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

l = N-NNN-Ns I'M VI AttNlt u t1RaI THUA. ia
the pause of their first surprise we had
stolen two hundred yards more. count
ed and found eight men thus in pursuit
of as; and TO my JOY heard the bugle
blown again, and saw the rest Of the
troop move steadily along the road with
out intention to follow. Doubtless the
news of the Cornish success made them
wary of their good order.
Still. eight men were enough to run
from; and now the nearest let fly with
M. pieee-more 10 brighten us. belize,
than with any other view, for we were
far out of range. But it grew clear that
II we held on our direction they must cut
us off.
Only now with good hope | saw a hill
rising not half a mile in front. and some
what to the right of our course. and,
thought |. IF we can gain the hollow TO
the left of it. and PUT the hill between
us. they must ride over it. or round-in
either case losing much time So, point
ing this out to Della who rode ON my
left, | drove my spurs deep aud called
to Molly to make her best pace
The enemy diyin'd our purpose; ana in
minute twas desperate race for the
entrance TO the hollow. But our horses
! ers; 50 that we won, with thirty yards
to spare. from the foremost--not without
damage. however. for. finding himself
| baked, he sent a bullet at us which near
ly cut through my rein, 50 that my bride
was henceforward useless, and l could
guide Molly with knee and voice alone.
Down the hollow we raced, with three
Dragons at our heels. the rest going
round the hill But they did little good
by so doing. for after the hollow came
broad. dismal sheet of water. about a
mile round and bank'd with black peat.
GaHoping along the LEFT shore of this.
we cut them off by near half mile But
the three behind followed doggedly.
though dropping back with every stride.
Beyond the pool came a green valley,
and a stream flowing down it. wh;cl we
jump'd easily. CHANGING at Della as size
landed on the further side. | noted that
her cheeks were glowing and her brmful
OF mirth
Say, Jack she cried. lis not this bet
ter than love of women?'
In heavens name" called out.
take care
But twas too late. The green valley
here melted into a treaeherous bog. in
tAt' NhANAi Ai1A nay " az NiEtduN DluuElUg
over his fetlocks and every moment sink
ing deeper
Throw me the rein shouted and,
catching the bride close 10y the bit,
lean'd over and tried to drag the horse
forward. BY this Molly also was over
hoofs in liquid mud For minute and
more we heav'd and splashed, and all the
while the dragons, seeing our fix. were
i 4,
But just as a brace of bullets splashed
into the slough at our feet we staggered
TO the harder slope and were gaining on
them again. So for twenty minutes along
the spurs of the hills we held on. the
enemy falling back and hidden. every
now and again. in the hollows-but al
ways following; at the end of which time
Della ealld from just behind me:
Jack, here's to-do; the bay is going
lame.'
There was no doubt of it. l suppose
he must have wrung his off hind leg in
fighting through the quag. Any way.
ten minutes more would see the end of
his gallOp But at this moment we had
won to the top Of stiff ascent. and now.
looking down at our feet, l had the joy
fullest surprise.
Twas the moor Of Temple spread be-
low like map. the low sun striking on
the luin'd huts to the left of us. on the
roof of Joan's cottage, on the scar of
the high road and the sides of the tai!
tor above it.
In ten minutes" said 1, I'VE may be
safe"
So down into the plain we hurried; and
| thought for the first time of the loyal
girl waiting in the cottage yonder, of my
former ride into Temple, and of the
light heart with which l left it.
Past the peat-ricks we struggled. the
sheep-cotes, the struggling fences-all so
familiar; cross'd the stream and rode into
the yard
Jump down" l whispered; we have
time, and no more" CHANGING back.
saw couple of Dragons already coming
over the heights. They had spied u.s.
Dismounting, l ran to the cottage doo-
and flung it open. \ stream Of light.
flung back against the sun. blazed into
my eyes.
rubbed them and halted for a mo-
ment stock-still.
For Joan stood in front of me, dressed
il the very clothes / had worn on the
day we first met--buff-coat. heavy
boots and all. Her back was toward
me. and at the shoulder, where the coat
had been cut away from my wound. /
saw the rents all darned and patched
with pack thread. In her hand was the
mirror | had given her.
\ the sound of my step on the thresh-
odl she turned with a short cry--a cry
the like Of which / have never heard,
so full was it of choking joy. The glass
dropped TO the floor and was shattered.
In a second her arms were about me.
and so She hung on my neck sohbing and
laughing together
Twas true--'twas true. Dear. dear
Iack-dear Jack to come to me; hold
me tighter, tighter-for my very heart
is bursting.
And behind me shadow fell on the
doorway; and there stood Della regard
ing us
''JoaT.' said /. hot with shame, taking
her arms gently from my neck: 'r-len;
| come because nm chased. Once more
the drag0one~s are after me--not five
minutes away Iou must lend me a
horse and at once
Nay" said a rpice in the doorway,
The horse. if lent, is for me-
Joan turned. and the two women stood
looking at each other-the one with
dark wonder the other with cold dis
dainfulness-and | between them scarce
lifting my eyes. Each was beautiful af-
ron. hap nd Jav and uipi a1l