The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-03-05

do the wave and trough OF the sea.
only less regularly, / made my way
toward Wootton Wawen. AS SOC as
/ espied its battlemented church lying
In a wooded bottom below me I kept
a more easterly course, and leaving
Henley-in-Arden far to the left passed
down toward Leek Wootton. The
damp. dead bracken underfoot, the leaf
less oaks and gray sky overhead-nay,
the very cry of the bittern fishing in
the bottoms-seemed to be at one with
my thoughts. for these were dreary
and sad enough. ...1.
But hope and a fixed aim form no
bad m~akeshifts for happiness. Strik-
ing the broad London road as / had
~purposed, 1 slept that night at Ryton
DunsInoor and the next at Towcester,
and the third day, which rose bright
and frosty, found me stepping gayly
southwark, travel stained indeed, but
dry n whole. My spirits rose with
the temperature. Fol a time I put the
past behind me and found amusement
In the sights of the road-in the heavy
wagons and long trains Of pack horses
and the CHEEKY greetings which met
me with each mile. After all, I had
youth and strength, and the world be-
fore me, and particularly Stony STRAIT
ford, where / meant to dine.
There was IN trouble common
among wayfarers which did not touch
me. and that was the fear of robbers,
for he would be q sturdy beggar who
would rob an armed foot passenger
Tor the sake OF an angel, and the greats
were gone. So / felt no terrors on thai
account, and eve when about noon I
heard a horseman trot up behind me
and rein In his horse so as to keep
pace with me at q walk, step for step
% hin a 1917
suspicious to some-1 took no iced of
him. / was engaged with my first view
OF Stratford and did not turn my head.
We had walked on so for so PAGES or
more before 1t struck me as odd that
the man did not pass me.
Then / turned, and shading my eyes
from the sun, which stood just over his
shoulder, said, Good day, friend"
Good day, MASTER" he answered.
He was a stout fellow, looking like
a citizen, although he had q sword by
his side and wore 1t with an air OF i'm
portance which the sunshine of oppor-
tunity might have ripened into a swag-
ger. His dress was plain, and he sat
a good hackney as a miller's sack
might have sat it. His face was the
last thing I looked at. When I raised
my eyes to 1t, l got an unpleasant
start. The man was no stranger. I
knew him in a moment for the mes
senger who had m me to the
chancellor's presence. ,
The remembrance did not please me.
and reading in the follows sly look
thai he recognized me and thought he
a made a happy discovery on finding
me l halted abruptly. He did the same.
1t Is a fine morning" he said, taken
aback by my sudden movement, but af-
fecting an indifference which the
sparkle in his y belied. "a rare day
a fhn 1in1n NJ nor
1T Is" / answered, gazing steadily at
him.
Going to London? Or may be only
to Stratford? ?" he hazarded.l He fdget-
ed intentionally under my eye, but
still pretended ignorance of me.
That is as may be-" I answered.
NO offense, / am sure" he said.
l cast a quick glance up and down
the road. There happened to be no one
In sight. Look here!" I replied, step
ping forward to lay my hand on the
horses shoulder. but the man refined
back and prevented me, thereby giving
me a olew TO his character, you are In
the service OF the bishop of Winches-
ter?"
His face fell, and he could not con-
zeal his disappointment at being recog-
nized. We'll, MASTER" he answered re-
i~uetantly' perhaps I am, and perhaps
I am not"
"Ihat is enough" ! said shortly.
And you n me. You need not lie
about 1t, man, for I can see you do.
Now, look here, Master Steward, or
whatever your name may be-
1t Is Master Pritchard," he put in
sulkily, and / am not ashamed of it."
Very well. Then let us understand
one another. Do o mean to interfere
with me?"
IIe grinned. well, to be plain, I do"
he replied, refining his horse back an
other step. Il have orders to look out
for you and have you stopped IL I find
you. And 1 must do my duty, sir. I
am sworn to 1t, Master Cludde."
Right" said I calmly, land 7 must
do mine, which is to take care of INV
skin" And / drew my sword and ad-
vanced upon him with q flourish. I'VE
will soon decide this little matter" I
added grimly, one eye on him and one
OIL the empty road, IF you will be
good enough to defend yourself"
But there was no fight in the fellow.
BY good luck, too, he was so startled
that he did not do what he might have
done with safety-namely, retreat and
keep me in sight until some passersby
came Up. he did give back indeed, but
1t was against the bank. Have a
care!" he cried In a fume, his eye fol-
lowing my sword n~ervousIy. He did
not try TO draw his own. There is no
call for fighting, I say"
But I say there is" I replied blunt
ly.
Call and cause2 Either you fight
me-, or I go where I please"
You may go to Bath for mel" he
spluttered, his face the color OF a tur-
key cocks wattles with rage.
CONTINUED Next Week.)