The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1913-11-21

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his ears. Once indeed he looked back. |
but he could not see her. The milk
maid had tainted.
Women We're ever mysteries. One
would hardly think that Mistress Cla-
rissa Hawley would care to see her
own house burned over her head with
out giving a word Of warming. yet she
lever breathed the cavaliers threat.
Sir Giles swore he would lock her
up himself If she ever ventured out
without a guard. For a long time, in
deed. she never did.
That night was a dreadful night at
Hawley's Rest. Rain beating up from
the west fell harder and harder. the
thunder. rumbling low. grew louder and
louder. the flashes Of lightning came
faster and sharper, and in h midst OF
1t all a night attack. The rattle OF
firearms mingling with the crash OF
thunder. the yellow flame Of gunpow-
der flowing CHASTITY with the glare of
the lightning. the shouting, the ours
ing, the trampling, the grooming. the
panic. all borne on the shrieking gale
to the ears of Mistress Clarissa as she
lay crouching under her bed.
Then a terrific pounding at her door
and Sir Giles voice, hoarser, harsher.
than ever she had heard it.
"Clarice! Clarice. Are you in there?
Unlock! Unlock. We must run for it"
Then an explosion. so close and so
d%eafening that it rang for hours in her
ears, in the darkness. After that only
a struggling step, a stray shout, a FOR
lorn cry, the sickening smell Of powder
smoke until the fearful wind died, the
driving rain ceased, the sun shone once
more.
After daylight she peeped from her
window. The Oaks were swarm1ng
with saddled horses browsing; men lay
heller SHELTER over the courtyard asleep.
They were strange horses and strange
men. She drew back in alarm, nor
dared look again. All day she listen
ed until she thought she must 20 mad
If no knock came at her door. But the
III went down on her listening. and
none anne Exhaustion and sleep did
come, though. and when she woke the
first of the gray daybreak greeted her
eyes, and she felt hungry-hungry
now and desperate, softly drawing the
heavy bolts and listening, creeping
down the private stair and listening
and SO to the kitchen.
Nowhere any life, not a scullion stir
ring. but everything ripped open, split
Hunger led her further, out of the
door, splintered and shattered, through
the grape arbors, wrecked and tram
pied; almost stumbling over a sleepc
lying there, his face hid under hi
scarlet cloak. Her knees knocked to
gether, but she held her way and. bend
ing, stepped down into the cool, darl
dairy.
i Like inc starved. she dipped into tn
heavy cream, but hardly the mill
touched her lips when the half ligh
of the doorway was obscured.
"Ah, ha! The milkmaid again! o.
my soul, you are fond Of your cream
Well, since there's no more roundhea'
wine l needs must drink with you"
~ oCCAhCU do IL oAS oUASIy w
drop in sheer terror, yet she did no
only turned %shivering and saw in tn
door the saucy cavalier Of the wood:
He was holding out his hand, an
quite daftly she was extending to hi1
the cup.
After you, my DEAR said he, benz
ing low; drink first and be thankf.
you have such pretty lips left to drin
with. Do you know how near l VIC
again to blowing your curly head o
when you stepped on my fingers a mil
ute ago? But your little slipper WE
so soft! LOT should always speak b
fore walking over me Come, drin'
I'm thirsty"
She stood stunned, and again he ur
ed her, but the cup fell from her nerv
less fingers.
Saints and angels! What an aw
ward milkmaid," he smiled easily, ste
ping down beside her. Then pick1r
the cup from the stone floor, he di
ped it full again, drew a handkerchi
If land 1t was sheer across the botto
Of it, and with a bow, offered it
Clarissa.
pray, hold me excused" she T;
!. tered. II wanted only a cup for n
70 mistress"
Your mistress:'
mistress Clarissa Hawley, sir"
"Hawley. Hawley!" he exclaime
=, us one Of that brood left alive: W
or is she? I left France to blot t
Ct cursed name off the border. Where
I'd she. wench:' he demanded in a fury,