Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-03-06

do the wave and trough OF the sea,
only less regularly, l made my way
toward Wootton Wawen. AS soon az
| espied its battlemented church lyinS
in a wooded bottom below me | Kept
a more easterly course, and leaving
Henley-in-Arden far 10 the left passed
down toward Leek Wootton, The
damp, dead bracken underfoot. the leaf
less oaks and gray sky overhead-naN,
the very cry of the bittern fishing IN
the bottoms-seemed TO be at n with
my thoughts, for these We're dreary
and sad enough.
But hope and a fixed aim form no
bad makeshifts for happiness. Strik-
ing the broad London road as | had
purposed, / slept that night at Ryton
Dunsmoor and the next at Towcester.
and the third day, which rose bright
and frosty, found me stepping gayly
southwark, travel stained indeed, but
dry and whole. My spirits rose with
the temperature. For a time | 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 ach mile. After all. | had
youth n strength, and the world be-
fore me, and particularly Stony STRAIT
ford, where | meant to dine.
There was n CUB common
among Wayfarers which did not touch
me, and that was the fear of robbers.
for he would be a sturdy beggar who
would rob an armed foot passenger
for the sake of an angel, and the greats
were gone. So | felt no terrors on that
account, and even when about noon |
heard a horseman trot UP behind me
and rein in his horse so as to keep
pace with me at a walk. step for step
"a thing which might have seemed
suspicious to some took no heed of
him. i 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 it struck me as odd that
the mar did not pass me.
Their / 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 a sword by
his side and wore II with an air of inn
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 / looked at. When I raised
my eyes To II, | got an unpleasant
start. The man was no stranger. |
knew him in a m for the mes
senger who had summoned me to the
chancellor's presence.
The remembrance did not please me,
n reading in the follows sly look
that he recognized me and thought he
had made a happy discovery on finding
me 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 eye belied. "A rare day
for the time of year"
1T is" l answered, gazing steadily at
him.
Going to London? Or may be only
TO Stratford?' he haZarded. He fidget-
ed uncomfortably under my eve, but
still pretended ignorance Of me.
That is as may be-" / 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!" / replied, step
ping forward to lay my hand on the
horses shoulder, but the man refined
back and prevented me, thereby giving
a clew to his character, you are I'm
the service of the bishop of Winches-
ter?"
His face fell, and he could not con-
ceal ms disappointment at-being c
nlZed. Well, master" he answered re-
luctantly, perhaps 1 am, and perhaps
1 am notE
THAT is enough" / said shortly.
And o n me. You need not lie
about ii, man, for l IAN see YOU do.
Now, look here, Master Steward. or
whatever your name nay be-
1t is Master Pritchard,' he put in
sulkily, and l am not ashamed of it,"
Very Well. hen let us understand
one another. Do you mean to interfere
with me?'
EIe grinned. well. to be plain, l do"
he replied, refining his horse back am
other step. Il have orders to look out
for you and have o stopped If / find
you. And | must do my duty, sir. I
am sworn to it. Master Cludde."
Right" said l calmly. 'and / must
do mine, which Is to take care of my
skin" And l drew my sword and adj
vanced upon him with a flourish. 1--WE
will SOC decide this little matter"
added grimly, one y on him n one
on 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~ervously. He did
not try TO draw his own. There is no
call for fighting, l say"
But l say there is" l replied blunt
ly.
Ca and cause? Either you fight
me, or l go where / please"
You may &c to Bath for met he
spluttered, his face the color of a tur-
key cock's wattles with rage.