The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-03-02
SILVER SPUR
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hind nae. AMI looscd bIca. to end Della
slnS upon the ground.
''SacS. here's a io-do."
What's amissy'
"Why. I'm going io swoon."
The words were scarce out, when there
sounded cracking and swapping Of
iwigs ahead, nnd two figures came rush
ing toward us--a man aud woman. The
man carried an infant Ia his arms, and
though ! called on them To- stop. the pair
ran by Us with no more notice than IL
We had been stones. Only the woman
cried. Dear Lord. save u.s. and wrung
her hands ~ she passed out Of sight.
This Is strange conduct" thought I;
hut rrrrlnI down saw that Delia's face
Was white and motionless. She had
Swooncd indeed from WEAKNESS and hun
ger. 80 took her in my arms and STUN
hled forwad. hoping 10 find the end OF
the woods soon. For now the rattle OF
artillery came louder aud inccSsant
through the trees and minElinE with IL
multitude Of dull sholts and ouicries.
The trees In n short while grew spsrs-
or and between the stems | marked a
fildy light glowing And then came
out ON an open space upon the hillside.
with n dip ~ earth Ia front aud beyond
long ridge OF pines standing up black
because of n RID glare behind them. and
saw that this came. not from any setting
sun. hut was the light OF a conhagra-
ton.
The glare danced and qnivcred IN the
SKY as ! crossed the hollow. IL made
ever Delia's white cheek seem rosy. Up
amid the pines ! clamhcrcd and along
the ridge 20 where IL hroile OF in n steep
dcclivity. And 10. In n minute / looked
down. a. ';wcre. into the internal pit.
There was whole town burning be-
low. And In the streets men were fight
ing. rs could be told by their shouts
and the rattle and blaze Of musketry.
Now the iown was Marlboro and the
attacking force a body OF royal troops
sent from Oxford to Dust the garrison OF
the Parliament. which they did this
same night with great slaughter, driving
the rebels out of the place and back on
the road to Bristol. Had We guessed
this much III luck had been spared US.
hut We knew nnught OF IL. nor whether
friends or foes were getting the better.
Su we determined To pass the night In
the woods. and on the morrow To give
the place n wide berth.
Retrcating. then. To the hollow, gath
cred n pile Of great stones and spread my
cloak thcrrovcr for Della. To sleep was
impossible. even with the will for u. For
the tumult aud lighting went on and only
died out about an hour before dawn.
aud once or twice we were troubled to
hear the sound OF people running on the
ridge above. 30 we sat and talked in
low voices till dawn, and grew more dcs-
peratcly hungrrcd than ever
With the chill OF daybrcak we started,
meaning TO get quit OF the neighborhood
before any espici us. and fetched a com
pass to the south without another look
mt Marlboro.
But before an hour had passed by we
were captured by troop Of. rebels and
taken To Bristol where | was searched
and my letter To the King taken from
me by Col. Essex.
You are now To he nsk'd 10 pass over
the next four weeks In as many minutes:
Ms would had done at the time. For
spent them In bitter cold cell In the
main tower Of Bristol keep. with chair
and pallet 81 straw for all my furni.
turc. aud nothin; to stay my fast hut
the bread aud water which the jailcr
brought me twir. II day.
What concerned me most was the cold
that Euaw'd mc continually these winter
nights ms ! lay thinking OF Della (whom
l had not seen since our capturcl. or
gazing on the patch OF frosty heaven
that was all my view. Twas thus
had heard Bristol bells ringing for
Christmas In the town below.
Col. Essex had been thrice to visit mc.
and always oifer'd many excuses for my
treatment: but when he came To question
me. why. 81 course. | had nothing 10
tell. so that each visit hut served 10 yex
him more. Clearly I was suspected TO
know a great deal beyond what appcar'd
in the letter: aud no doubt poor Anthony
Killigrcw had rrccly'd some verbal mes.
sage from Ills Majesty which he lived
not long enough io transmit 10 me. As
twas. kept silence: and the Colonel
In return would tell me nothing of what
had bcfallen Della.
One fine. frosty morning. then. when
had lain In this distress just four
weeks, the door OF my cell opcn'd. and
there appcard young woman. bringing
IN my bread and water. She was the
jnilers daughter. and wore heavy
bunch of keys OF her girdlc.
"Oh. good morning." said l. for till
now her father had visited me. aud this
was n welcome change.
Instead OF answering checrfully she
gave little nod Of the head. rather
sorrowful. and answered.:
Fathers abcd with tho ague."
"Now. you cannot expect me 10 be
sorry"
NAY" she said; and caught her look.
INK at me with something like compass
sion In her blue eyes. which moy'd me
t0 cry out suddenly:
Il think YOU are woman enough TO
like pair or lovers"
"Oh. aye: but where's t'oiher half Of
The pairf'
You are right. The young gentle.
woman that was brought hither with me
i kgoN not II she loves me; hut this ]
do know would give my hand 10 learn
her Waurrihnuis aud how she fares
BETTER eat thy Loaf" put in the girl
very suddenly, setting down the plate
aud pitcher
Twas obi. hni scem'd Ia hear a sob
in her voice. However. her back was
toward mc ~ Rianc'd az. And next
uUmrgt She was gone lacking the iron