The Portland daily press., 1875-09-04

their own, had, about twelve wears AGO.
adopted and brought up the only child. a
daughter of a widowed lady, who at the
close of her earthly career earnestly COM
mended her little darling. then in her sixth
year, to the care of those friends she had
best loved and trusted in her life. They not
only accepted, but accepted with joyful pleas
ure, both The treasure committed to their
charge and the responsibility connected with
it. Here, then, was the greater attraction.
A young lady in her eighteenth year, Maud
Hamilton possessed in an eminent degree
all those personal attractions and virtues,
adorned with which woman has but to speak
and with man to hear is to obey. The
beauty of her face and figure were but
equalled by the beauty of her temper and
mind. 1 will not go further into detail: suf-
flee it that Harry thought her perfection, and
l always thought arry's judgment perfect.
Poor Harry, with his frank and hearty man
ner, was not one long to conceal his love. not
that anything had openly as yet been said
but guardians OF a treasured daughter are
some time past discussed the question, and
agreed that could they see these TWO united,
they would have no anxiety about tfeir dar-
llng's future when they themselves were gone.
Between Harry and Maud, however, there
was no anxiety, no understanding, tor
Harry KIN W that if he could once obtain his
aunts and uncle's leave, he bad no need to
search her heart. for Maud, with the depth
and intensity of Vernon's love, that showed
itself in thousand ways, found that she,
too, at length, could no longer call her heart
her own; He had at last, and that, too,
during this very visit, opened out his heart
to her, and she in return had artlessly and
simply told him all. As Harry said, that
evening was the happiest of his life. How
soon was the joyful dream to be dispelled;
How soon the cup of sweetness to be shat
tered in his grasp!
1t was few days after this, toward the
close of a brilliant August, that Harry one
evening sauntered across his uncle's grounds
and then with quicker steps began a walk of
one mile toward a small copse at the foot of
Molsley Fell, which lowered up abruptly to
the skies on the side nearest to the wood, al
though still quite passable by a young and
active man, whilst on the other an easier
slope made that side the one generally pre-
ferred by all who wished TO gain the top,
whence varied and extensive view might
be gained; and to those who know England,
both Cumberland and Westmoreland GER
tainly carry off the palm for such views of
wild and glorious scenery as can be obtained
from Morely Fall. Both the copse and few
surrounding acres, together with the steeper
side of the fell, belonged to old Mr.. Vernon,
and now his hopeful nephew was about to
test new double barrelled breach-loader-
one OF the many instances Of his unce's kind
and generous intereSt-upOn the rabbits,
that had had it all their own way at Morley
Fell from time immemorial. Naturally, there
fore, expecting good sport, he was much
chagrined and surprised, after skirting twc
sides of the wood, and after vainly peering
about for some ten minutes or a quarter of
an hour, to find that, despite numerous
traces OF the little fellows, not rabbit was
to be seen. ''Somebody must be about"
was his muttered exclamation, as he plunged
into the wood and coming out after a three
minutes scramble, on the other side, facing
the fell, sure enough there sat man, appar-
emily tying up ferret or two in bag, whist
powerful lurcher was regarding with inter-
est some hali-dozen rabbits lying at his mas
ters feet. There was not more THAI one
hundred yards between them; and no sooner
had Vernon advanced twenty PAGES, than the
dog sprang to his feet with deep growl; not
less speedily did the man seize his string of
rabbits in one hand, and stout cadgel in the
other, and spring over a low stone wall
close at hand, followed by the lurcher, where
he turned round to see the extent of bis dan
ser. Apparently satisfied that there was not
much, as he saw but one man after him, and
that not keeper, he threw down his rabbits
again. and calling his dog close to his heels,
awaited Harry, who, excited to greater wrath
by seeing the fellow flee, fact which at once
stamped him as trespasser, had put on
regular squirt to come UP with him, and now
arrived at the wall somewhat pulled and in
anything but good humor.
"Hulloa! you fellow. what are you doing
here, giving me all this bother? What do you
mean by it? Do you know you're trespass-
iug?" he jerked out.
The '.fellow," powerfully built and ruff
fianIy looking vagabond, evidently puzzled
what to answer, grasped his stick all the
tighter, and then growled out; II warnt a.
meddlin' of YOU"
'Confound you! 1 never said you were.
What's that got to do with it? You're tres
passing; you know you are. I'll see about
this. What's your name?"
'My name be darnedr' shouted the fel-
low. whats yourn? What rect have yer
a-coomin' about more an me? Pse gotten
these ere ~abbits, and means to keep en-"
he added, as he once more laid hold Of them
aud seemed about to depart.
drop themr' roared Harry, as he mount
ed the wall. ''If you take a single rab-
bit.''-
''If yer tooch ma rabbits, Sandy shall
throttle YER roared back the william with
equal energy. "Hie at em, sisze EN-. my lad
Sandy?' he cried again as Harry sprang from
The wall. There were only dozen PAGES be-
tween Them now, when the savage beast,
without any warning, sprang with the fury
OF a maniac from lis masters side at Harry.
1t was all over in moment. A puff OF
smoke, sharp crack, and there they stood,
a remarkable picture. On one side was
Harry, his piece presented full at the mans
nad bn fhlr rvop fhn ffAr Ilt,
rooted to the spot with fear, anger and
amazement combined. Between them lay
the ferocious Sandy, breathing out his last
gasp, shot right through the heart. How
like Vernon it was! His holiness and de-
cision did not desert him at pinch like
this, and believe really saved his life. Har-
ry said afterward: PLUCK? Oh, it wasn't
pluck; did 1t without thinking of it," But
it is just that pluck, IN my estimation, which
shows itself how, whel, or where, as occa-
sion requires, ano which is not wanting in
the hour of need, which really call pluck.
"By-- thou shalt pay for thisp at
length cried his opponent, advancing foot,
anu swinging his club.
"Auother step, and you are dead man."
DOW came in hoarse but earnest tones from
Vernon's mouth. You would kill me if
you could" he added; land I shall shoot
you just as Pve shot your dog, in selt-de-
tense, il you don't take yourself off immedi-
ately."
Completely cowed, not only by the words
and determined voice, but more, perhaps, by
the whole attitude and unfinching eye,
which threatened him with instant death,
the fellow Immediately backed few PAGES,
and slOping off until out of range, he only
halted, to shout out some bitter oath before
disappearing altogether in the distance.
Harry turned to examine the dog for min
ute, tremendous still In DEATH" and thought
OF the little chance at close quarters he would
have had in struggle with sCch beast,
especially when strong ruffian was by with
a stake to give him no gentle tap on the
skull. He then skirted the wood toward
home, and getting one shot at rabbit of
course missed it. for his nerves were, to tell
the truth, a bit shaky now that all was over.
On the whole, however, by the time he got
to his room, he felt rather merry at the
thought of what the good people would say
about his adventure at the dinner table; and
at dinner he did tell his tale, and laughed
heartily over it; but even his uncle scarce
saw much to laugh at; whilst one of the
ladies-Harry was rather pleased than other
wise to observe-turned very pale indeed.
That very evening also, Mr.. Vernon dis
patched keeper TO the place, to see if he
tdonfifu ho h,,t off fho