The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-05-20
CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XIV.
- VINE O'Clock Of summers morn
ing in rural England Is an
hour Of delight II the weather
= ho fine The birds sing Wh0th-

hour Of delight II the weather
- be fine. The birds sing wheth
sr there be war or peace in the land
the trees and hedgerows and the flow
ers make a path to fairyland OF the
narrow lanes, but the man who trusts
to these winding thoroughfares, unless
he know the country we'll, is like te
and himself in an enchanted maze, and
Armstrong, stopping his horse at ar
intersection, standing In his sdrrups
the better to view the landscape, wrin
kled his brow in perplexity.
The sound of galloping hoof beats to
the rear caused him to SILK into his
saddle once more and wait patiently
until he was overtaken. AS his out
look had shown him the woods sur
rounding the mansion he had left an
hour before in an entirely unexpected
direction and at s distance not at all
proportionate to the time he had spent
on horseback, the thought occurred to
him that his late detainers had chang
ed their minds regarding his liberation
and were pursuing him, but he was
fortified by the knowledge that he pos
sessed a permit written by Cromwelps
own hand, which no one in that part OF
England would dare to disregard. II
the oncomer should prove to be pri-
vate marauder, of which the country
doubtless had many, the horseman re-
posed calm confidence in his own
blade that gave sufficient repose TO his
manner. He turned his horse across
the lane, completely barring the way.
md with knuckles resting on his hip
waited whatever might ensue.
The Fastening rider came round
former, curling his animal down to a
walk on seeing the path blocked. The
two horses neighed a greeting to each
other. Armstrong was pleased to note
that the stranger was a youth with a
face as frank and beaming as the day.
a face to which his friendly heart went
out at once with sympathy, for it
seemed glOrified by the morning light,
as if he were lover sure of warm
greeting from his lass, which was in
deed the hope that animated the boy.
Arriving as near the impeding horse
man as he seemed to think safe. he
came to a stand and with salutation
of the hand made inquiry:
DO you stop me, sir?"
This question carried neither chal-
lenge nor imputation. for. the times be-
ing troubled, no man could be certain
that he met friend on the highway
until some declaration was forthcom
ing.
only so far as to beg Of you some
solution of the enigma Of these roads.
l am DESTROYS of travelling southwark
and seek a main highway. which l am
grievously puzzled to find"
The other laughed cheerily.
You could not have CHANGED on a
better guide, for | was brought up
some miles from this spot, although at
the moment l am myself on southern
Journey We turn here to the right,
but we have far to go before we reach
the highway"
THE more lucky am l, then, that you
have oHertaken me. 'Twould need a
wizard to unravel this tangled skein
of green passages"
Indeed" cried the youth, with a
lightsome laugh, 1--WE often lost my
self in their entanglements, and. what
is more lasting. l lost my heart as
we'll"
There is one thing you have not lost,
and that is time You are just young
enough for such nonsense as the latter
losing. l am older than you and have
lost my way before now, as you may
well bear witness, but have kept my
head clear and my heart whole"
Its nothing to boast" said the
boy, with an air Of experience. ut
simply means that you have not yet
met the right woman. When you
meet her, you will be in as great a
daze as that in which I found you at
the crossroads. l hope to get glimpse
of my fair one before l ride farther
toward Oxford"
Toward Oxford" cried Armstrong,
instinctively refining up his horse in his
surprise. Are you, then, making fol-
Oxfordf"
Yes. l have been expecting a friend
to come with me. but he is delayed,
suspect. at Carlisle, so l must get or
as best can without him.
Il travel to Manchester" said Arm
strong. more noncommittal than the
other appeared to be.
Then ! shall be happy to bear you
company II it so pleases you until we
come to the parting of our ways-tha1
ia, IL You are not in haste and can wait
until have a word with my lass, III
whose direction we are now tending
She 10 the most winsome little lady in
all the countryside, the only daughter
OF Lord Rudby, who is
Lord Rudbyw echoed Armstrong
"You fly high, my young sir"
Why should l not? Although shs
Is the sweetest angel that ever visited
this glad earth, she makes no descent
when she joins her hand to mine.
am Thomas Wentworth, eldest son t.
the late Earl Of STAFFORD
They had been travelling knee to kne,
In the narrow way, but Armstrong