The Lincoln County herald., 1869-07-22

fond Of playing qheer ps,nks, but no.
ono wss prepared to Mat suck an extra
ordinary contest fot her hand. Before
any fafthsr exploration could be. given,
she glidod out Of the roem,- leaving hsr
loyers g rect as,.hey might please on. her
proposition. -, -. -.
"i'm ready to 90 a. oncsir cried the
impulsive young farmer. "Whether 'tis
meant a. . Joke or dot, twill never bs
said that vas affaidsto do what my col.
leeu proposed. whatlssy you. Michel
Dempsey There's. my hand that, III
say no more about what has passed, and
let US decide the difference as Jane pro.
posed" ..' ' s'"'.t '.,'t7''t
J"With all my heart" replied my uncle,
taking tho proffercd hand. "Jet Us
start from the gate at once, aud If you
beat mo to the bridge aud get the stone
drst, It's moro than any other man in the
country eau do."'-lti taarp " I'D.
Every one in the house appeared 70
enter st once into the spirit Of tho con.
test, and no one seemed to pause mo.
ment for reflection.
That uncle Of mine was a very nctive
man, and cory few there we're in the
neigbborhood able to cope With him in the
goal feld. The punch he, had taken gave
him courage that he did not possess ia his
sober moments. Then he could not bear
the idea Of exposing hin temerity before
90 many who haa heard, his vsupts, even
on that very evening. How grateful !
was to that eccentric young girl.
looked on James Murray as tho very
paragon Of young men, I'm afraid that
I even ventured to bestow o blessing on
the whisky. There was fun 10 store.
More than fun-thero was revenge.
Little I needed the caution that no one
should 60 with the rivals 10 their contest
Out through tho orchard, and away BY
short cut through the fields, I hastencd
to Hewitt's bridge. One momeat l stood
on tho bridge aDd looked at the white
stone 10 the river, then I FASTENED under
Que Of the arches, to wait and watch for
the approach Of the rivals. determined
on the course I should pursue on their
arrival. n. = ......... .,,'.,.,..-...
Tho night was bright aud clear, and
tho moon shone on the water. Not a
sound fell on my ears save the murmnr
Of the river aud the slight ru.tling Of
the autum leaves, - the wind passed
through the tall trees on the banks. 4
few more minutes and my dear uncle and
bis rival would be near mo.
The old clock in the town has com
menced to strike the hour Of twelve, and
down the hill comes the sound Of hurry.
ing footsteps. knew that that my uncle
would beat young Murray in tho, race.
Though the dislanse was but half mile
he had iars h;.. Sc. hah;ad Rr-,nsinc
hastily over the bridge, he wuded
through tho shallow water, reached the
stone, and, just as I was about to address
him in on assumed scpulchral tone, a
clear female voice rang out on the nigh,
air: a.'..,.,
"Mani A. you value your life, touch
| The scream uttered on hearing those
words, must have added to my uncle's
Iterror, for with D yell Of horror, he
dartea for tho bank, where he VAS me.
BY young. Murray. " 49, Co
Though frightened almost out, Of my
seuses f1r awhile, my desire to behold th 3
discontinue Of him I hated 80 much, and
the presence Of his rival on the scene
soon gave me courage enough to look in
the direction from whence The voice pro
cecded. A female form ia white stood
on the green, turf Of the river bank. II
stood quite still, with one hand lifted iu
. threatening manner, ....,,.....
james Murray saw the fgdre also, and
he had heard the yells tent up by my
uncle, and bis nephew. James Murray
was brave man. , Hehsprang over my
uncle, who had fallen ;fsinting on the
bank. He .spraus ipte tho river. and
advanced to tho stone, Ny heart beat
with apprehension q I saw HIM stoop to
iffT II. ~ Gp+E Pa ilii ~ ,s"aais~i1f
"al.a! A. you '.ls' your life, touch
Japss, Mpsray kas't on, ,ths stone,
looked mp III, he stra6gs ,Agurs On the
b,nk, ,lifted his bat with one hand, and
with The otlsy made, theAign of ,he cross
Ien hi. fGrseeaa' 'hs replied, inaa DE-
''sSsI 'sTSs I'll j0i. 'tb'sas,sss ss.n my liz
Issnt mc, ifor this atone, and be you
[spirit o. mcrai. ], viii tiks Il to her,
/, He lifted the stone 10 bis arms, and
flung Is on ths, bank. The Ae1t moment
b y.' l lAYrttyi1g. .vp ths bill, lSfyius ny
the Agnre il while itill. 81 lding With upI
lifted hand, and The lYsipg nephew Of his
pncle scarcely able to breathe, under the
! To bury, from, NJ Place, Of conceal.
meat tosleubsr pp the bank, to follow
JsuSs, ~ De Aill. lavips ny unsler still
10 tho faint, vas the, tviseat ieqprse
could think Of pursuing. soon caught
nl; ,!ish .hs souysys9Y. M % . {eypg farmer
ia Mx buried yeias sSYiaieed, ny pres.
sles, apdt I " about q haitI home, 70
tel III paopls MhA had hspRshsd tony
aas!!s !! Sss.!! sss sxs itopius :sic.I 2