Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-02

road. A very brief delay might
cost US much more than We are
calculating upon, so l think it
stands us in hand to get on as fast
as possible; l believe / shall be
able to hold out until we are
beyond the wood, for il cannot
reach q great distance further"
/ tried to argue that there was
hardly a foundation for her fears,
but it was words thrown away,
and we moved on.
From this time her strength
continued to fail rapidly, until it
was soon evident that she must
give way entirely. Under this
conviction l renewed my propo-
sition to stop by the roadside; but
she still insisted that it was too
hazardous to be thought Of for q
moment.
But" said she, after q momen-
tary pause, II will tell you what
you can do II you have no obiec-
ton; we can turn out into the
wood, a short distance from the
road, and rest in perfect security
as long as we like"
This was said with a cunning
little toss of the head and an an
gelic smile that went through me
like q ray from a rainbow, all Of
which l liked very well-being a
romantic kind of Northumberland
when l looked her straight in the
face preparatory to a reply, / fan
cied that l detected a slight blush
and a smiling expression of the
eyes, yet-being q romantic indi-
vidual-even that was not disa-
greeable.
Suffice it to say we quilted the
road and worked our way out
through the thick wood and mat
ted cane some two hundred PAGES,
when she gave it as her opinion
that we were far enough to be
safe, and took a seat upon a log a
few feet from her, and we renewed
the conversation that had been
partially broken off ON turning
from the road.
Pretty soon she suggested the
propriety of sitting nearer togeth-
er to obviate the necessity Of loud
talking, and lessen the chances of
surprise. l endorsed it at once,
and was soon by her side, and ere
long, to my establishment, l dis
covered that she was leaning
against me with a degree of force
that could not possibly be acct
dental. l returned the gentle
pressure, as may be supposed,
and she glorided me with such be.
wildering smiles, and so many
silky expressions, that l could not
help rejoicing over the fact that |
had lived up to hat day and /
am not sure but ! felt a tender
place forming in the corner of my
heart for the outlaws whose re-
voting acts in the region round
about Pittsburg had driven such
an angel to take shelter under nv
wing. Had they been brought to
trial just then, it is not at all prob
able that l would have made a
competent juror to sit on the case.
The leaning against me grad
ually increased in power, and /
gradually grew more and more
at home, until finally l was en-
boldened to venture slipping my
arm around her waist. Too late /
learned that it was a very impru-
dent venture. With the quickness
Of thought her whole manner un.
derwent a sudden change, and
springing to her feet and from me
as i'll had been an adder, she
called out in n shrill voice which
actually petrified me with aston.
ishment-
Help! help! Is there no one
near to save a defenceless woman
from n treacherous villain?'
Before l had fairly began to
collect my scattered senses, there
was a rustling in the canes near
by, and two men came bounding
showering curses upon the
scoundrel who would thus insult a
helpless lady. l think they had
weapons in their hands. should
soon have known, perhaps, but for
the fact that there was a second
rustling through the canes, and A
second bounding forth from differ.
ent directions of at least twenty
weIl-armed men. A short tussei.
mixed in with the sharp clicking
rs OF steel springs, followed, and
less time than it takes me to tell
1t, the two men first mentioned.
together with my adorable charm.
sr, were in irons, and ready to
march 10 the nearest county iail.
1t is hardly necessary to say
more. | had been s~uccessfully
lecoyed into the very trap against
which the landlord at Savannah
warned me to be on my guard.
md but for the lucky circumstance
nat a posse of citizens having got
race Of the outlaws, had concealed
themselves among the thick cane
o watch their movements, I should
doubtless soon have paid the pen.
ltV that Ofhara ho1 loAoi. "