The Osceola times., 1881-02-05
CHAPTER ".

Mossop uttered an oath. "And she
got into the Winchester pike by that
gap" he said. "She's on the rail by this
time"
"Ycs," said the lieutenant, thought
fully. That is precisely the route a per-
son flying from c would be likely to
take. 1t would be very improbable that
she would jog along in this slow coach.
I'm sorry for you. Lost much?"
"Only five thousand" with an awk-
ward laugh. "The bishops in for ten!
He lent it to her for the great charity.
Mortgagcd his farm. By George, she
was clever creature! Well Sharrard,
what do you say to supper? ] can do
nothing, tonight, and I'm wet and
frozen. Won't you take something to
warm you, sir, before you start again?''
turning to the lieutenant. "Iou will not
reach n until daybreak."
The lad hesitated, turning his bright,
laughing eyes on Mossop doubtfully,
stroking his luxuriant brown beard,
which covered half his face "Well, |
don't care if | do. Punch, landlord,
strong and hot
He stood outside of the door, while the
glasses were brought; tossed of the bump
tl, anu liltll' DullblllllS MS Nlpuh,
into the coach.
Goodnight to you all" he cried, "and
good luck to you, Mossop. May you run
la Baronne' TO earth before long"
That's saucy young fellow" said
Perley. 81 wonder where | met him?
In New Orleans, probably The town
was full Of dashing young blades of this
sort last winter"
Mossop had lost his five thousand dol
lars; but he enjoyed the cosy little sup
per which followed more than |. had
iost-what had | lost? Nothing but a
voice, the acquaintance of an hour; vet il
seemed to me that it was the solid hope
and happiness Of my whole life. | told
myself that | was a sentimental fool that
my fancy for this unseen woman might
become a silly schoolboy; but my heart
cried out underneath, "Thisis fact. This
is reality, not your drudgery, not the
money YOU hoard This was the true
water OF life, and you have lost it. 1t is
gone forever"
At times, too, another torture beset
me. ! was an honest man. In all my
life ] had never wronged a man of PEN
ny. Tonight had assisted in felony.
| had helped thief carry off poor Mos
sop's hardly earned thousands out of a
mawkish compassion. Then Itold my
self passionately, that she was no thief,
that this woman, whose voice | had
heard, was honorable and pure.
1t was a wretched, sleepless night. As
for my estate, | seldom remembered it,.
Mossop, however, awoke full Of eager
ness to show me over it.
The money is gone, ! suppose" he
said 81 have written to Winchester to
have her apprehended, if possible. In
the meantime | should like to ride with
You over to the The Pines if you are
willing. We will call ON Chester, by the
way. He was your cousins attorney, and
it would only be proper act of courtesy,
eh2'
assented, and we rode across the val
lev Even the heavy snow could not
hide the beauty of the landscape.
"In summer this must be bit of Ar
cadia," | said. "And is that my place
yonder?" pointing to a gray, gabled man
sion, on lofty slope, surrounded by
gnarled oaks.
"Yes, that is The Pines Here we
man at the door. Come in," opening the
gate.
We rode up the avenue. The lawyer,
a stately, white-haired, old gentleman, in
a very snuffy waistcoat, received me cor
daily, and oyercame my prejudice and
embarrassment at once, by going directly
to the essential point between us.
"Mr. sharrard? The new owner of
The Pines% All, Mr.. Sharrard, the gos-
sips of c. have told you, no doubt,
that my little girl was to have taken that