Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-11-19

was Impossible, and OF course Bessie, having
no excuse for staying after she had said she
was in hurry, drove off in solitary STATE
Mr.. Carey went up the road to look for the
where it might be, followed to assist in the
search, leaving Blackey sound asleep in the
middle Of the road Mr.. Carey had passed
the rope, which Malala spied in tuft of
furze by the roadside. As she stopped to
pick 1t up she was startled by pair of eyes
glaring out of little thicket near by
They were as ferocious as those of wild
beast, but Mahala knew very well to whom
they belonged. They did not seem to be
aware Of her vicinity, but were steadfaslh
regarding Mr.. Carey with a look Mahala
never forgot. Should she speak to Anthony :
What could she say that would pacify him !?
1t was clear that he had followed her, had
witnessed the race, had seen her unite the
rope. If she could only put Mr.. Carey on
his guard But she could not do this with
out Anth0nys knowledge and that would
only precipitate the catastrophe. And what
was that catastrophe to be? 1t was not
likely Anthony had any fixed purpose, and
perhaps it she carried herself carelessly and
got MI Carey away without loss of time,
nothing would happen.
See how much sharper my eyes are than
yours she said, playtnlly, to Mr.. Carey,
| ubiuilS up tuG Itit' anu uOW We luuSt
be expeditions, for ought to be in Harmo-
ny this minute. You must tie it very Sc
curely," she said as he took the rope, for
anything happens to you, Bessie will new
er forgive me.
This was said for Anthony's benefit, and
to remind him of what she had told him al
the tavern. All this time Mahala was talk
ing to Mr.. Carey, and standing beside him
impatiently watching his movements. She
never for an instant turned her back upon
the little thicket, but kept out of the corners
of her eyes keen if furtive glance upon tire
spot where she now distinctly saw part Of
Anthony head.
Mr.. Carey looked at her in amazement
when she made the remark about Bessie, but
made no reply. He had loosened Blackey
from the wagon, so that he could get in be-
tween the shafts, and was now tying up the
old swingle-tree in provokingly scientific
manner. Blackey had taken few steps
forward and gone sound asleep again and
Mahala was wrought up to a pitch of ncrv-
GUS excitement by Mr.. Carey's slowness,
who, with his head bent down over the
swingle-trce, was so tryingly unconscious
of the danger near But not for an instant
did her glance wander from the thiclet
| All was still as death in the forest; the
very leaves had stiled their rustling. There!
twigs: there is CLEAN of something! 1t is
the thing she has tried not to believe in, and
yet has been watching for With no thought
now for anything but the dear life by her
side, she stretched ont her arm, and quicker
than the speeding of the bullet she hud push
ed down Mr.. Carey's head, and ne fell into
the road in heap Blackey took to his
heels and was out Of sight in a twinking. A
mans form was fitting among the distant
trees. The bullet had cut off little sapling
and buried Itself in the ground, hut il had hit
Mahaas arm in passing, and the sharp pain
and the sight of her bloody sleeve, together
with the mental agony she had suffered,
suddenly took all the breath out of her body.
All this passed in the minute Mr.. Carey lay
on the ground, not having time to feel aston
ished at Mahalas treatment before the report
of the pistol explained it. When he stood
upon his feet again, he found her stretched
upon the ground insensible.
| lie tore open her sleeve, but could
Judge how badly her arm was hurt he knew
she was not dead, and he did not think her
dying. so, instead of going into heroes, he
bound his handkerchief and hers around
her arm, and lifted her out of the road upon
the grass, and ran to the brook to fill his
hat with water, which he sprinkled over her
face. AS this did not seem to revive her, be
chated her hands, and, rs she was very cold,
he took her in his arms. o. course he drew
her close to him, thinking how she had saved
his life at the almost certain risk of losing
her own; and at the same time there were
running through his mind certain bewider-
ing thoughts that he had never known until
now how beautiful she was. Sadly bewild-
cred he must have hcen, for not sound did
he hear, and yet Mrs. Putnam's covered
wagon had made no little noise jolting over
the road
i To his great Joy, Mahala opened her eyes,
but neither of them spoke word.
My gracions what has happened here !?
declare IL it amt Mr. Carey and Mahala
Bruce Did | evcr?'
And now the two culprits (for such they
suddenly felt themselves to be) bcheld the
covered wagon, and Mrs. Putnam seated
. therein and looking down upon them with
IL severe contcnanct tor Mrs. Putnam was
not of Mr.. Carey's religious persuasion, and
held him in slight esteem. That gentleman
knew he ought to be glad TO see her for Ma
hala's sake, as the old wagon without a
horse was certainly not a very eligible con
veyance; but nevertheless he wished Mrs.
Putnam thousand miles away. He was
covered with confusion, and ii Mahaa had
not withdrawn from his arms, he most GER
tainly would have dropped her. He told
what had happened in as few words as pos
sible. Mrs. Putnam listened in grim silence
until he had finished, when she turned to the
blushing girl, now seated ON the grass:
You don't seem to be dead, Mahaly.
You look real peert"
81 think my arm is broken, said Mahala.
Scan you get into my wagon, with Mr..
Grey and me to help you ?"
81 will lift in, said Mr.. Carey, taking
her up in his arms without more ado, and
carrying her gently to the wagon, to Mrs.
Putnams establishment and admiration.
Mahaly weighs n hundred and twenty
five, ifit'sa pound, she muttcred to herself.
"And be such snplng-lkc fellow too
while | weigh hundred and eighty, and
can't so much as lift the wash-boiler.'
Meantime. Mr.. Carey was arranging Ma
hala comfortably in the wagon, and took oc
casion to whisper his gratitude, while she,
, looking sorrowtully at him, wondered what
he would think if lie could know ALL
"Don't you think you had better take
Miss Bruce to Mrs. Sparkeses'?" said Mr.
Carey, as Mrs. Putnam was tenderly laying
Maha.a's arm in n position where it woulc
( be least likely to be moved by the jolting o
+ the wagon. 1T is the nearest house."
Q 81 shall take her homo to her motheri
Y that's where she's going said Mrs. Put
! nam, with significant accent on some of he
i words 'And you had better go righ
n through the woods here, short cut to DR.
: Strode's, and tell him to come to Widow
g Bruce's and set Mahaly's arm. | guess th
g man with the pistol is fur enough off by thi
9 time. And thank the Lord faint no worse
d for she might have been cut off unrepent
g ant"
+; 81 am giving you both a great deal o
IS trouble said Mahala, remorsefully.
at will put me out a little," said Mrs
/ Putnam, "for l cant do my shopping now
}. and l don't get the horse every day but
amt going to leave you in the woods with
d broken arm; and I'll tell you what ain
l. a-going to take you to Spaikeses."
Throwing this last remark at Mr.. Carey
+. head, she drove off.
!, WHAT GAME OF II.
;e l. There were no hot biscuits Tor supper
II 2. Blackey arrived at his stable door o
dusk, and as he showed no symptoms of eS
/, haustian, it was conjectured that he did no
y run far after hearing the pisto-shot, but ha
proceeded homeward at leisurey pace
s. stopping now and then to eat the choice Bit
n of grass that came in his way.
d 8. Anthony Murray was missing from hi
lie home, and returned no more, which lie