The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-10-03

it must be paid to-day, and there's no
one to send And she wrung her hands
in despair.
1t was winter, miss, and getting on
towards evening, but the money must
be paid that day.
"Now / knew what was my duty, but
was terribly timid, and so | just
paused Il bit. But looked at my poor
mistress, ana | asked God 10 help me
before ! answered.
"Don't We take on, missus; I'll go.
You let Inc have old Jack (for could
ride well enough) and Diamond Da-
mond was a little dog that was wonder
ful fond Of me, and me of him.
Betsey Blake, says missus, looking
at me surprised, you're to small; and
besides, it's long way, and alone, too!
Then there's the mOney-suppose any
thing was to happen
"'God will take care of me, ma am,
| says; and if you please, I'd best start
at once
Well, she made TODD, but all the
time she was glad like to see me so
brave not that felt brave, but | tried
to laugh.
81 cot old Jack ready, and put the
money in my bosom; then taking Dia-
mond under my arm, mounted, give
u crack with my whip, and off we
went.
GAS long as | was near the lanes, ]
knew pretty well it wasn't so bad; but
when | got out on to the lonely heath,
my heart beat so bad that i had to keep
saying bit of psalm knew by heart,
- Whose dwelleth under the defense
of the Most High, and Diamond was
50 quiet and warm next me that felt Il
bit comforted. But when it began to
get dark, | did wish old Jack would 20
faster
"WelI, my dear, when we got to a
narrow lane with trees on each side, and
the wind rusted in and out among the
branches, ! felt creeping all over. But
| tried to think of God, and of poor
master and missus, and was getting bet
ter, when all at once figure starts up,
lust alongside the hedge, and rushing
out, seized old Jack by the bride. |
didn't faint or scream, but | called
out
GO Leave hold, sayP
"'Give me the money said a deep,
low voice, and | won't touch YOU
81 ought to tell you as the man had a
mask on, so that | could not see his
features.
al won't says |; not if you kill
me! Leave 60"
"Thcn | managed to get my hand
free, and give the man such slash with
my whip as | thought would make him
let 90. But he only laughed.
81 tried again; but before | could
come down with my whip, felt
Diamond move, and all at once the man
loosed the bride as if he had been
shot. and my blow fell upon old Jacks
neck instead. and sent him off at a
furious gallop.
81 never stopped again until we come
to Mr.. Moss's house, and although was
all of Il tremble, | managed not to give
way, but paid him the money all right,
and then told 'em what had happened
You may fancy how they opened
their eyes; and Mr.. Moss called out
GO You shan't ride back alone, my
girl! I'll send old Maurice with you,
and he'll be brave chap as attacks old
Mauricep
We'll, my dear, we got back. / rode
behind the old man on pillion, and
wasn't glad not to be alone! Indeed,
I squeezed my arm so tight round
Maurice once or twice that he called
out, laughing
"Iou must leave me bit of breath,
Betsey, to shout murder with
Z" Oh, | beg pardon, sir | said, but
Pm not used to riding on a pillion.'
go Nor to having your arm around an
old man p he said, laughing.
"But was too frightened to mind his
Joking, and said nothing till we got
home"
"You we're brave" | said. But the
little old woman looked up quietly
with bright smiling glance.
"Wait bit, my deary; you haven
come to the end.
at wasn't all my doing that MASTER
hundred pounds got safe that night
When we got back into our old kitchen
and I was trying TO steady myself Bit
to tell missus all about it, Diamond come
running in, and drops something AT
masters feet He was bit better, and
was waiting up for me by the lireside in
dreadful anxiety.
"'Lor,' says he, what's this, Dia
mond? And Diamond wagged his tai
and barked bit"
"And what was it?" / asked.
you'll never guess, my dear, 50
may as well tell you. 1t was piece o
cloth, and with it little bit OF human
flesh, as Diamond had bitten out of the
robbers wrist; and that was why he lie
20 as if he had been shot.
$50 you see, after all, ii was Diamond
as saved the hundred pounds" Ant
Betsey Blake laughed again at thi
thought; but to my mind, Betscy Blake
and not Diamond, was the heroine %
the adventure.
"And the robber-did you find hin
outr
Yes, we guessed we did, because tn
next day Martin Fuller's house wa
found deserted, and we heard a. he wa
seen with his hand tied up. He wen
OF TO furrin parts, where most folks g
AZ don't care to live honest like in tn
old country.
"But then. my dear, | didn't hea
that till several weeks after, for tn