Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1881-07-27

} NAL his rage became ungoyernable
"Give it to me instantly or I'll kill
you !" he Kissed through his clenched
teeth.
Nora uttered faint cry and turned
20 flee, but the mans hand gripped her
like wise, and, with a shudder, she felt
the cold muzzle of a pistol pressed
against her temple!
With the quickness of a flash anoth-
er figure appeared upon the scene, and
! two well-directed blows, delivered in SO
quick succession that they must have
seemed to their recipient as one, sent
Nora's assailant sprawling to the earth.
She was conscious of no more till she
found herself supported by strong
arm with the dim outlines Of an anX-
ious face bent over her.
"Do you feel better, Miss Bryson?
inquired voice, which she instantly
recognized as that of the new hand,
yes, feel quite well now" she an
swercd, in a tone Of unspoken thanks.
How fortunate your presence was Mt
so critical moment =
II heard what your father said about
/ the money! he replied, "and observed
that it was overheard by the suspicious
looking person passing out ut the gate,
and, knowing the way You were TO come,
thought it prudent, without alarming
others, to keep watch for your safety
"How can ever sufficiently thank
vou?' returned Nora, earnestly, only
now remembering to dispense with the
support of Mr.. Dyer's arm, Of which,
for at least minute past. she had
ceased to have any need.
1t was at this point that Farmer
Bryson came busting up.
Let me secure the villain !! he
cried, when Nora and George Dyer
had told their brief story.
But the robber, whom Dyer'~ fist had
temporarily stunned, had taken adj
vantage of Nora's swoon, and her de-
liverer's consequent occupation, to
quietly steal awav-af fact which greatly
cxasperated the farmer, who was forced
to vent his displeasurc in angry NUT
terings and vigorous fourishc- Of his
cudgel.
George Dyer grew rapidly in favor
with all the members of the farmers
family, and not least with Nora. In
deed, she and the new hand got on IA
mously together Nora, though far
mer's daughter, had a mind better
trained and better stored with know
ledge than many a boarding school grad
ate, and George Dyer, though farm
laborer, seemed to have been an exten-
Sive and thoughtful reader--so that
there was wide field of subjects for
the two to converse about. History,
fiction, poetry-they discussed them all
by turns; and, we may be sure, IN
their numerous evening walks and talks,
they found time to speak of other mat
tiers of more immediate personal con-
Germ.
George Dyer had been staying on
the place nearly three months when
Hiram Gooch, whose farm joined her
fathers came out plump and plain one
day, and asked Nora would she be his
wife-to which Nora as plumply and
plainly answered that she wouldn't.
At the first knowledge Of this the
farmer was little vexed. Not that
he thought Nora and Hiram particular
" suited to each other, but then the Two
farms were, and Nora was an only child,
But Farmer Bryson was far too kind u
father to think of forcing his daughter s
inclinations.
IF Nora dosent want you for hus-
band,' he said to Hiram, when the
latter laid the case before him, 81 don't
sec how I'm to help YOU
And when Hiram limited at the eX-
tent Of fathers authority i'll the mat
ter of family government, the farmer
answered that, since the Declaration of
Independence, he thought there were a
good many things in which family gov
eminent, like other governments, de-
rived its Just power from the consent
Of the governed
1t was hut little while after that
another sutton for Nora's hand pre-
scented himself before the farmer-no
other, this time, than George Dyer, the
new hand.
The farmer opened his eyes pretty
widely.
Have YOU spoken to Nora?" he en-
quired.
Il have"
"And what's her answer
"a consent, subject to your approx
al"
) The farmer drew long breath auc
looked grave.
Margins serious business, hi
remarked. "Now, you bein' only 2
hired hand, is it goin' TO far to ask how
you expect TO support wife :?
Il have no misgivings on that score,
, replied the young man, with what The
! farmer thought an air of over conf
, dence.
1t turned out that he was wealthy
young man in disguise, and referred t
Mr.. Wrayton, the banker, who wrote {
letter in his favor.
/ Whats this, you dog?" exclaimed
the farmer, as the letter dropped iron
his excited fingers. "Ned Wraytoi
[ says you're his nephew, worth half
million of your own, besides what he
coin 10 leave you, and that he know