Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1906-01-25

TINS 0eub y tAo0onna and 49, nth
BY ST. Andrew, III come 10 vou ~
soon 6 -his letter il in 1raouair's
hands,
"As-sn. no, NO: Cromwell = 4 hara
man aasl ifsyoa steal through HE cor.
don WV must not come within his mn.
er in i hurry"
For nswef he kissed her protecting
lips - in and again, then she hld her
face Ill lila sOmber cloak and soAfsxi
quietly. The patient horses. nov Nc.
cus,ouled to any vaseeies IN the part
OF their owners, stooi quietly Close ia.
sether.
'Goodby. ooodby. eoodby," she cried
breathlessly. then whiskesl herself from
him and was gone, never looking back.
but waving her hand as she rode. He
sat motionless 40 che had left him. At
the top Of the distant hill, outlined
against the dark sky., she drew In aud
stood. Dimly he saw the fiutter of
something white in her waving hand.
and he drew from his breast her own
handkerchief and waved in return.
He pressed bic hand across his eyes
and. when he saw more clearly. only
the blank sky and the bare hilltop con-
fr0nted him.
The rain hogan to fall once more az
he passed again through Kirby Ste
phen, but he paid slight heed to 1t and
pushed on to Fenrith. where he bought
days provcndcr, so that he would
have no neeSl to make request for food
as he nenretl the danger spot. Just be-
fore darkness set in the sky cleared
somewhat. and he saw ahead OF him
the gloomy hulk 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 he 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. aud he could not enter the con-
test with au exhausted animal. Bruce
was never so carefully tended as OH 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
It best not TO enter Carlisle too early
In the morning. He wished to mingle
with crowd aud 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 OH the s0dden ground. When
he came In sight OF the main road he
saw what appeared to he an army
marching north. Far on toward the
gates Of Carlisle rode group Of horse
men, and at the rear another squad Of
mounted men encouraged the laggards
to keep up for a little longer. Arm
strong sat ON his horse until the latter
company was abreast Of him.
No one asked Armstrong who lie 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 OH. 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 AZ well az
ne knew the inside Of his own pocket.
He resolved to ride leisurely to the
bridge, cut through the guard. II 1t did
not prove too strong. aud then trust to
the spur. The town Was thr0nged
with military. but no one paid the
slightest attention 10 him. AS llc jog
ged along very nonchnlantly. more con-
tented with the prospect than few
days before he would have thought
possible, Bruce awoke the echoes by
Weighing loudly.
"Now, old man. what did you do
that for:' whispered William.
He looked ahead and was stricken
speechless for the moment by seeing
Frances Wentworth, on her horse, with
out doubt u prisoner. two troopers rid
ing on either side of her and a young
officer IN front. She had unquestiOna-
bly, seen him, for her brow was wrin-
killed. with anxiety. but her eyes gazed
steadily past him into the distance.
AS lie made toward the party they
flashed one look Of appeal upon him,
which said as plainly as words. For
heavens sake. ride OH and do not rec
ognize me" But the young man was
oblivious to everything except the fact
that she was in some trouble.
Where are you going with this la
0y:" he demanded of the officer
"You may we'll ask" said the man in
no accent OF pleasure We have come
across country to Carlisle under or
ders from one in authority. AMI nov