Litchfield enquirer., 1878-11-28

l he staggered again, reached his hand toward the bell, but vainly, and then fell prone upor | the sofa. -1l But, alas, no providential nor accidenta hand was raised to save him, and interrupt ths l progress of this story. And when, half al hour later, Mrs. Rightbody, little alarmed and more indignant at his violation of thu doctors rules, appeared upon the threshold Mir. RightbodY lay upon the sofa, dead With hustle, with Shronging feet, with the lrruption of strangers, and hurrying to anG | fro, but, more than all, with an impulse anC emotion unknown to the mansion when its owner was in life, Mrs. Rightbody strove tc call back the vanished life but in vain. The highest medical intelligence, called from its l bed at this strange hours saw only the demon 1 stration of it's thecriea aAde year before Mir. Rightbody was dead, without doubt without mystery, ,-evens as correct mar ! should die 5; logically, and indorsed by tn, 1 highest medical authority.
 But even in the confusion, Mrs. Rightbedy managed to speed messenger to hctelegrapl office for copy of the dispatch received by Mir. Rightbody, but now missing. In the solitude of her own room, and with out a confidant, she read these words:
 :. Copy. ''To Mr. Adams Rightbody, Boston, Mass.
 "Joshua Silsbee died suddenly this morning His last request was that you should remem. Der your sacred compact with him of thirty years ago. '1SigneO SEvENTY-FouR. s'SEvENRY-FIvE." In the darkened home, and amid the formal condolements of their friends who had called to gaze upon the scarcely cold fea- lures of their late associate, Mrs. Rightbody ( was addressed to ''Seventy-four and Seventy ed the following enigmatical response
 "A horse-thief, named Josh Silsbee was lynched yesterday morning by the Vigilantes at DeadWood."
 te PART II.
 The spring of 1874 was retarded in the Cal ifornia Sierras So much so that ce1tain Eas' tern tourists who had early ventured into the Yosemite Valley, found themselves, one May morning. snow-bound against the tempestuous shoulders of Fl Capitan. So furious was the onset of the wind at the Upper Merced Canon that even so respectable a lady as Mrs Right body was fain to cling to the neck of her guide to keep her seat in the saddle: while Miss Alice, scorning all masculine assistance, was hurled against the snowy wall of the chasm. Mrs Rightbody screamed; Miss AL ice ragged under her breath, but scrambled to her feet again In silence '
 ''I told you so," said Mrs. Rightbody when her daughter had regained the saddle.
 Miss Alice shrugged her pretty shoulders scornfully. =. .,a. @
 ''You were particularly warned against go, ing into the Valley at this season." she only replied, grimly.
 Mrs. Rightbody raised her eyes inpatient ly. , ,
 ''You know how anxious was to discover your poor fathers strange correspondent, Al ice; you have no consideration.
 ''But when you hage discovered him-what then ?" queried Miss Alice.
 ''What then?"
 ''Yes. My belief is that you will find the telegram only mere business cypher. And all tilis quest mere nnnsens- !"
 'tAlice why g0u yourself thought your fa- ther's conduct that night very strange. Have you forg0UUeu?
 The young lady had not forgotten, but for some far-reaching feminine reason chose to ignore it at that moment, when her late tum- ble in the snow was still fresh in her mind
 And this woman - whoever she may be -" continued Mrs Rightbedy.
 'Hew do you know there's woman in the .case?' interrupted Miss Alice, wickedly. I fear. '
 "Hew do-I-know-there's a woman ?" slowly ejaculated Mrs. Rightbody, founder ing in the snow and the unexpected possibility of such ridiculous question. But here her guide flew to her assistance, and estopped further speech. And, indeed, grave problem was before them.
 The road that led to their single place of refuge-a cabin, half hotel, half trading, post scarce a mile away-skirted the base of the rocky dome, and passed perileusly near the precipitous wall of the valley. There was a rapid descent of hundred yards or more to this terrace like passage, and the guides paus- en for moment of consultation, coolly obliv- ious alike to the terrified questioning of Mrs Rightbody or the half-insolent independence of the daughter. The elder guide was russet- bearded, stout, and humorous; the younger was dark-bearded, slight, and serious.
 ''Ef you kin get young Bunker Hill to let you tote her on your shoulders, I'll get the Madam to hang on to me, came to Mrs. Rightbody's horrifed ears as the expression of her particular companion. @f #@f'#
 Freeze to the old gal, and don't reckon on me if the daughter starts in to play 1t alone, ]" was the enigmatical response of the younger guide.
 
 before the tive men returned to their side, that high-spirited young lady had urged her horse down the declivity. S@ @# ' :. ..'9'
 Alas, at this moment 8 gust of whirling snow swept down upon her.. There was 8 founder, misstep, afatal strain on the wrong rein, fall, a few plucky but unavailing strug- gles, and both horse and nder slid ignomin- iousle down toward the rocky shelf. Mrs. Eightbody screamed. Miss Alice, from con- fused debris of snow and ice, uplifted a vexed and coloring face to the younger guide,-a lit tie the more angrily, perhaps that she saw 8 shade of impatience on his face.
 ''Don't move, but tie one end of the 1ass' under your arms, and throw me the cther," he said quietly.
 ''What do you mean by lass'-the lasso 2' asked Miss Alice, disgustedly.
 s''Yes, ma'am." .
 ''Then why don't you say so?"
 Oh, Alice!" responsibility interpolated Mrs. Rightbody, encircled by the elder guides stalwart arm. #.ss -s.,. ...t
 Miss Alice deigned no reply, but drew the loop of the lasse over her shoulders, and let it drop to her round waist. Then she essayed to throw the other end to her guide. Dismal failurel The first fling nearly knocked her of the ledge, the second went all wild agalnst the rocky wall, the third caught in thorn bush, twenty rect DelOW Her COmpanl0nS Io6L MISS Alice's arm sunk helplessly to her side, at which signal of unqualified surrender the younger guide threw himself halfway down the slope, worked his way. to the thorn bush, hung for moment perilously over the parapet, secured the lasso and then began to pull away at his lovely burden. Miss Alice was no dead weight, however, but steadily half-scrambled on her hands and knees to within foot or two of her rescuor. At this too familiar proximity, she stood up, and leaned little stiffly against the line, causing the guide to give an extra pull, which had the lamentabie effect of landing her almost in his arms. As it was, her intel igent forehead struck his nose sharply, and, l regret to add, treating of a romantic situation, caused that somewhat prominent sign and tok- en of hero to bleed freely
 Miss Alice instantly clapped handful of snow over his nostrils. rg, Now elevate your right arm, "she said com mandingly.
 He did as he was bidden-but sulkily. :
 That congresses the artery"
 No man, with pretty woman's hand and a handful of snow over his mouth and nose, could effectively ntter a heroic sentence, nor with his arm elevated stiffly over his head as-