The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-01-25

BY JUDGE JARVIS.

which lay along the hills Ut the pase VI 'no
Blue Ridge mountains, in the region known as
the Piedmont of Virginia, about the sources
of the Rappahsnnock river.
The man himself might be described In the
same language as far as 1t would apply. BE-
yond this his age was about 20, his hair brown
and full in lock, his eye of grayish blue.
His way quickly brought the traveller to
stream now running over its banks. slipping
easily from his saddle, he frightened the girtns'
sackened the crupper, and, gently patting his
animal, addressed few affectionate words 10
him. Remounting, he fixed himself firmly IN
the saddle gathered his bride in manner 70
impart to his companion his own energy ana
determination, and moved into the creek.
Turning up the stream, no proceeded Tor
about q hundred yards along the bank, and
then struck boldly across in direct line, with
the horses head slanted up current. The
depth of the water did not sensibly increase In
the course of eighty yards, and the stranger
was congratulating himself upon the probable
ity of getting over without wetting, when
the animal in two steps increased the depth
until he could no longer hold his footing, and
sprung boldly into the middle Of deep, rush
ing channel In an instant the rider had seized
the name of the horse in his left hand, and
slipped smoothly out of the saddle to the lower
side, where he tioated along.
Man and beast battied bravely with the Hood
| for moment when the former was startled to
feel the horse finch aud turn with terrified
snort down the current Aquick jerk upon the
LEI .-o... 10 htif
pause in the precipitate course Of the beast, but
In that instant the stranger became aware OF
another presence by the touch OF clammy OBJ
! ject against his hand.
Raising his head above the neck OF the
charger, he saw dimly outlined upon the wav-
| ing and shmmering surface dark and unde-
Enable object. The next moment the desperate
plunges OF the beast had obstructed his vision,
when, with the self command of one accus-
toned and neryed to the hardship Of athletic
sports ana soldiers danger, he swung his leg
over the back of his animal and gathered him
| self into his saddle.
Reaching out nand he was about to seize
the object Of his horror, when it exposed the
CHASTITY features Of a 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 1t above the water
upon 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 strug-
giles of the animal cheated the turgd 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
| ell oil. Anti NJ tho mica MI
the dress, he pressed his hand against the
heart and found it still warm.
! His efforts to rosuscitate her were soon re-
warded, and. after q few moments, the woman
made al attempt to speak, which resulted,
! however, only III q moaning cry.
At this point he began 10 look for other as
sistance, when he observed light upon the
| hill above the creek. Once more raising the
body to the pommel of his 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.
"What's this ?" said the one who was assisting
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
small portion Of it being administered, the
woman indicated an increased vitality by
broken gurgle. This, after while, gave way
to clearer articulation, in which, however, only
| syll&bles were emitted. 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 hair from her
brow, noticed clot of blood upon the wet skin
OF his finger; rubbing 1t off, he found no trace
OF wound.
'She must be bleeding!" he calculated !;
"see If there il o cut anywhere"
An examination soon revealed a chastity
wound, an ugly, gaping abrasion upon the
behind the temple. The locks were matted
over it. aud the blood still oozed slowly from
it's mouth.
Pending tine arrival Of doctor, the stranger
clipped the hair from around the wound, aud,
after bathing il with feminine tenderness, he
gave the patient over to the charge of the ladies
Of the house who were in attendance.
81 presume you are the host, sir" said he,
at once, addressing the elder OF the two. "If
you will be kind enough to let me have bed,
until can rest for an hour or so and dry my
clothing, 1 shall resume my journey under great
obligation 70 you. Matters OF Importance urge
me to lose no time, and shall only delay until
my horse can recruit for the balance Of my
ride. In fact, but for the incident OF finding
the unfortunate lady in the creek, should
have continued on the road without consulting
my comfort so far"
"Wil you tell me how you happened upon
the adventure, and how you account for the
ladys wound and present condition."
The traveller gave q brief account of the
events, without, however, throwing any light
upon his own identity or business.
May / ask your name, RI" 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.
al beg pardon for the misconstruction. NV
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 justi6es you in interrogatinR
me officially?"
"Until one who is found with BODY that
has been murdered or dangerously assaulted
has accounted satisfactorily for his presence
there, there is legal suspicion fixed upon
him."
eff must be detained to satisfy the law, I
yield to the annoyance with az little impotence
as possible, where the officer OF the law exer-
cises his duties 80 courteously."
AFTER a few more remarks were passed, the
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