Evening star., 1924-05-12

an attempt to straighten up the place
after the ravagers had departed. 1t
was these signs made him afraid the
house might be tenanted by such as
might prove his enemies.
Down. Jack" he said to the dog
sleek head. Down. down."
But still the dog bounded about
him. barking wildly.
"Shw he hissed suddenly. Steps
sounded in the hall. 1t was as ne
feared. The door was suddenly
thrown open and the gray morning
light cleaned upon the long barrel
of a musket. After it, bearing it, en-
tered a white-haired old man.
He paused on the threshold, meas
uring the tall disordered stranger
who stood there, his figure black
| silhouette against the window by
| which he had entered.
house of desolation?" asked the voice
of Mr.. Wilding's old servant
He answered but one word. wal
! ters!"
The musket dropped with clatter
from the old mans hands. He sank
| back against the door post and leaned
there an instant; then. whimpering
4
ward-his old legs failing him in
| this excess Of unexpected joy-and
sank on his knees to kiss his masters
| hand.
wildfng patted the old head as he
| had patted the dogs little while
ago. He was oddly moved; there was
| a knot in his throat. No home-com-
| ing could well have been more desc
late. And yet, what homecoming
could have brought him such a tor
turing JOY as was now his? Oh, 1t is
| good to be loved if it be by no more
| than dog AMI an old servant!
| In a moment Walters was himself
| again. He was on his feet, scrutinlZ-
| ing Wildings haggard face and dis
ordered, filthy clothes. He broke into
| exclamationS between diSmay and re-
proach, but these Wilding interrupted
to ask the old man how 1t happened
that he had remained.
my son John was a sergeant in
| the troop that Quartered itself here,
sir" walters explained, land so they
| left me alone. But even had II not
been for that I scarcely think they
They were brave fellows, for all the
mischief they did here. and they
semed to have little heart In the
service of the popish king. IT was
the officers drove them on to all this
| damage, and, once they'd started
well, there were rogues amongst them
saw a chance of plunder. and they
took it. I have sought to put the
place to rights; but they did some
woeful, wanton mischief"
| Wilding sighed. TITS little mat
ter perhaps, as the place is no longer
mine"
Mono longer yours, SIR?
I'm an attainted outlaw, Walters" :"
he explained. They'll bestow II on
some popish time server, unless King
Monmouth can follow up by greater
a man may eat or drink"
Meat and wine. fresh linen and
fresh garments did old Walters find
him; and. when he had washed, eaten
and drunk. Mr.. Wilding wrapped him
self down to sleep on settle in the
library, his servant and his dog on
| guard.
Not above an hour, however, was he
destined to enjoy his hard-earned
rest The light had grown mean
while and from gray it had turned
| golden, the heralds of the sun being
already in the east. In the distance
the firing had died down to a mere
occasional boom.
| Suddenly old Walters raised his
head to listen. The beat of hoofs
was drawing rapidly near, so near
that presently he rose in alarm, for
a horseman was pounding up the
| e,
| entrance
walters knit his brows in perplex-
ity and glanced at his master who
slept on utterly worn out silent
pause followed, lasting some min
utes. Then it was the dog that rose
with a growl, his coat bristling., and
| an instant later there came sharp
rapping at the hall door:
Ssh! Down, Jack Whispered wal
| ters. afraid of rousing Mr.. Wilding.
infn room.
picked up his musket, and calling
the dog. went out, great fear in his
heart, but not for himself.
| The rapping continued, growing
| every instant more urgent, SO urgent
that Walters was almost reassured.
| Here was no enemy, but surely some
one in need. Walters opened at last,
and Mr.. Trenchard. grimy of face
plumes, his clothes torn. staggered
with an oath across the threshold.
| "walters" he cried. THANK God!
L thought you'd be here, but l WASH
certain. Down. Jack u,
The hound was barking madiy
again. having recognized an old
plague on the dog" growled
Walters. He'll wake Mr.. Wilding.
.Mr. wilding?" said Trenchard,
"Mr. Wilding?"
"He arrived here couple of hours
ago. sir a"
"Wilding here? Oddsheart! I was
| more than we'll advised to come.
| Where is he, MANI"
"Sh, sir! He's asleep in the library
You'll wake him, you'll wake him
But Trenchard never paused. He
crossed the hall at a bound and flung
wide the library door. Anthony"
he shouted Anthony" And in the
background Walters cursed him for
| fool.
wilding leapel to his feet, awake,
and startled "Wha - Nick!"
| looms" roared Nick you're
choicely found. I come to send to
Bridgwater for you We must away
| at once, man."
"How-away? I thought you were
in the fight, Nick"
"And don't look as if I had been?'
| But then ."
I = 1GantinIled in TnrnnrrnW,S Star \