The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-03-30

clear was the air could almos; read the
legend on their standard. and the .alis
81 their captains were borne up 20 No
extremely distinct.
As they rode leisnFely past thought
~ Master Tsagcomh's threat. and woa-
,lcrei what tails array could intend. Nor.
turning Il over. could fnd ans expiana-
iion. for the Earl of Stamford's gather
ing. he bad said. was In the northeast.
and J knew such troops a. the Cornish
generals had - he quartc-cd az I.aunccs-
ton. Yet here. on the near side OF
iaunccston. was large body ~ rebel
horses marching quietly 10 the sou'wcst.
Where was the head or tail 90 III
Turning my head a. the las; rider dis
appeared on the way 10 Bodmin. l Spied
a squat. oddly shaped man striding down
the hill very brssly: yet be looked about
him often AMI kept 10 the hollows OF the
ground: and was crossing below Us. as !;
appeared. straight for Joan's cottage.
Cried 4: There Is but one man in tho
world with such a Eait-and that's Billy
Pottery:
And jumping 70 my feet caught IN
great stone and sent Il bowling down
the slope. Bounce IL went past him.
missing his legs 10y a foo; or lcsa The
man turned. and catching sight " me as
| stood waving. made his way M the
hill. Twas indeed Captain Billy: and
coming up. the honest fellow almost hug.
ged me for joy.
WAS seeking thee. Jack" he bawlcd:
learned from Sir Bcvill where belize
might find thee. Left his lodging NJ
Lannceston this morning. and irudgcd
livery foot o the way. 4 thirsty land.
Jack--ncithcr horses meat nor mans
meat therein. nor a chair 10 sit down on"
JOAN" said I. this Is Billy Pottery.
a good mariner and friend OF mine: and
as deaf as n paddock"
Billy made a leg: and rs ! pointed to
the road where the cavalry had just dis
appeared. went on with n nod:
That's so: old Cargo Cudlcigh's troop
o horse sent OF 20 Bodmin to seize tho
high sheriff aud his posse there. Two
hour agone l spied 'em, and ha' been
ever since playin' spy"
Then where be the Kings forcesT'
made shift TO inquire by signs.
Marched out o. Launccston to-day.
lad--an' but n biscuit a man between
EN-, poor dcars-for Stratton Heath, l.
the nor'east, where the rebels be en-
camped. Heard by scouts o. these gentry
bein' sent 10 Bodmin. and were minded
to tight the Earl o. Stamford whites his
dragooncrs was away. And here's the
long an short OF: thou'rt wanted, lad. 20
bear n hand wi us up yonder-au' the
good lady here can spare thee"
L., l..
ITO fight. lad?"
nodded my head.
Then Co." she said without a shade
in her voice; and rs I made no answer.
went on-"Shall woman hinder when
there's fighting towardl Only come back
when the wars be over. for shall miss
thee. Jack"
And dropping my hand she led the way
down 10 the cottage.
Now. Billy. OF course. had not heard a
word OF this: but perhaps he gathered
some import. Any way. he pulled up
short midway on the slope, scratched his
head. and Numbered:
What a good lass
Joan. some PAGES ahead. turned NJ this
and smiled; whcreat. having no idea he'd
spoken above a whisper. Billy blushed
red as any pcony.
Twas but a short half hour when, the
mare being saddled and Billy fed. we
took our leave OF Joan. Billy walked be-
side one st!rrup. and the girl on the 9th.
er side. 10 see us few yards on our
| way. At length she halted.
mo leave takings. Jack. but Church
and King" Only do thy best aud not
| disgrace me-"
And Church and King" she called
thrice after rs, standing In the road. For
me. as | rode up out OF that valley, tho
drums seemed beating and the buslcs
calling To new life ahead. The last
| light Of day was on the tors. the air
blowing frcshcr rs we mounted: aud with
Molly's every step the past Eve months
nppcar'd 20 dissolve and fall away from
me rs n dream.
On the crest | turn'd In the saddle.
Joan was yet standing there. a black
/ speck on the road. She waved her hand
once. Billy had turn'd too. and. uncov.
cring. shouted so that the hilltops echoed.
~ good lass--a good lass. But what's
become o. t'other onc:'
Cro be con,inucdl