The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-01-24

lower elQe, where he nOeted along So: i
Man and beast battled bravely with the food
feel the horse finch and turn with .: terrified
snort down the current A quick jerk upon
the left rein served to procure but IN instant,
pause In the precipitate course Of the beasts
but in that instant the stranger became aware
Of another presence by the touch Of = clammy
object against his hand
Raising his head above the neck Of the char
ger, he saw dimly outlined upon the waving
and shimmering surface q dark and uhdiRnable
object. The next moment the desperate
plunges of the beast had obstructed his vision,
when, with the self-cOmmand of one accus-
toned and nervcd to the hardship of athletic
sports and soldiers danger, he swung hisl leg
over the back of his animal and gathered him:
elf into his saddle.
Reaching out hand, he was about to seize
the object Of his horror, when it exposedth
CHASTITY features of woman.
For an instantly only he hesitated; then, re-
covering from the thrill, he grasped the head
firmly by the loose, flowing, tangled mass Of
raven tresses and raised it above the Waterup-
on the pommel of his saddle.
Turning his head again up stream. he re-
newed the combat with the tide. Twice it
seemed as though man, woman, and beast must
all succumb, aud twice the noble struggles of
the animal cheated the trugid grave Of its vic
tins.
Finally, the hoofs once more crunched the
firm bottom of the stream, and ten PAGES
brought the party safely to the shore.
Feeling the forehead, he found it cold; the
hands were also chilled, but he thought he felt
slight hutter of the pnlse. Tearing open the
dress, he pressed his hand against the heart
and found it still warm.
warded, and, after few moments, the woman
made an attempt to speak, which resulted,
however, only in moaning cry.
At this point he began to look for other
assistance, when he observed light upon the
hill above the creek. Once more raising the
ing behind it he sought the road.
One stepped around to receive the woman,
and another entered the house to procure the
stimulaht.
"What's this ?" said the one who was assist
ing the traveller in dismounting the woman.
"Scnd for the nearest physician at once"
They lifted the motionless but reviving form
into the house, and deposited it upon a sofa.
a small portion OF it being administered, the
woman indicated an increased vitality by q
broken gurgle. This, after while, gave way
to clearer articulation, in which, however, only
syllables were emitted. These were in turn
succeeded by one or two sharp cries of pain,
which gradually subsidized into a moaning
chatter Of wailing, in coherent sentences.
At this point the stranger, in raising his
hand to her head to brush the tangled hair from
her brow, noticed clot of blood upon the wet
skin of his finger; rubbing it oil, he found no
trace of a wound.
"she must be bleeding!" he CALCULATED; "sec
if there is a cut anywhere"
wound, and ugly gaping ebrasion upon the
left side of the head, above the ear, and just
behind the temple. The locks were matted
over it, and the blood still oozed slowly from
its mouth.
Pending the arrival of doctor, the stranger
clipped the hair from around the wound, and
after bathing it with feminine tenderness, he
ladies Of the house WHO were in attendance
presume you are the host, sir" said he, al
once, addressing the elder of the two. "Ifyou
will be kind enough to let me have bed I'm,
til can rest for an hour or so and dry my
great obligation to you Matters Of impor:
lance urge me to lose no time, and shall only
delay until my horse can recruit for the bal
| ance of my ride. In fact, but for the inciden,
of fir ding the unfortunate lady in the creek,
should have continued on the road without
consulting my comfort so far"
evil you tell me how you happened upon
GAlC AuScuIulc, AOH yOu AOI AAu1
! wound and present condition?''
The traveller gave brief account of the
events, without, however, throwing any light
upon his own identity or business.
"May ask your name, sir?" inquired the
host. whom We will Introduce to the reader
as Mr.: Thornton, or Squire Thornton, as he
was dubbed by his neighbors in honor Of his
being +. Justice Of the peace
II beg pardon for the misconstruction. My
name is Gaspard Durer, a short while since .
soldier in the French service. Do you see any
thing in my appearance or anything else
about this case which jutides you in interro
until one who is found with body that hat
been murdered or dangerously assaulted ha:
accounted satisfactorily for his presence there
there is legal suspicion fixed upon him."
If must be detained to satisfy the law,
| Yield to the annoyance with as little impa
| tience as possible where the officer of the law
| excrcies his duties so courteonsly."
After few remarks were passed, the squire
babe his son Eddie conduct the gentleman te
his room and see him well provided for the
| night.
After the traveller had left, the vagrant still
| fingered. Shifting his hat restlesslY but me
| chanically, he seemed to resume a converse
ton which had probably been interrupted by
| the strangers exit from the stable.
"'Pears to me now"-an expression which
! indicated the result Of some mighty reflection
! for his calibre-"'Pears to me as he amt tellin
| the truth, He amt named Casper Deray, be
cause he'd said so fust. Pears to me he
| looks like old Raoul Dupuy, and CASTOR afore
parts afore."
"Whos the woman. Randy"
shave been lookln'at her. but it pc arsto
me never seen her afore-leastways, she don'
| come from about here"
Resemblance of Durer to the Dupuys il
striking and I thought at first he was the sor
! of CASTOR, who has been absent SO long. What
think you. my SOM"
Cant say father, bnt his resemblance to Mr.
Dupuy at the manor would be noticed by an,
| one"
"Perhaps," suggested the vagrant, she's asor
of Dupuy himself, if half they bring from fur
| rim parts a5out him is erect; pears to me ht
must have more'n one.
"And your friend Raoul amt too good for 8
fraud or lie" chirped the vagrant.
1--WE will dispense with your comments or
| the character of my friends" retorted the
squire.
mo offence squire, but 'spcnsc OF no 'spenst
have proof afore says libel on any man.
what do you know ofRaoul Dupuy, william
that you dare maintain such thing concern
ing his character. which is polluted by you,
! mention of it?"
Never mind what know, squire, so long At
| amt said it," answered the tramp.
''What is your opinion, doctor?" asked the
squire.
ut is rather early to ask an opinion about
| the patient squire. The skull is fractured
and it may be necessary to trepan it, if any
portion is bearing on the brain"
"Do you think the blow will permanently
affect her brain, Or that she will be sound in
mind should she recover"'
IF the pressure of the bone upon the brain
! be removed, she will doubtless recover heI
and even after, no risk must be taken in the
| case. Absence of excitement or noise is in
dispensable, as the slightest mental shock
| might make her q raving maniac. Blows up
on that region of the head have been known