Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-05-11
CHAPTER VII.

sue OF the earth, The leaves OF the
trees were a softer green, the white of
the rocks and the yellow of the road
were of a gentler tint. The brown
and green reeds We're proudly erect
once more.
The stirring of the mountain men
had awakened Aunt Fanny, and she in
turn called her mistress from the sur
prislngly peaceful slumber into which
perfect health had sent her not SO
many hours before. At the entrance
to the improvised bedchamber stood
buckets of water from the spring.
I'VE have very thoughtful chamber
maids" remarked Beverly while Aunt
Fanny was putting her hair into pre-
sentable shape, "And an energetic
cook" she added as the 0dor Of broil-
ed meat came to her nostrils.
"Ah cain see nothin' o. dat heastes,
Miss Beverly, an Ah-Ah got nah sus-
picions," said Aunt Fanny, with sepul-
chral despair in her voice.
"They've thrown the awful thing
into the river" concluded Beverly.
"Dey's cookin' hit" said Aunt Fanny
solemnly.
Good heaven, moi" cried Beverly.
go and see, this minute. l wouldn't
eat that catlike thing for the whole
world" Aunt Fanny came back few
minutes later with the assurance that
they We're roasting goat meat. The
skin Of the midnight visitor was
stretched upon the ground not far
away.
"And how is he?" asked Beverly,
jamming hatpin through a helpless
bunch Of yiolets,
SHE'S ye'y specially skun, yo' high
ness"
Il don't mean the animal, stupid"
'Yo' mean at Misteh Goat Man?
He's settin' up an chattin' as If nothin'
happened. He says to me at we staht
on ouah way jes' as soon as yo' all eats
yo' b'eakfus'. De bosses is hitched
up an'"-
"Has everybody else eaten? Am 1
the only one that hasn't| cried Bever-
ly.
"'Ceptin' me, yo' highness. Ah'm as
hungry as poah mans dawg, an -
"..AAnd be is being kept from the hos
pital because am q lazy, good for
nothing little Come on, Aunt Fanny;
we haven't minute to spare: II he
looks very III, we de without break
fast,a
But Baldos was the most cheerful
man in the party. He was sitting with
his back against tree, his right arm
in sling of woven reeds, his black
patch set upon the proper eye.
you will pardon me tor hot rising"
be said cheerily, ".but your highness.
I am much too awkward this morning
to act as BETTING courtier in the
presence Of his sovereign. You have
slept well2"
.Too well, fear. So well, in fact.
that you have suffered for 1t. Can't
we start at once3" She was debating
within herself whether 1t would be
quite good form to shake hands with
the reclining hero. In the glare Of the
broad daylight he and his followers
looked more ragged and famished than
before, but they also appeared more
picturesquely romantic.
when you have eaten of our humble
fare, your highness-the last meal at
the Hawk and Raven"
".But I'm not a bit hungry"
ut is very considerable of you, but
equally unreasonable. You must eat
before we start
II can't bear the thought Of your suf-
fering when we should be hurrying to
a hospital and competent surgeons"
He laughed gayly. "Oh, you needn't
laugh. know it hurts. You say we
cannot reach Ganlook before tomor-
row? Well, we cannot stop here
minute longer than we Oh, thank
you! A ragged servitor had placed a
rude bowl of meat and some fruit be-
fore her.
"sit down here, your highnessr and
prepare yourself for a long fast. We
may 60 until nightfall without food.
The game is scarce, and we dare not
venture far into the hills.'
Beverly sat at his feet and daintily
began the operation of picking bone
with her pretty fingers and teeth. II
am sorry we have no knives and forks"
he apologized.
II don't mind" said she. II wish
you would remove that black patch"
"Alas, must resume the hated dis
guise. A chance enemy might recog-
niZe me-"
"Your-your clothes have been mend
ed" she remarked, with a furtive
glance at his long legs. The trousers
had been rudely sewed up and no band
ages We're visible. "Are you-your
legs terribly hurt?"
They are badly scratched, but not
seriously. The bandages are skillfully
placed" he added, seeing her look of
doubt. "Ravone is genius"
well, I'll hurry" she said, blush.
Ing deeply. Goat hunter though he
was and she princess, his eyes
cleaned with the joy of her beauty
and his heart thumped with most
pnruly admiration. you were very
very brave last night" she said at last
and her rescuer smiled contentedly.
She was not long in finishing the
rude but wholesome meal and then
announced her readiness to be on the
way. With the authority of genuine
princess she commanded him to ride
inside the coach, gave incomprehensi
BILE directions to the driver and to the
escort and would listen to none of his
protestations. When the clumsy We
hicle was again in the highway and
humping over the ridges Of flint the
goat hunter was beside his princess or
the raar sent hls feet llnnn the nn1ao