The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-01-30
THE SHADOW OF FATE.
By JUDGE JARVIS.

which lay along the hills az the base oi 'uo
Blue Ridge Mountains, in the region known as
the Piedmont Of Virgins, about the sources OF
the RAppahAnnOck river.
The man himself might be described in the
same language as far as il would apply. Be
yond this his age was about twenty-three, his
hair brown and full in lock, his eye Of grayish
blue.
His way quickly brought the traveller to a
stream now running over its banks. Shipping
easily from his saddle, he frightened the girths'
slackened the crupper, and, gently patting his
animal, addressed few affectionate words to
him Remounting he fixed himself firmly in
the saddle, gathered his bride in manner to
impart to his companion his own energy and
determination, and moved into the creek.
Turning up the stream, he proceeded for
about a hundred yards along the bank, and
then struck boldly across in a direct line, with
the horses head slanted upcurrent. The depth
Of the water did not sensibly increase in the
course of eighty yards, and the stranger was
cOngratulsting himself upon the probability OF
getting over without a wottng, when the ami
NAL in two steps increased the depth until he
could no longer hold his footing, and sprung
boldly into the middle Of a deep, rushing
channel. In an instant the rider had seized
the name Of the horse in his left hand, and
clipped smoothly out Of the saddle to the lower
side, where he foated along.
Man and beast battled bravely with the food
for moment when the former was startled to
feel the horse finch and turn with terrific
snort down the current. A quick jerk upon the
left rein served to procure but an instant's
pause in the precipitate course of the beast,
but in that instant the stranger became aware
OF another presence by the touch of Shiny
object against his hand.
Raising his head above the neck of the
charger, he saw dimly outlined upon the way
ing and shimmering surface a dark and unde-
Unable object. The next moment the desper-
ate plunges of the beast had obstructed his
vision, when, with the self command OF one
accustomed and nerved to the hardship of
athletic sports and soldiers danger, he
swung his leg over the back of the animal and
gathered himself up in the saddle.
Reaching ouj hand, he was about to seize
the object of his horror, when it exposed the
CHASTITY features of woman.
For an instant 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 water 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 and twice the noble struggles
of the animal cheated the turgid grave of its
victims
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 we're also chilled, but he thought he felt
slight flutter of the pulse. Tearing open the
dress he pressed his hand against the heart
and found it still warm.
His efforts to resuscitate her were soon re-
warded, and, after few moments, the woman
| made an attempt to speak, which resulted,
however, only in a 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
body to the pommel Of the saddle and mount
ing behind it, he sought the road.
One stepped around to receive the woman,
and another entered the house to procure the
stimulant.
whats this :" said the one who was assist
ing the traveller in dismounting the woman.
"Send for the nearest physician at once"
They lifted the motionless but reviving form
into the house, and deposited it upon sofa.
The stimulant was soon brought, and, upon
q small portion of it being administered, the
woman indicated an increased vitality by a
broken gurgle. This, after while, gave way
to clearer articulation, in which, however, only
svllabes were omitted. These were in turn
succeeded by one or two sharp cries of pain,
which gradually subsidized into moaning chat
ter of wailing, incoherent sentences.
At this point the stranger, In raising his
hand to her head to brush the tangled han
from her brow, noticed clot Of blood upon
the wet skin of his finger rubbing it off, he
found no trace of wound.
"She must be bleedingp he calculated
"see if there is cut anywhere"
An examination soon revealed q ghastly
wound, an ugly, gaping abrasion upon the
left side of the head, above the ear, and jus
behind the temple. The locks were matted
over it, and the blood still oozed slowly from
its mouth.
Pending the arrival of doctor, the strange
clipped the hair from around the wound, and
after bathing it with feminine tenderness, h
gave the patient over to the charge Of tn
ladies' of the house who were in attendance.
az presume you are the host, sir" said he
: at once, addressing The elder Of the two. 81
{ you will be kind enough to let me have bee
y until l can get rest for an hour or so and DIR
my clothing, shall resume my journey undo
great obligation to you. Mattersof importanC
Q urge me to lose no time, and l shall only d.
Law until my horse can recruit for the balanC
of my ride In fast, but for the incident {
Q finding the unfortunate lady in the creek,
r should have continued on the road withol
consulting my comfort 80 far"
n "Will you tell me how you happened upo
o the adventure, and how you account for th
lady's wound and present condition.
: The traveller gave brief account of Il
4 events, without, however, throwing any igl
j., upon his own identity or business.
o &c May ask your name, I" inquired Il
host, whom we Will introduce to the reader
Mr.. Thornton, or Squire Thornton, as he wi
dubbed by his neighbors in honor Of his beir
!, justice of thep peace.
Ne al beg pardon for the misconstructio
l. NV name Is Gaspard Durer, o short while sin
81 soldier in the French service. Do you g
s. anything in my appearance or anything ell
n about this case which justi6es you in inter-
n eating me officially ?"
"a Until one who is found with body th
err has been murdered or dangerously assault
y has accounted satisfactorily for his presen
Sc there, there is legal suspicion fixed up
al him."
IN "If must be detained to satisfy the law
IF yield to the annoyance with as little impatier
We as possible where the officer Of the law ex
ID cises his duties 80 courteously."
st After few more remarks were passed, [
Nv squire babe his son Eddie conduct the gent
man to his room and see him well provided
the night.
On After the traveller had left, the vagrant g
&c fingered. Shifting his hat restlessly but n