilltop con-
eronted him.
The rain began to fall once more as
he passed again through Kirby Ste
phen. but he paid slight heed to it and
pushed on to Penrith, where be bought
a days proyender, so that he would
have no need to make request for food
as he neared the danger, spot. Just be-
fore darkness set in the sky cleared
somewhat, and he saw ahead Of him
the gloomy bulk of Carlisle castle. He
turned aside from the main road, and
before the night became black found
quarters for himself in barn that con-
tanned some fodder for his horse. He
threw himself down on the fragrant
hay and slept peacefully.
In the morning the rain was again
falling steadily. He reconnoitered his
position. There was no dwelling near,
and he determined to let his horse rest
all that day and the next night, so that
he should be in trim for anything that
might happen when the pinch came.
A day more or less could make little
difference with the effectual guarding
of the bridge. which was now doubt.
less held as strongly as 1t could be. He
was convinced that success must de.
pend ultimately on the speed of his
horse, and he could not enter the con.
test with an exhausted animal. Bruce
was never SO carefully tended US on the
day before the crisis. and as his intelli.
gent head turned toward his master
he seemed to know that something un-
usual was afoot.
On the second day Armstrong thought
1t best not to enter Carlisle too early
In the morning. He wished to mingle
with crowd and not to ride the streets
alone. The second night in the barn,
with the rest Of the day and the night
before, had left both himself and his
horse fit to face anything that might
ensue. The day was fine. The clouds
had cleared away. and the sun was
shining on the sodden ground. When
he came in sight of the main road he
saw what appeared to be an army
marching north. Far on toward the
gates of Carlisle rode group of horse
men, and ut the rear another squad of
mounted men encouraged the laggards
to keep up for little longer Arm.
strong sat on his horse until the latter
company was abreast of him.
No one asked Armstrong who he was,
and the elaborate fiction he had pre-
pared to account for himself was not
called for. The troopers were worn
out by their contest with the elements
and the roads. and all curiosity was
dead in them. There stood Carlisle in
front, and that was enough. The foot
soldiers struggled on. in no definite or
der Of formation. each doing the best
he could. The officers rode silent be-
hind them. Thus they all marched
into Carlisle without question, and in
their company the man the army was
seeking. After slight delay and pause
in the streets the new troops moved on
to the castle.
Armstrong found no difficulty In fall.
ing behind, being thus free Of the
town. He knew every turn of every
street and lane in the place as well as