Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1873-10-29

. all disappeared. and she felt singularly
safe and happy. She did not lock the
door, for she felt not the slightest uneasi,
ness but she peeped frOm little window,
aud saw the tall hunter, with his gun
across his shoulder, walking up and down
before the cabin like a sentinel, and then
7 she laid down on the bed, aud soon fell in.
to deep sleep.
i Next morning whea she awOke the sun
vas shining brightly, and. springing up,
for she had not removed any Of her cloth
ing, she ran to .he little window aud looked
out. There was the huater pacing up and
down, just as he had been doing the night
before. allow polite in him." thought
Mary, mot to disturb me aud how con.
sieera'e ofmy comfort aRd safety he has
been ever siRce l entered his humble
abode" She mado haste to open the door,
and the hunter badc her good morning,
and hoped she had rested WE'LL Then he
made up the fire, and, bringing Mary
some water in basin, with a comb and
brush, said he would cook the breakfast
while she made her toilet. To this Mary
objected, saying she would do the cooking
herself; and, as soon as her simple toilet
was made, set about the work. The hunt
er brought the things for her to cook,
peeled the potatoes, and showed her where
everything he had was kept. Every few
minutes he would burst cut laughing and
say, FLOW funny to have woman cook
for me !" Mary's heart was heavy, and
she was constantly thinking of her mother
at home, and wondering where they
thought she was but her position was so
novel for a young girl, and her companion
so cheerful, that she could no: help blush
ing, and at times, despite her troubles,
her small, steel-gray eyes would sparkle
with mirth. When they sat down to
breakfast, the hunter thought he had nev-
er seen so charming creature as Mary,
and somehow she never seemed to mind
the great brown eyes constantly fixed up.
on her, Strange she should not be afraid,
for she was alone with the NEST desperate
man Of the West; but, so far from fearing
him, she thoroughly believed he was her
best frlcnd and protector.
tao SfS dossSKlas! gah she tod TIE hunter her
listened respectfully and attcntively, and,
when she had done, said:
$50 you thought you could trust me 2"
81 did," replied Mary, while the hot
blood rushed to her temples"
For a moment the muscles in the face
Of the hunter worked convulsively, and,
rising he went TO small cupboard and
took from it two lagucrrotypes-the one
of a ycung girl, and the other of middle
aged woman. Opening them and placing
them in Mary's lap, while tear dimmed
his eye, he said:
These are the pictures of my dear
mother and darlisg sister, and | swear to
you by them will always be to you as a
BROTHER"
Mary held out her hand, and, as be
grasped it. two hearts met in that clasp
never to be divided again on earth.
The hunter told Mary that she must 60
back at once to her mother, and, now she
had placed herself under his protection,
she need not fear Long Ned or any one
else Placing her on his pony, he walked
by her side and led the little brute, who,
not being used to such burden, was dis.
posed to be little vicious. Carefully
and tenderly, as if she were an infant, he
guarded her until they came to her faith
ers house, where they had scarcely ar
rived when that most startling off all cries
on the border. "IDdians!' was heard, and
man dashed up to say that the settle-
merit below had been attacked and all OF
Long Neds stock stolen. Waiting to hear
no more, Long Ned, who was still at the
farm, leapcd upon a pony and dashed
away across the prairie.
Placing Mary in the arms of her moth
er, the Wild Hunter left her to tell her
own tale, and rapidly followed Ned. The
Indians were driven off and all the stock
recovered. but Long Ned did not return.
Some said hs was killed by the savages ;
others, that the Wild Hunter shot him :,
but, be that as it may. he was dead, and
no one seemed to care by whose hand he
had fallen. Nearly all the recaptured
stock had once belonged to Mr. Thompson,
and, Ned being dead, the Wild Hunter
took it upon himself TO return it to the
farmer, saying he was Ned's heir; de-
cision no one objected to. What was most
surprising, however, was the fact that the
Wild Hunter did not drink any moro OF
quarrel with any enc. When pressed for
an explanation, he simply replied: 81