The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-13


Twas late of night when | reached
Wimbledon Common out OF the west
where ] had been patroling the roais
FOR some two months or more, aud
with mighty little success, as It
chanced that year. love the west
country, not only because have, as a
rule, found there fat pockets Jogging
home untimely on nag. or fine noble.
men In rich chaises, very proud but
tender to pick, but have also senti.
mental leaning towards that part, and
that's the truth | will not deny. There
is some that banker after the Great
North road, and boast that there is no
better foreground than 'twixt Steven
age and Grantham, while have even
known 'em to set up Finchley Common
or Hounslow for choice. Old Irons.
who never had much self-respect, and
was not above turning common crib.
cracker II IL SO served him. was won't
to go no further than Finchley when
he was lacking goldfnch or two.
But the west is after my heart, be
Ing big and populous and swarmins
with sGuires and comfortable warm
folk. | know the North road and was
once very well known there myself,
and celebrated On the Yorkshire
moors, confounded cold, uncivil
place. Indeed, there are few parts of
the kingdom ] have not trayersed in
my time. We'll, | was newly out OF
the west that May night. but on this
occasion In no very good humor, as
you may imagine, when | say that !
had been forced to leave a belt OF
guineas behind at Devizes-so close
upon me were the traps. Indeed /
was very nearly taken in the night all
owing to the treachery Of an innkeep.
er, roast him! Twas fine, mild night
and was for lying in Clerkenwell at
a house ! knew, but had reached no
further than Roehampton lane, when
OF n sudden reincd In for | remem.
bered an Inn there that | had some.
times used, and, TO say tho truth, was
thirsty.
We'll" thinks !, maybe ! will lie
here and maybe not. | will let fortune
decide and was turning the mare
into the lane, when something comes
up quick in the thick Of the darkness,
and rushcs upon Calypso's rump.
The mare started and backed into
the hedge, and ! raised my voice ana
cursed, as you may guess.
why" says /, you toad, you muck.
rake. you dungfork.' and the Lord
knows where should ha' gotten to II
a CLEAN of white In the blackness had
not in that instant disclosed to me the
blunderer. Twas a woman. or. at
least, a slip SO young and silly that
maybe she should not be so styled; !;
and had no sooner made that out and
ceased In the middle of my obiurga.
tions than ! made another discovery.
II was her voice that did it for no
doubt she was nightly in terror, sec
ing me so wrathful and the night be-
ing so black and lonely
"Oh, sir she calls In trembling
voice. II did not see--l-" and here
she broke aweeping.
Well, Dick Ryder Is not the man to
stand by while pretty woman weeps
(for could have sworn she was pretty
enough, and so down | popped off Ca
lypso and approached her
''Why," said |, ~ love not to see a
miss like you In tears, and as for my
words. pray forget them. | thought
you was some laundering, hullSlng
bully. that was meant for my bodkin.
ortmy whip, II no more. But as II ls,''
say /, there's no more ado, so dry
your eyes, my dear, for | am no ogre
TO eat pretty children"
"Oh," she says, with gulp. 81 was
not afraid of you. only feared had
angered you Justly. am thrown ont
into the night, sir! have nowhere to
go!"
Now you may imagine how this
touched me. and what | felt but she
was innocent as a lamb and as foolish,
as you might detect from her voice to
say nothing of her face, the which l
saw later. So considered a moment.
That's Just my case" said ]. And
] was going to wake up some fat vii
lain to take me in and sup me. But.
says /, ~ you will find me the partic-
ular villain, fat or lean, and cock or
cockatrice. that has thrown out a
ba-lamb like yoii, miss. well, It's he OF
she IN have awake and ont, and some.
thing more besides, rip me II dontl"
/ had put her down as a child from