River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-04-07

Carlos was only proving himself true to
my former teachings-only carrying
out the principles of honor and faith
| fulness which | had so carefully i'm
| pressed upon him in the days of his
puppyhood
He had accompanied his young mis-
tress to the trysting oak-had seen her
! deposit paper in the hollow, and had
remained to guard it, as in duty bound
with his life or with the life of the rash
person who should attempt to appro-
| propriate it.
Here, indeed, was dilemma. There
in the hollow of the tree, lay the mo-
mentus letter awaiting me. and here al
its foot, sat the dog, resolved that
should not possess it.
looked at his neck and sinewy bow
legs. and at his stupid, obstinate bull
head and sharp white teeth, and felt
/ that it would be dangerous to face him
and yet the letter | must have.
/ In an egony of suspense and anxiety
4 took view of the situation. The
stout lower branches of the oak spread
to great extent, and overlopped with
those of another not far from where
| stood. | saw the advantage thus af
fOrded me and lost no time in mount
ing the gnarled trunk of this latter tree
and scrambling along the branches in
to the other. Then, swinging myself
down the lowest limb, supported by
one hand tan acrobatIc feat which
had as boy often practiced), l thrust
the other into the hollow and drew
forth the precious note.
Don Carlos had at first stupidity
watched my proceedings, apparently
under the conviction that | had retired
from the field But no sooner did he
perceive what were my real in
tentions than he set up an Internal howl
ing, while he sprang wildly about at
the foot of the tree.
Thrusting the unopened note into
my breast-pocket, was about to COM
mence my retreat, when Isuddenly be-
came aware of two persons hastily APP
preaching through the shrubbery. Then
| heard voices.
I'm thiRkin', your honor, it mough'
be fox"
"No doubt" sareastically. II see
him up in the tree yonder. After a
goose, and caught in trap"
Wull | shoot, yer honor"
My blood run cold. 1t was old
Squire Wingfeld, attended 10y his park
keeper.
Hello" | shouted; don't shoot"
They advanced to the tree, and the
squire, with very red face, glanced
up at me.
II say, sir, roared he, "what bust
ness has brought you here? How dare
you trespass upon my property
| stammered something about the
dog not allowing me to pass.
The dog was right, sir-quite right !
He knew you were a trespasser and a
poacher What is to prevent my hand
ing YOU over to the county authorities
as such p
"You can do as you please about
that At present, Oblige me by calling
off that brute, so that | can come
down"
The keeper seized the dog by the
neck, while | descended the tree with
as much dignity us was possible under
the circumstances, but greatly to the
detriment of my fancy sporting habiil-
ments, the squire meanwhile glaring at
me vindictively.
| will not repeat what he said. I'm
der other circumstances | might have
resented it but, in the triumphant
consciousness of my present secret adj
vantage over him | felt that | could
afford to be magnanimOus. In few
hours | should be out of his reach, and
in legal possession of his niece and her
fortune.
| therefore contented myself with
quietly walking off, and, on reaching
the park pales, drawing forth my
handkerchief and smilingly waving it
toward him in a graceful parting adieu.
saw Don Carlos spring toward me,
and heard him dash against the pales
on one side rs | reached the ground on
the other.
Pausing at safe and secluded spot,
/ FASTENED to produce the note upon
upon which so much depended. |
searched my breast-pocket in vain; and
then the appalling certainty broke upon
me that the note was lost.
had drawn it out of my pocket with
my handkerchief, and it was this, as it
fell to the ground unperceived by me,
los. had given chase.
OF course it must, by this time, have
fallen into the squire's hands.
Here was Il predicament. lnez had,
i'll that note, fixed an hour for her
elopement, and would expect me to
meet her.
To warn her of what had occurred
was simply impossible. ! knew that
she would now be TOO rigidly guarded
to admit of any communication of
mine reaching her. Yet, with note
in my pocket, and in Il terrible state of
anxiety and suspense, | wandered all
the evening about the participates and
in sight of the manor house, vainly
hoping for some possible chance OF
sending 1t was quite dark, and q
chilly rain beginning to fall, ere | could
make up my mind to return to my
inn.
Even then | could not sleep. | lay
awake thinking of lnez, and listening
to the course voices, songs and laughter
of the village tOpers in the room be
low.
Suddenly there was hush, caused
apparently by new arrival, and then
| distinguished that the whole crowd
was tramping out of the room together
something unusual was the matter;
but il my perturbed and occupied
state of mind, did not trouble myself
to inquire into 1t
/ Next morning ] was met by my land
| lady with a strange story. John Hodges,
| in passing down Il secluded and little
/ frequented lane between the village and
/ the manor house, had beheld the APP
/ partition of woman suddenly start in
his pathway--a slender, white-faced
woman, wrapped in cloak, and bear
/ ing in her hands a bundle, who had
| confron ed him with the sepulchral
whisper:
is it you, dearest"
While he stood dumbfOunded with
terror, she added
II have waited an age we have not
| a moment to lose, for if they discover
my absence they will pursue me, and
| bear me back to the wretched-"
! And then, before she could conclude
! her sentence. noise was heard IN the
/ hedge, and Hodges. scared out of his
wits, had fled.
| lie had told the story mt the inn, and
all the men had gone up the lane in
search Of the woman, but failed to find
her. Some thought it must have been