Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-29
DORA'S ADVENTURE

ant visit, and be glad TO turn YOUR face
homeward again when it's over. Things
won't seem natural without vou''
"Thanks, Frank. I've no doubt both
of your wishes will come true" and with
bright smile at the young man, and
kiss of her hand to his mother, who stood
In the farmhouse door watching them,
Dora rode off upon her pet SNOWFALL.
She was an orphan; but she had never
known the want of mothers love and
care. Her sweet baby face had won the
heart of the wealthy Widow Omar, who.
with her only son, Frank, lived at tic
substantial homestead which had been in
the Omar family for generations, and
which was surrounded by the broad acres
of as fertile and valuable farm as could
be found in the West.
Frank Omar was boy of ten when
his mothed adopted baby Dora, and from
the momenr of her entrance into the fami-
ly he had taken the winsom child for his
special pet. fhe reddest apple, the dew
lest bunch OF grapes, the first cluster of
nuts sent rafting down from its leafy
covert by the biting breath of the frost
king-all must be Dora's. AS the two
grew older an attachment for each other
had sprung up in each tender young
heart. although as yet they were still
lingering III that delightfully."- border
land of uncertainty which ever proceeds
the full glory of loves perfect day, even
as the dawn heralds in that sunlight
which gilds with splendor the misty
landscape.
Dora had been invited to Hill Farm to
spend few days, and as it was quiet,
peaceable neighborhood which lay be-
tween the two places, it had been consid-
cred perfectly safe for her to take the
Quincy by herself upon horseback. Her
way lay along country attractive from
its rural beauty First, for about mile
a piece of woodland skirted the road on
either side. 1t then emerged into an
open, swampy space, divided in the CEN
tel by pond It was harmless look
ing sheet of water as it lay this morning
basking in the sunshine; but as Snowball's
hoofs struck with dull thud upon the
planks of the rustic bridge which had
been thrown across 1t, Dora shuddered
Involuntary. 1t was 9uicksand, and
had proved fatal to life in several instare.
cs, SO the tradition ran, and the place
bore bad name. 1t was haunted, the
country-folk said. Any way, Dora was
glad when she had crossed it and struck
into the mountainous path which she
was to follow until she she reached Hill
Farm. 1t was picturesque route, Dor
dered by signing, shadowy pines, land d.
versifed by babbling rills, which dashed
in white foam from the overhanging
rocks, now srd then subduing their
songs to gentle ripping accompaniment
to the patter Of Snowball's hoofs along
the. road, so Dora thought-for the girl
was full OF romance. and her heart was
so fully attuned to Natures mysterious
whispers that every sound carried Its
meaning to her soul.
At last she reached Hill Farm. She
received warm welcome from her young
friends, Flora and Belle Irksinc, and it
seemed that the specified time set for her
visit passed on wings, so soon came around
the day for her return. She was urged
to prolong her stay, but knowing that
she would be expected home, and that
her non-arrival would cause anxiety. she
was firm in her refusal to remain over
the appointed time.
The hours wore on until nearly nj ght-
fall, however, before she mounted the
impatient SNOWFALL, who had been
whinnying to her young mistress for
several hours, evidently thinking it a
grand mistake to be tied to post so
long in mute expectancy of start
home, without having the slightest at
tention paid to her wants meanwhile.
But at last all was in readiness for a
start, and with gay 'good-bys," the girl
started on her journey. Flora and her
brother Henry accompanied her to the
end of tn mountain pass. Then they
turned back, and touching Snowfall
lightly with the whip, Dora was soon
carried along like the wind. A happy
smile was on her red rosy lips as she
murmured, almost unconsciously, the
words of a song. Just as she reached
the swampy space which l have spoken
of, her saddle began to slip, and she dis
mounted to fix it.
AS she did so a tall figure rose from its
crouching position beside the roadside
and crept silently up behind her. Draw
ing a leather strap from his pocket, ne
struck SNOWFALL savage blow with it.
The frightened animal snorted, reared
wildly, and then started off on a mad
run. In another moment she was out of
sight.
Dora turned and saw dark, malig-
nant face, the expression of whose bale
full eyes made her heart stand still. It
belonged to huge negro, who had been
discharged from the farm few weeks
before for misconduct, and who had gone
away vow1ng vengence. Since that time
nightly watch had been kept upon the
out buildings lest he might make his
threats good by some act ofincendiarism;
but no thought OF personal danger had
entered their minds.
Now, however, as Dora met his su.l len,
yet triumphant look, she felt intuitively
that her life hung 10y thread. She was
alone with him, and unprotected. Even
ing had already hung her dusky veil over
surrounding objects, and The noon,
whose silver crescent was showing its
timid light from behind a passing cloud,
gave but more dismal appearance to
the spot, with its weired atmosphere of
l. h.