THE TTLUSTUATED 1IEE.
Anpnet 2, lfKtt.
long Journey ho attended to their wants
and liung down some bundles of at raw (or
iiis own night's lodgiug. llu beguu to
think be must to supj erless or run the
risk of foraging In an unknown pantry, it
he nmM find entiinct, llm he saw
France approjteh from lbs house with a
loaf f bread and a. lump ot theeae on a
trencher, with a measure of ate. He met
her halt way and relieved her of the load.
Under her ana she carried rase csmierjui
weapon, which she brought ml mbesi be
ussiiaied ttie (Harden of the provenur.
"it la a pair of sheep shears, whkh the
woman tolls me la all r.be ha, but I assured
her they were must suitable for my purpose.
Now ait on this atone hoe In tbe moon
light and be shorn, fur we must set out at
daylight without those long locks of yours.
You look too much like the king, wen with
your c4k and steel rap."
The girl langbed softly as she said
this, and snapped tbe big shcais menac
ingly. He ami on the stone like the obedient
young man be was. shook out his lion's
mane, and in a few minutes was bereft
of it. Tbe girl stood banc and surveyed
her work, laogbing. tout rveverLhelosa with
a tinge of regret in her laughter.
"Oh, It's a pity." she cried. "All the
king's horses und all Hie king's mem are
not worth the sacrifice. I hope it will grow
again, for if not, the Philistines be upon
thee Samson. Tonr dearest friend wouldn't
know you now."
Armstrong smiled ruefully ami passed
his hand in anxious doubt over his cropped
head.
"I suppose it wfll grow agem, unless my
dearest friend refuses to acknowledge
me with this rurtnllment, when I shall
become bald through grief at her de
fection." "I make no promises. If you mean me.
I shall very likely recoronder. You are
never the man who east a glamor over me
at Oxford and elsewhere. I fear I am no
true Parliamentarian after all. but I shall
not come to a decision until I see you In
the daylight. IVrhaps the rap will be an
Improvement, but 1 doubt It."
He squeezed on the cap, which was still
too small.
"By the hones of my annestorR, It will
need Peter, the ilck smith of Gilnoekie, to
get this off again!"
"That is worse and worse." urged his
tormentor. "I cannot bear the sight any
longer, or it will drive sleep away from me.
Good night, my poor shorn Samson," and
she waa off before he could (spring up and
intercept hex.
CHAPTER XXI II.
Ktpedienee.
Crent is the recuperative power of youth,
and rhortly after sunrise the two were on
the roid again, refreshed and with high
courage, to face the outcome of another
long ride. They had traveled further than
their estimate of the night before, and so
found themselves but little more than
twenty miles south of Manchester. In the
night the weather had undergone another
change, and the sun was hidden, while now
and then a scurry of rain passed over them.
To the north the outlook was Jjlack and
lowering. They were approaching the land
of storm.
'I have made up my mind," said Frances,
"that -we must part. No, It Is not on ac
count of that cropped head of yours, tut
rather to save It."
"I have been thinking myself that it is
wrong you should share my danger, when
there is nothing to hinder you from going
across country to your own home.
"I shall not go across my country until
I have seen you safely Into your own. But,
as you know, the swearing colonel and his
men are not looking for me. Perhaps they
think I took the opportunity left open to get
away from tho cathedral, but. on the other
hand, If wiBe, they must have looked for
our horse's tracks, and then they learned
we left X,lchfleld together. I propose to
act as your scout. I shall ride a mile or
two ahead, and if I am stopped, you will
strike to the right or to the left, and avoid
the danger If you can. On every elevation
I reach T will stand for a few moments. If
ray horse faces west, the way between us
ia aaTe; If he faces east, there Is danger."
"Frances, I would rather run the risk
and have your company."
"I am sun yon wonld, but (laughing now
that yon are crtpped, you are the one who
Is beautiful and 1 the one who is wise. It
Is really to your advantage that 1 should
see as little of my Roundhead lover as pos
sible, and yen would be foolish to detain
me, for I cannot help glancing at you now
and then, and whenever I do I steh Tor the
cavalier who wooed me yesterday. Women
are rot no changeable as they say, and I
am constant to my first adorer."
"To this Wfflln-m made no reply, gazing
somewhat 'gloomily at the storm in the
hnrlson.
Tliere, there," she cried, riding alongside
and touching his "hand. "I have offended
his vanity and he doesn't tike to be laughed
a. boy, yon fittle know what Is In
sWire for yon. Don't you understand you
will enough of my company In the
days to come and may well spare some of
It now? I shall not disown my promise, If
you remind me of it when your love loka
are over your shoulders again. But, seri
ously, my plan is a food one, unless you
have a better to propose. We must quit
tho main road now and nvold Manchester
ns wo avoided Birmingham, but we should
have a care that wc do not rldo into
another aiubuacade, and if 1 go iirst that
may be I invented."
"When I see you Interfered with 1 will
Just gallop to your assistance."
"Tou will do nothing foolish. No no
In Kngland la going to injure me, but you
are not safe until you are over the Scottish
lino. We shall be north of Hunc.hcster in
ti.ree or four hours and then you have
your own pass. You are really a mst
creditable Kmindhcad. After Mawhe.ctor
we can travel In company again. If you
wish. Have you anything better to pro-
TK"'C?"
"Yea. I propose we stay together and
take our chances."
"tloodby," she cried, gayly, toothing up
her horse, then over her shoulder as alio
gallofed off: "Remember. Wot, safety;
east, danger."
Armstrong had not only to curb his own
Inclination, but lils horse as well, who
viewed with evident disapproval the de
parture of his male. At the summit of
the first hill the girl turned her horse
ucross the road facing west, waved her
hand to him and disappeared over tho
crest. And thus the Journey went In,
sometimes two miles between them, some
times loss. Manchester waa Mtson tUMl L.-tt
in tlx rear. He now tried to catch up with
her, but she kept valoroasly ahead, a if
she were some fabled siren luring the poor
man on. For a time he lost sight of her,
then as he mounted a hill saw her stand
ing on a crest a mile away, like an eques
trian statue against an Inky sky, but this
time her horse faced tbe east, and he
thought she was motioning with her
handkerchief in that direction. She
stood there until he sent his horse over tho
hedge, and made in the direction of a
forest, then the darkness seemed to swallow
her up. He skirtcl the elge of the wood.
Rain was now coming down heavily, but
before it blotted out the landscipe ha
passed the head of a valley and saw dimly
through the downpour a large encampment
of white tents. A man in drab on a black
charger stood little chance of being seen
against the dark forest from the encamp
ment, hut be moved on as rapidly as he
could, knowing that, if a lull came in the
deluge be ran great risk of detection by the
outposts. Some distance on he stood for a
time under the tree, blessing the Ions
cloa.lt, which formerly he bad maligned for
Its ugliness, for now it proved of good
material and waterproof. The girl had evi
dently gone directly down Into tbe camp
and he was at a loss what to Ao. Duty
called him to press forward to the north,
but duty Is often an ill-fa vorod Jade, whose
strident voice Is outdistanced by the f oft
whisper of a beautiful woman. Armstrong
dared not shout and tbe deluge formed an
impenetrable curtain whichever way he
turned. lie cUrted ths wool for some tine,
then crossed the fields to the west until he
enme to tbe maud which trended north fron
the camp. Here be stood in tbe raia and
wondered mhether she waa detained or
whether she had already passed U Pt
he now occupied. They had made no ar
rangement for meeting again In case they
should lose taght of each other and he
blamed himeeir for his negligence on Oils
important point. One thing was certain. It
was useless to stand here trntil he was dis
solved. Even his stout-hearted horse had
assumed an attitude of the utmost dejec
tion, with drooping head, the water p mring
off every part of him. Should the wenther
clear, which he waa compelled to couesa
there seemed UUle likelihood of it doing, he
was 1n danger so ear the camp. Ha re
solved to turn north, go on until he readml
some plaoe of shelter and thetr wait.
Progress was slow, for the lane had bee me
a tiuogralre. The forest which he had
skirted eatended mw to the west and the
road beoarae a woodland track, but Just
where It began to penetrate Into the wilder
ness there sit one upon him a ray of hops.
From so overhanging branch of
the first tree hang a limp and
dripping white rang. tied by one
on horwehm In suoh a pjsl loa
that t might brush the face of a rider
passing thnt way. He took It down and It
proved to be a. I ally's handkerchief. If he
lmd followed the eJge of the wood he cou'd
hardly have missed it; if he came along
the lane he was almost certain to see it.
He thrust this token under his cloak and
chirruped to his discouraged horso. When
sometlirng Hk a raiki bad hen east behind
Hra hfci horse neighed and was answered
by another further shoad. Then he cime
to a forester's hut and In n open shod,
sheltered front the storm, stood tle com
panion of Brace, who showed lively pleas
ure at the icnu.nter.
Trmlde the hnt a cheerful sight met M
eyes. A fire of fagots Mased on the liearth
and before It stood a radiant youn woman,
arranging the brands to their better burn
ing with the 11p of her toot. On a high,
stool was spread her steaming cloak. In-a
far corner sat the old forester and his oil
wtTe, lowering on tlieir visitor and their
newly arrived guest, for strangers were
vhwd with universal suspicion by high
and low, little good ever coming of them
In the minds of the peasantry, while tha
chance of danger was always present;
danger whether hospitality waa proffered
or withheld. There was more chance of
entertaining devils unaware than angels,
and well the mulc ted pour knew It.
However. Juaa rink lay in aucouriug a
steel cap than a feathered hut, no tbe
moment the dripping horseman shoved In
the door the old woman rose and tegHn to
set out a meal of dark bread and swine's
lit sh, tiiHd and cold.
"Ah, here you are at last," cried the girl.
"I was beginning to fear I should have to
go hack to the camp for you. Did you find
iny token'"
"Yes."
"(Ivc it to me."
"Not so. Findings are keepings. You
cantiot prove your right to the property."
"Alas, honest travelers are few, as these
poor eoplo sootn to think. Throw off your
cloak. Here Is a wooden hook by lite fire
that 1 have kept for it. lrw up your
stool and est. I whs so hungry thut I
didn't wait fir you. You see what it la to
possess a good conscience onoe more."
"I iiossess a good appetite, anyway."
"Then sit down and 1 shall le your wait
ing maid."
"What news haw yon?"
"Hush! (treat news, for T was the very
rrineess of scouts. One thing at u time,
however, and the one thing now Is this
black bread, which is like the old woman
here, better than It looks. We cjii get
nothing for our horses at this place, so
must set out again as noon as possible, in
spite of the rain."
When he had finished his moal and stood
again with hsr before the fire she whimpered
to him.
"You must not pay these people too
lavishly. They are somewhat neir the
camp. and. altl:-.tga they do not wera over
talkative, it is better to run no risks, liar
gain with them; be a very Jew In computa
tion." "I ll do better than that. I'll be a very
Soot and so save money."
Once on the road again she gave him her
budget of news.
"You are a hero, William Armstrong.
Kngland Is ringing with yoJr exploits and
I never dreamed with what a valorous
knight of old I traveled. It seems you
torroed Warwick castle and took it. Tou
passed unseen through cordons of troops
and it Is suspected you hve dealings with
the devil, who travels beside you In the
guise of a female, as is right and proper,
and who appears and disappears at her
will. Single-handed you scattered two
armies at Uchfleld
"Oh, give the devil her due!"
"With her aid. of course; that is always
understood. Tou attacked Uchfield cathe
dral and captured it and there Is much
disapproval among the peasantry th.it
Cromwell had formerly dismantled it. for
they think that if this had not been done
the holy belongings of the place would have
bafned you. Tbe cathedral now reeks of
sulphur and you escaped in a whirl of
flame, amidst a storm of bullets.
"They know that nothing will prevail
against you but a silver pellet, and even
that must be well aimed. So I ara not
sure but I bare been mistaken In disguis
ing you, for if any cavalier shows himself
In tbe north the InltabitanU are like to
take him for sataa and fly from him."
"Then they are good Christians, for they
ara told to resist the devil and be will
fly from them. Tou thrnk, then, that my
fiendish character will protefct me?"
"Not so, but you have nothing to fear
between here and Carlisle. I thought you
said I)e Courcy bad been killed?"
"He went down and I sujkposed hltn shot,
but waa In too much of a hurry to inquire."
"He ind others rode to the north last
night and they are now between ua and
Cartish;."
"He has as many lives as a oat. If that
is the ease, why do ymi say the road to
Carlisle la clear?"
"Because from Carlisle to Newcastle,
right across Kngland, the cordon Is to be
stretched, and from Carlisle west to the
coast. Before we ran reach there a line of
men, almost within touching distance of
each other win extend from sen to sea and
all traffic north will be stopped. A thou
sand pounds Is on your head, and Crom
well thinks to stop you, not with silver, Tmt
with gold. Tho general himself is on his
way north to see that you aro trapped, or
to lie ready for any outbreak of the Scots,
should you win through."
"I fear I have been unablo to convince
Oliver that I am tho devil, since he takes
such excellent hnman means of frustrating
me. A thousand pounds! And yet you held
that first day 1 was of slight value!"
"I have confessed my error elnce. Tha
camp I visited is breaking up today and
moving on to Carlisle. Twenty-three thou
sand men, 1 was told, hut, being mostly
foot, there lu no chanco of their overtaking
us."
"Well, the north looks Idack with more
than rain, though eoodness knows there Is
enough of that. I wish I were In Glasgow."
"What do you propose to do?"
"Yoj nre tho planmaker of thla foray.
What do you propose to do, or have you
thought of that yet?"
"I have not only thought of It, but have
received lnnlructlons on It. I have heard
the officers discuss what sliould he done,
but I want to hear your conclusions first."
"Very well. Tbe line runs from the west
11
coast to Newcastle. At Newcastle I ant
more than forty miles from Scotland at ths)
nenroU point, while at Carlisle I am lesa
than ten. ICvery step east I go I am plao
Ing myself more an dmore at a disad
vantage, yet I might go east simply because
of this, and ttccauae they know that I
know that they know I am on the rmd to
Carlisle. Having fallen Into one ambush,
they will imagine me on the constant nut
look for another. Going fro efor so long,
they might even count on my Inrrunslng
carelessness, but shrewd men would not
listen to that. Knowing I am single haralcd
and can make no stand, they will expect
me to creep through at night, cither cast or
west of Carlisle, nod as near us may be to
that place, trusting to the short distance
and the fleetness of my horse In a race for
the Scottish border. 1 am a hillsman. ac
customed to threading my way through a
wild rouutry, with a keen rye for an
enemy. I have avoided all the big towns
Blrmingliam, Manchester and the like- so
they will not expect tne to risk either New
castle or Carlislo. Night will be the time
when they are greatly on the alert, espe
cially 1f this storm continues. Very well
again. Who am 1, if questioned? 1 am a
trooper of Cromwell's own horse sent north
from Warwick, having seen this escaped
devil of a Scot, and therefore tho more
likely to identify him. 1 have become de
tached from my company lu lite storm. I
will ride into Carlisle In broad daylight
and oak where the Warwick horsca arc to
bo found. They were ordered to Carlisle, 1
shall Buy. 1 shall nut avoid tiie comniumlcr,
mil will seek him Then if 1 tan sunnlex
aver the bridge, H is 'lloorah lor ScotUuu,'
and may tbe bust hours win."
"tiood," cried the girl, "and well rea
soned. They all agreed that Cur lisle was)
tlio weakest link lu the thititi."
"Uki tiiey so'.' 'then that makta me Init
iate. If those in Carlisle think it the v. ua-k-l
link, tm'y will stieiigLhen it. '
"The oflii er's plan wlh not so bud ati
yours. Of i out ve, ibey did not know u
were traversing in tito Itkcnoit of one uf
themselves. Titcy thought ou would uUnv
dun your horse before you would me to
Carlisle, creep Into thut town after dark,
avoid tiie bridge, which is sure to be wtt
guarded, swim the Ixleu and lc herons the
Scottish border by daylight. There are two
defects In your owu proposal; your accent
is not thut of Warwickshire, and le
Courcy is sure to be in Carlislo und may
recognize you. ltcaldea this, ymi may meet
someone who knows the Warwick regi
ments, und you are not even uequatntd
wilh the name of the captain of your sup
posed company. I think the night attempt
more like to prosper."
"In the night everyone Is on the alert,
and a Roundhead cannot be distinguished
from a cavalier, so there Is closer scrutiny.
I can enact the oUipid trooper to perfection,
having nutural gifts toward stupidity.
Thero is a risk, of course, but this is a
risky Journey at best, it 1 ouc get over
the bridge at Carlisle, I'll boat all Kngland
in a race for the border."
"I liopo you will. I said I would nee
you across into Scotland, but I am con
vinced that purpose Is futile, and I shall
prove but a datigur to you. A Warwick
trooper on duty does not wander over the
country a-squlrlng of damns. I have given
you good advice, and a Roundhead's equip
ment, und have acted aa your scout, bo I
must not imperil your mission by hanging
to the skirt of that sopping cloak. Tonight
we Hliull likely reach Yorkshire, and to
morrow I bid you Uod speed, and mak
across tho country to my own home."
"Indeed, lass, I have cotue to so depend
on you 1 shall be but a lost sheep, shorn
at that, if you leave me."
"The wind is tempered to all auch, :t4
If you depend ou jour own wit you are
likely to prosper. But you should have
some care for ana. It is my own safety I
am thinking of."
Although tho day was far from beiag
one that Incited toward hilarity, Arm
strong laughed and turned his dripping
face up to the storm. The girl Joined him,
but with Jess of merriment in Iter tonea.
"You will never persuade roe," he said,
"that there is a tinge of selfishness about
you, or that you even think of yourself
when there Is a friend to think of."
"There Is worse to oome," she want oa.
"I must bcig of you to sacrifice tltat mus
tache. You will never get through Carlisle
with that on your lip. Any one who hag
ever seen yon before wauld recognise y
now In spite of cloak and cap."
"Madam, you ask too much. The king,
dam of England may fall, but this inua
taohe, never."
"Really," laughed the girl. "If you saw
It at this moment you would not be na
proud of Lt It has drotpod and willed la
the rain like a faded flower. 'Twer hotter
done away with, for it will mark you on
from the smooth-faced troopers who throruf
Carlisle. "
William somewhat wistfully wrung the
water from H and attempted to draw it oat
across his choeks.
"Madam, I suspect your design. One.
by one you have depleted me of what
goes to make up a Horderer, and grad
ually you have reduced me to tha con
raenplace lavol of those erop-earad Vila
laUvt who are tfghting against their feln.
tOonUnued. from Page Eleven.)
t !