The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-09-28

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 50 | just
paused a bit. But | looked at my poor
mistress, and | asked God 10 help me
before answered.
"'Don't we take on, missus; I'll CO.
You let me have old Jack (for | could
ride we'll enough) and Diamond Dia-
mond was little dog that was wonder
full fond of me, and me of him.
90 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 u to do, but all the
time she was glad like to see me so
brave not that felt brave, but tried
to laugh.
~ got old Jack ready, and put the
money in my bosom; then taking Dia-
mond under my arm, | mounted, give
crack with my whip, and of we
went.
AS 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 had to keep
saying a bit of psalm knew by heart,
- Whose dwelleth under the defense
of the Most High, and Diamond was
SO quiet and warm next me that | felt u
bit comlorted. But when it began TO
get dark, | did wish old Jack would go
faster.
Well, my dear, when we got TO n
narrow lane with trees on each side, and
the wind rustled in and out among the
branches, felt creeping sll 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,
/ Just alongside the hedge, and rushing
sut, seized old Jack by the bride.
didn't faint or gcream, but | called
j out
90 Leave hold, sayP
"'Give me the money! said deep,
low voice, and | won't touch you
" 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
mel Leave goP
Then | managed to get my hand
free, and give the man such slash with
my whip as | thought would make him
let go. But he only laughed.
g 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 Jack s
neck instead and sent him off at a
furious gallop.
" never stopped again until we come
to Mr.. Moss's house, and although was
all of tremble, managed not to give
way, but paid him the money all right,
and then told 'em what had happened.
I" You may fancy how they opened
their eyes and Mr. Moss called out
90 You shan't ride back alone, my
i girl! I'll send old Maurice with you,
and he'll be brave chap as attacks old
MauriceP
+ Well, my dear, we got back, | rode
behind the old man on a pillion, and
wasn't glad not to be alonel Indeed,
| squeezed my arm so tight round
Maurice once or twice that he called
out, laughing
'' You must leave me bit of breath,
Betsey, to shout murder with
9" Oh, | beg pardon, sir, | said, but
Pm not used TO riding on pillion.'
"' Nor to having your arm around an
old man 7 he said, laughing.
But was too frightened to mind his
Joking, and said nothing till we got
home"
You were brave" ] said. But the
little old woman looked up quietly,
with bright smiling glance.
" Wait a bit, my deary; you haven
come to the end.
g 1t wasn't all my doing that master s
hundred pounds got safe that night.
When we got back into our old kitchen,
and | was trying TO steady myself a bit
to tell missus all aboutit, Diamond come
running in, and drops something at
masters feet. He was bit better, and
was waiting up for me by the fireside in
dreadful anxiety.
"' Lor,' says he, what's this, Dia-
mond? And Diamond wagged his tail
and barked bit"
"And what was it?'' 1 asked.
You'll never guess, my dear, SO |
may as we'll tell you. 1t was piece of
cloth, and with it little bit of human
flesh, as Diamond had bitten out of the
robbers wrist; and that was why he let
go as if he had been shot.
" so you see, after all it was Diamond
as saved the hundred poundsw And
Betsey Blake laughed again at this
thought; but to my mind, Betsey Blake,
and not Diamond, was the heroine of
the adventure.
" And the robber-did you find him
out?
Yes, we guessed we did, because the
next day Martin Fuller's house was
found deserted, and we heard as he was
seen with his hand tied up. He went
off to furrin parts, where most folks so
as don't care to live honest like in the
old country.
But then, my dear, l didn't hear
that till several weeks after, for the
fright fairy gave me fever, and missus
sid that | was wonderful excited for
many days, and kept talking of robbers
and money and Diamond all of tumble,
with no sense.
One thing ] now, though, that,
master and missus nursed me as il
had been their own, and did deal more
for me than deserved, mother said.
:" For, after all, Betsey,' she says,
when went home for change of air,
\ i