Show I 1 P t ro THE STORY THUS PAK fart lark shan con aon whose horse madoe madoc was wai sold fold t to 0 clear a debt when her father died tails sails from england for America david N 0 rth whom she loves was wa to mate make the trip with her but sails falls the night before lark s ship toes goes down but she reaches land and ind and gait withe a bound servant an fandi is her on an island and helps her but refuses to bring her to the mainland the two manage to hobble bobble lancer a fine horse who had bad escaped from the sinking 9 ship and an on which a price ot of round pounds I 1 has been offered alter after some time galt aalt returns to the island with cony who plans to hold bold her for or ransom to david norths north firm they reach the inn and urk lark ends h ersela being beta carefully watched CHAPTER IX ma mag g had gone indoors now and cony returned to his oyster shucking lie he was for the moment on the farside ar i side of odthe ahe mound raking railing the shells with his ong wooden fork surely she could slip away for a few minutes lark thought surely she slowly she paged toward the corner ot of the inn and stood there in its shelter tor for a moment watching holding her breath nothing happened nothing at all with cautious deliberation she slid jad past the outhouses out houses and still slowly sauntered toward the bridge she gained the bridgland bridge and crossed it was jn ln the woods now and started to run after the four who were in sight lust just ahead their bright garments glowing like exotic tropical flowers among the shadowed undergrowth lark had time out satisfaction of seeing the gipsies turn and stand waiting expectantly spec bantly before the sound cameto came to her the baying of old dog the rush of h hla lit padding ferfon the swinging bridge the sniffing rustle of his paws in the dry grass behind her ened har her terribly she screamed and drew back into the bushes it was less lem than a minute till he found her ber and fastened his teeth fa in the th e fabric of her skirt she stood pr prisoner lioner th there e r till cony came up on the th elope Jope 1 I seed un he panted 1 I biset set old dog log loose to learn un not to go sneak ln off never seed no boms roms afore did un una I 1 seed need that boy ar an gal smile at un 11 he nodded sagely 1 iwucz I auz a sayin anun on un from hind the oyster slope all the while he threw back hi his shuge i huge yellow head and laughed uproariously 1 I tell mag sweetmeat but bui shell hear old dog bay an know what for lt lark lar glanced in the direction reidon di of the gipsies and called out to them they I 1 shrugged their shoulders with real or f feigned indifference and when cony made threatening gestures toward them continued on their way cony broke a switch off a nearby bush and pointed toward the inn when mien lark started back without comment he ordered old dog to release her dress and followed aloni along behind flicking the switch vaguely in her direction mag was waiting tor for them in the courty courtyard aid go up attic t she or dered no dinner for un this day giral I 1 she came behind lark up the steep and narrow steps and shiy the heavy door quickly turning the key in hi the lock on the outside and stamping ilig down with without out any more w words tt t was wai then that she realized her luk lu kaw in having gaits spyglass spy glass hidden under her straw pillow it was she was thankful mag thought thoUgh tto to rummage round lark focused the ilass glass eastward toward ghost island how she wished dished she could see red baskall ridden hidden in the dip where the grass was so green and the rock basin held the water like a ap cup she could Irmi imagine jine nm him there so clearly awaiting like herself his hour of freedom i she turned the ilie spyglass spy glass then to vard bard the cai castle tid she could distin golsh the glint of its red roof among the trees she could see the gipsy camp below it i spread out on the plateau the tents bright patches among th trees the figures of tho men inen and women moving about tn in the open space where the cooking ares smoldered like dusky jewels david was wag there somewhere among them lark thought it was wag a thing scarcely to td bebell be believed eved that almost she could reich reach out her arms arm and tou c chhim h hl m it was nearly dark when mag stumped up tha stairs and unlocked larks door telling her in k a surly voice that Ahat she had need of her down below following mag down the steps the she saw now thit that the long trestle tables had already been set up and that wine casks had been bee n rolled in and lined the length of the toom room cony called to lark here un come give me a hand with these platters ile he stood in the for far corner of df the big room beside the wide open faced dutch dresser whose high shelves were stacked with trenchers and plit platters and bowls of every description comys eyes tell fell on her and lit up with astonishment and pleasure pleas by god basald he said softly but uns a beauty bright if ever I 1 seed one un looks like Uke that sheba parton withe preached about ancl in the brick church chur chat at the crossroads uni ung A 6 pretty peach far or sure his was soft but not too toft oft for or mag to h hear ear sheba queen indeed Jezzy bel more likel like I 1 she arpe ame at lar lark with an upraised and 4 lark drew back her eyes blazing in fury bags hand tell fell to her side go b back ack up attic she ordered an see to it that un stays there ill soon up an lock un in uns more hinder binder than help cozzen ing up lip to t 0 every i male chittur in sight 01 4 lark was afraid that lashe K she made a scene it would be galt gait and not she herself who would suiter suffer from it so under bags sharp urging she went up to her room again it wag wab not long till lark heard the crowd gathering in the thero room orn below snatches of song androush an and rough drough loud talk came up kip to her sho she strained her ears earn to hear davids voice among the others finally she c crept 1 from her room and stood at the top of the darkened stairway bending down trying to jo peer into the big i room she see the entire group from where she crouched and so after a moment edged lower step by cautious step here from the shadowed comer of the landing she had bad a good view the bright of the group of gipsy aik oik folk splashed color in the far corner of the dim lit room they stood a little apart from the sailors lark saw the white haired woman was there abere and dosta and chal and blako the mens arms were woven around the waists and they were swaying and twisting to the tune which ginko was playing on his hie fiddle addle their feet moved in an intricate hypnotic ca cadence delice it was impossible to tell lell whether or not david was among ahe he group several everal hid had their backs to lark and a few were hidden by the dark shadow of the dutch dresser diesser it was at this moment that some quick dispute flared by the oak set 0 I 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 the sailor crumpled lo in a heap on thi the ort dirt floor door tle tie which banked the fireplace barks eyes shifted to the sudden movement there and discovered matson still wrapped in hai hl long black cape lark saw fit at why mai mag had spoken of him as the spanish cat the nickname was an apt one she realized as he stepped from the darkened corner I 1 ho he stood now electric with anger staring haughtily at the black blaa bearded vailor sailor who had knocked the tray fray from gaits balts hands si a fermo few moments ago presumably the man had taken some liberty with him which he resented deeply almost more quickly than larks eye could follow the swift motion a rapier yas was gleaning like a silver streak in the air gleaming one moment and burled buried deep out of sight uie the next as with a groan the sailor crumpled in a a heap anthe on the dirt floor matson drew a silk handkerchief neatly down the ra piers s blood stained length as he stood smiling a little ake ike a dancer poised bea beautifully liti on the tho balls of his slim feet pick him up he be said softly throw whim him out into the courtyard the dogs ready forthe for the dung pile 1 ills his summoning gesture brought two gip gipsies stes from the group with utter unconcern they tossed the dying man into the yard galt gait was wag bending over the man holding a acup cup of water to his ups lips lark whispered his 1 name name 0 so 0 softly that when he turned it was waa as if U he had sensed her presence enee rather than heard her ber lie he followed her quickly to the shadows of the trees Gal galat till larks cold hands bands clung to his oh galt gait im aril going io to the church im going to try to get there to the crossroads cross roads if you could go with me galt gait lie he shook ills his head glancing back fearfully the d miss mis me ie he said his bis voice less than sound run once you get away from liere here you can find help its bet ter for you without me past the church he stopped da darted arted away from fro m her stoc stood d still at as cony opened tile the door peering out lark slipped away among the trees and out buildings running now making for or the dunes laatu and the direction of tho the church running faster than she had ever eve r run in her life after a time the terrified boating of larks heart quieted a little the very effort it took to walle walk through the loose sand calmed hor her she was out ot of breath now and gratefully sucked the cool damp night air down deep into her lungs lung presently a new strength seemed beamed to enter into her though she was still deeply perplexed and frightened that last glimpse of galt gait had been a comfort to her she felt it had taken a certain courage which she had not known him to possess posses s to be aiding the dying man A craven would woul not have done that thing galt gait would know her whereabouts at the parsons parson leand and would get word to her somehow their two fates were linked together lark knew that and it renewed her own courage lark pushed forward it was good to thrust her feet deep into the sand and let it seep beep through the rough sandals sanda ls she could feel fee it under her toes damp and firm packing hard under the arches of her feet she was wag strong and young the tug of the sand was as yet no impediment to her talking Walking fast and free like this she felt thi the night wind behind hir her urging her on not tar ahead of her lark could see eee the church foursquare four square and chiti tho the parsonage must lie behind it just butof out of her present vision lark wondered it if the man of god would be angry bein being gwak wakened in the middle a of tho the night maybe he was deal deaf sleeping on his good ear soher as her father used to do to try and give himself a good nights rest she tried the door ot of tile the church but found it locked she crept through the little cemetery where aher the tombstones stood oil all awry until she ca came m e to the parsonage beyond lark stood for n moment look ing then as tho the m moon oon came came ou out t from behind the clouds a feeling of desolation and fear came over her the paling fence was broken and falling away the ne windows of the house were gaping wide and the doorway was a hollow open shell behind lark there was a sound k a step quick pursuing she swung round and called out chos there galt gait Is in it you the answer came not in balts galts voice but in davids lark child what in the world are you doing here in an instant the she was in his arms clinging to him sobbing out all her fright and dismay she knew only that david was holding h her er david whom she had loved ever since she ahe was a little girl he was holding her close now as 83 if she were still that little girl needing the comfort of his protecting care dont cry that way laik laek he be said paid gently it mak makes esme me feel real bad there anything to be scared of im here wm with you but david you speak to me last night I 1 kept thinking all day come tome to me androu and you 1 I speak to you last night you have called out to me im sorry david but I 1 was so 20 gladdo glad to see you lark tried to calm herself now to take some assurance from davids davida reasonable tone HI his arm we was still about her holding her shivering body against his own ile he was so BO warm so safe so strong david you knew about the tempora tempera vt not till after I 1 saw you yesterday lark then somebody told old me ma of the shipwreck it was horrible I 1 still wake up in the night dreaming about it but youre safe now you Youl were one of the fortunate ones when I 1 was out there on that dreadful island I 1 feel fortunate when clink Sw alters the mate died and left me I 1 almost wanted to go with him I 1 would have wanted to if it been tor for the I 1 thought of you the hope I 1 still hold held onto that we might be together again be be be married lark wis was that it we will be married some come day after a bit when ive got this athla business with matson straightened out ill be rich then and safe now its too risky a thing what Is it david tell me about it I 1 dont understand the least little bit I 1 was so unhappy and confuted confused when I 1 got your note 1 I tried to send you a message by mother egypt this no morning he said but she had no chance to deliver it chal and dosta said you attempted to follow them that wise lark but I 1 had to know david I 1 wanted to talk to you and now you wont sellme ell ms im ready to tell you everything ery cry thing what wig was it specially why you come with me david why you keep your promise business david said 1 I told you that honey my company sent me over to catch matson who has been black birding slaves laves in for years insuring them for a good round surn sum and then claiming he ha loses nearly half on every trip lie sneaks in id those he makes the false claim on after his ship hall hag been bean cleared and hides bides them away tit at hi castle up the hill bill till lie he can dispose pase of them 1 TO BE CONTINUED |