The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-09-20

| ie Hld iiitfe tnouSiI- NCil, idhOJ
death seemed pleasant thing and fair TO
look upon. 1t had become so familiar to
him in the life he led it 50 dogged his
steps and hcdged him in; it talked with
him in his dreams, and woke with him
in the cool summer DAVIS it basked in
the glare of the sunlight and lurked in
the evening shadows it and his troubled
life hung forever beside him, balanced in
the chance of single shot. He may
have wondered, as he stood there with
bis faco turned toward the sullen moon,
and the group of pines below it, beyond
which her home was hidden-he may
have wondered a lttlc-we all like to
speculate at times as to what the world
will be when we 90 out of it-whcther
the sight of his life-blood would thaw one
jot of Miss Bronson's frozen elegance
Probably its contrast to the dazzling white
of her own folded hands would not be
pleasant. Probably she would beg them
to care for him dccently, and bury him
out of her sight. Possibly she would say
the county was making a terrible sacri-
flee of its young men-then go and dress
for dinner
Looking down through the trees where
the shades of the valley hung and deep
encd, his eye caught at last the outline
of dim torn threading its way through
them. Its motion was rapid, it path di-
rect to the camp. As it came out into
the light of a little opening among the
oaks, he saw the flutter of woman's dress
He watched it curiously as it began the
slow ascent over fallen trees and stumps
and tangled underbrush 1t was dark,
hooded figure, somewhat tall and erect,
with certain fearless disregard of the
obstacles in the path, which was more
natural to a man than woman. and gave
him for the instant suspicion of disguise
and treachery. Just then, hcwever, the
light struck full on hand raised to push
aside a dead bough-a SLENDER jeweled
hand, that had an indescribable air of
familiarity to hlm in the strained
repose of its fingers. He saw with
distinctness her black dress whose trailing
folds had been shortened out of reach of
briers and rocks She came up the slope
under shadow. through gleam of lurid
mist, then out upon projecting rock be-
side him, where she stood quite still. Her
mood had fallen off, her face was full in
the light ofthe campfire.
''Miss Bronson ~
81 believe so.'
''Yon here, and alone"
81 here and alone, Mr.. MGinley, ow-
ing to the little circumstance that have
discovered plot to surprise your camp
tonight, with force conveniently out
numbering yours, every man of them
thoroughly educated bloodhounds. Their
calculations, if | remember rightly, COM
prised the butchery of at least two-thirds
of you; they attack you on the east side,
at your weak point by the ravine. AS
to time" she cooly took out her watch,
''if they had the virtue of punctualty
they would have been here five minutes
ago"
"You are sure of this ?"
'l'eriectly, one of my people heard the
l whole thing discussed IN the woods below
you there. You remember Dan, per.
haps? he is of a somewhat excitable TEN.
perament, but as to creating story Of
any magnitude, it would be altogether toe
much of a tax upon his intellect. think
you may expect your visitors at any mo-
ment.
All the soldier flashed into his face
for the moment he forgot her.
"Colonel boys, where's the colonel d?
;, She watched him as he sprang away
J, from her. If he had seen her face h,
:. would have known how much he haC
) heightened her respect for him because
he did forget her on such an errand.
c 1t was only for moment. lie wa
back beside her them his face was pale
"Morgaret it is terrible, you have
9 saved us, but you-"
Y 81 shall do very well. Why not ?"
"You don't know what hell yol
il have come into-you !" he passed hi
o hand over his forehead; the great drop
q stood on it. "AIy Godl if / could ge
c you safe at home--only get you home !"
q She smiled.
81 am not afraid. I should hardl,
have undertaken this little expedition if
= had been afraid" A sudden confusion
is prevented his reply-the sound of tn,
Y Coloners voice, quick orders, and the mel
e falling into line. Miss Bronson tossed
n off her cloak and took her pistol from he
! belt.
y "What are you going to dol 7"
"Fight"
"Miss Bronson!"
She threw off his hand from hers.
" "Why not! / will not hide here il
!" the bushes and die like coward; nc
;. not even for look like that, Mr. MGin
! ley. You know | could not 90 back if
- would. See, they are calling you"
- The quick orders grew impatient; tn
- - ranks swept by them. ArGinley fell in
- - to his place at the end of the line. Mis-
- :" Bronson stepped beside him. He sal
y y but one word after that,
,e "Nlargaret!"
r Her fingers stirred little on the pis
r. tol; her glittering smile played all owe
to her face. He knew then that she woul
s have dispised him if he had argued tn
s. case by so much as another syllable.
1T "They are coming" she said with b
Of tr;un,pb in bar emilia