Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-12-02

mounted TO his place behind the horses.
where tall dark figure already sat; II
amt goin TO make my fortin', on the
Darnellsdale road, that's clear"
jamie Martin glanced curiously to-
wards the other passenger--a masculine
looking old woman, in beaver bonnet,
green barege veil, and huge old-fash
ioned bombazine cloak with double
capes, who sat nodding with her elbows
on the lid Of the square wicker basket
she carried in her lap. jamie felt
strangely lonely-even the companion
ship Of the uncouth old creature, she
fancied, would be better than utter iso-
lation, so she timidly attempted to begin
an acquaintance.
at is very cold tonight, she remark
ed, in conciliatory tone.
"Eh?" demanded the old woman, put
ting her hand inquiringly to her ear.
"A cold night' cried jamie, at the
top of her sweet little voice.
"EhG"
1t was plain that the old woman would
not be much company for jamie, and she
abandoned her social essay in despair.
Still, deaf old woman was better than
nobody at all; jamie felt that, all alone
in the coach, she should have been very
lonely, in spite of the nervous thrills,
she experienced once or twice, when,
happening to look up, as the coach rat
tied through the gas-lighted suburbs Of
Courtfeld, she caught the quick vigi-
lance of the old woman's furtive, side
way glance, instantly withdrawn.
1t was not pleasant, and jamie almost
wished that she had consented to Pierre
Raymond's wish to accompany her, as
an escort, on the long and lonely jour
ney. Pierre's dream, laughed at and
forgotten at the time, came back to her
now with strange distinctness, oddly
blended with unpleasant recollections Of
Lindley Grey.
" i am a goose" mentally protested
jamie, and will 60 to sleep"
But she could not sleep. Onward
rolled the numbering coach, past the sub
urbs, beyond the few scattering habita-
tions that clung to the outskirts Of the
little town into the open country woods,
where the solitary farm houses that they
occasionally had passed were already
closed and darkened for the night
woods, where the rustling, dead leaves,
eddying downward, sounded like weird
whispers; valleys where the moaning
sound of lonely streams kept up their
monotone; dreary hill sides where
blackened stumps and crooked lines Of
tumbled down stone walls presented q
dreary prospect; past them all the stage
coach numbered and jolted, until sudden
ly they plunged into the dark, fragrant
recesses Of an evergreen wood; where
the tall hemlocks and clusters Of spruce
trees seemed almost to arch the inter-
lacing boughs over the narrow road
way.
jamie gave quick start--it was the
very wood that Pierre had described to
her so wildly outlined in his dream. In
an instant the warm blood seemed to
CONCEAL icily in her veins.
Nonsensel" she murmured; it is q
mere coincidence; but ] wish we were
safely out of this dismal place We
have outlived the age of highway rob
bers and midnight brigands-yet-"
The coach came suddenly to stand
still. With a sick sensation Of terror,
jamie leaned out of the window.
Through the frosty freshness of the
night air came perceptibly to her senses
that peculiar odor of chloroform. The
coachman had fallen from his box, and
lay like one dead on the roadside, the
reins trailing beneath the hoofs of the
docile horses; while the outside passen-
ger had descended, and hurrying round
to the coach door, flung it open, with a
hoarse, exultant sound. like laugh.
The lantern that he carried displayed
his evil, triumphant face; in fact, he
made no attempt to hide it any longer.
"Lindley Greyr' shrieked jamie, re-
coiling to the further end Of the vehicle.
"Yes, Lindley Greyl" he answered
.jeeringly; don't fancy me for a travel
ing companion, very naughty, spirited
young lady2 It's my turn to dictate
terms now; you are in my power at last.
Out with you, old ladyl"
He turned savagely toward the other
passenger, giving her arm pull to ex-
pedite her descent. The old woman,
tottering uncertainty to her feet, hesi-
tated an instant on the step of the coach.
The next instant blow-short, sharp
and sudden--descended directly between
Lindley Grey'S eyes; and he fell like
log on the roadside carpet of fallen hem
lock leaves and pine needles. The bonn
bazine cloak fell off; the square wicket
basket ratified close to the ground.
Here coachman, up with you" " cried
clear, manly voice to the bewi ildered
Jehu, who was Just raising himself on
one elbow, and staring vaguely round,
like one wakened from a deep slumber;
"help me to tie the rascal hand and foot.
He won't get up again in hurry unless
my right hand has forgotten its cunning;
but its just qs veil to make sure of the
villain" Ill.
Where am II Whathas happenedY
cried the man.
You've been drugged with chloro-
form, but you're all right now. Come,
up With j9q, | say, and bear a hand
here.
What are you going to do with him2"
demanded the man, as he obeyed, not
without difficulty,
Leave him here by the roadside; he
won't take cold, I'll venture to say
There; he's safe enough nowl Jump on
your box and drive ont
FGsg't thrash him first, your honorF
demanied the Iehu, growing irate as he
recovered bis da5e9 senses.
40, he's sufficiently Pqnishsdj drive
on. sAyi
" But, your honor, where's the old
woman2 She hain't gone of on broom
stick2 And where did you drop from2'
The tall stranger laughed, " / am the
old woman"
The man mounted his box, not quite
ceTtsir Yhether he was in land of en-
chantment or net, end jamie still sobbing
hysterically, found herself clasped ina
tender hold.
" jamie, my precious one, don't cry so
bitterly. You are safe now"
"Oh, Pierre, what would have hap
peped 70 me If you had not been wiser
than I5H~
For the deaf old woman an the b9E-
baziue cloak and the square wicket bas-
ket was Pierre Raymond, who, driven
- l. sha f~rrufuFfl1. t..,u1ua &c