Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-01-31

off and post his mlsslve.
don't know why took any further no.
tice OF the letter. Having ascertalned It
was his, l ought to have dismissed all
thought of it. But somehow l did not;
watched anxiously to see who would
claim it. 1853
The claimant appeared next day:
couple of rough-looking fellows-railWay
laborers to all appearance-came in, and
one of them asked for letter for -. NJ
Having obtained it they drew aside into
one corner and opened it; and the corner
happened to be the one where my WINDOW
was With the utmost precaution against
making any noise to alarm them, raised
the sash about an inch and listened.
The first words caught were, will go
to the ball, and he won't return till latlsh.
"That's the time for met That's the
time as he's comm back agln', remarked
the listener in hoarse whisper.
"There'll be none with him but young
miss, for there's none stopping here. Willis
THAT was the coachInan's name, l knew,
will drive the chestnuts. This is all L
know I shall post it when I'm in town
with keeper, and shan't be in again till next
week"
"That'll do" said the man, when he had
finished reading; we'll finish off tn ball
form wi a dance he won't Joker
"Yes. durn uni" said the other; and with
that the two moved of.
This discovery of mine settled q doubt
that had been perplexing me. had been
undecided whetheB to go to the ball or not.
The expense, and feeling that [ could
not hope to do more than to see
Mary, without speaking to her, had deter
red me. Now 1 felt might go and warn
her father of his danger; and by so dong
perhaps not only do service to the woman
/ loved, but perhaps be rewarded by ex-
changing few words with her; by hear
ing her thanks; by-but | dare not dream
of such happiness as dancing with her.
So purchased ticket and when the
momentous time arrived went to the Dali
with beating heart, and terrible scnsa-
ton of choking in my throat. | TOOK my
station near the entrance until MI. drake
arrived. Before long his carriage drove
nm. and he and Mary alighted. AS he turn
ed to tell the coachnan at what hour to
fetch him, saw man push forward
through the crowd, as ito hear what time
he named, and then disappear. 1t was the
man who had claimed the letter addressed
a. NJ"
This gave fresh strength TO my resolu-
tion-which was needed, for l had begun
to think l was dreaming, or had been mis-
taken, or exaggerated the case Such a
feeling was not unnatural under the cir
cumstances but the sight of a poacber-
for had no doubt he was, and that was
why he wished to revenge himself on Mr.
Darke-had the effect Of Yeviving all my
previous convictions.
1t was not without some nervousness that
asked Mr. Darke to step into one of the
windows and give me few minutes con-
versation. He looked a little surprised,
but stiffly consented and when we found
retired seat in one of the windows
| told him about the letter, and my conjec-
ture that the stable-help had either entered
his service to aid the poachers in their
scheme of revenge, or had been bribed by
them to give them information. At first
he proposed to take couple of policemen
in the carriage, and try to capture the ruff
fans; but I pointed out that he would
alarm his daughter-perhaps expose her to
danger, supposing the poachers had fire.
arms.
'Quite right. Thank you! l had for
gotten that, and more-that if she once
fancies am in danger, she will be fright
ened to death whenever am away from
home. What do you propose 2"
"Can you return home by any other
route?n
eyes, by two others, involving circuit
of a couple of miles or so"
"Then 60 by one of those Miss Darke
will be too tired to observe it; besides, it
will not be light enough"
"But I should like to catch the scoun-
drels"
II can identify them both and will go
to the railway and make inquiries and look
about me tomorrow You can have them
taken into custody and probably after a
day or two in the lookup they will make
a clean breast of it, and give up the names
of the Others"
eyes, perhaps best SO" said Mr.. Darke,
after some minutes reflection. "But how
can thank you for this?"
1 declined any special thanks, alleging i
was only doing my duty, but the squire
was very warm and pressing in his graft
tude-inquired what was, where l came
from, and how / was employed. On learn
ing that / had no friends or relatives in
town, he insisted on my coming to dine
with him on Christmas cay
"And hope we shall be able to drink
confusion to these rascals," he said, in con-
clusion.
suppose he was in particularly good
temper this evening, for he introduced me
to his daughter as friend of his who had
rendered him a most important service. He
little thought she knew who was, and was
terribly puzzled to think how a post-office
clerk could have laid her father under such
an obligation.
| mustered courage to ask her to dance
with me, and she consented. But why try
to describe the unexpected happiness of
the evening? can only say, when l had
handed her into the carriage and watched
it drive off, walked home as if had come
into new life and brighter world.
Though did not get home till between
two and three, / was at the Office again by
six to receive the mails of the district
was tired but was determined that no
one-especially Chaundy--should be able
to accuse me of neglecting work.
One of the earliest carts to arrive was
that of the Fentleby district. The driver
an attempt had been made to rob him,
and stammered out that he had been
fired at.
Chaundy not being in the Office, l exam
ined the man, and took down his answers
in writing. On inquiry, l found that his
route had brought him past Grasslands,
Mr. Darke's house, and that he had been
fired at between there and Cowford, at q
very ugly part of the road, where it run
beside canal, on an embankment. The
more questioned him, the more mysteri-
GUS the affair appeared. He had seen no
one, and there was not bush or stone to
hide man just where he was fired at !; but
as he was jogging along-not noticing
much, he said, but probably half asleep in
reality, he saw flash and heard the report