Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-12-13

Involuntary parti but he thought OF I
10 wonder, instead OF fear,
The line he had been singing raI
through his mind-"TheR 10 taxi
whatever the gods may send "-ant
the full force Vt his position, regarded
as Z iudieIOus eOmmeRt on the seRll
ment II expressed, burst upoh him
10 have saved his life he eeuldh't haV,
helped it-hs laughed out loud
"YOu Internal fool |" Kissed one o.
ths men 10 his ear, "ihls isn't funny
even II you think So"
III know IT," answered Guy "it'i
q very solemn and serious affair, But
why don't you take NY money and
watch al once, and lot me- goi"
ave don't want yOuFfnpney aht
watch, man We've money and
watches enough, without going hunt
Ing Tor them On such 4 night as this
What VIC want Is = man, We want
your
They walked for a while In a com
paratively open road they turned
aside into q narrow path later, AZ
length they climbed a stile and entered
ah Enclosure,
The dim light Of the stormy night
was enough 10 show white and iRdls'
tincl masses here and there, Guy
recognized them as monuments and
headstoRes, They had entered q
cemetery,
A walk OF quarter Of an hour
really that. but seemingly lOngeF-had
carried them into what Guy felt was q
particularly desolate and retired part
Of this desOlate and retired place,
They made q turn In an avenue
which was closely hedged with ever
green, and q strange scene lay before
them.
A half.dOzen lanterns stood on the
ground or hung from the trees, In
the space thus lighted group Of six
men and one woman stood near a large
and handsome monument, The woman
was wrapped In long cloak and was
heavily yelled, Her arms were bound
10 her sides,
She stood In detected attitude. lean.
Ing against the monument, Guy Cfaw.
ford could believe she was crying from
the way her head was BENT but her
face was concealed from even tho
slightest view,
one old gfay.haifed man, with q
frightened face. stood near her; his
hands. too. were bound, The rest Of
tho men were free. were disguised,
some OF them with masks, and were NJ
well'armed ~ the two who had cap.
tured Guy,
One Of tho captorS held Guy Ciaw.
ford, while the other stepped across
the lighted space TO tho man who
seemed to DO tho chief. The leader
made an impatient movement, and
said something In u tone so low that
no one but the men TO whom no spoke
could hear II, lle was evidently angry.
The man answered In u louder tone;
"Not the right manY How was |
TO know ! wouldn't have supposed
more than one man would DO tramp
Ing about the country on such q night
except no was well paid for II, This
fellow came along shouting some nom
sense about taking what the gods
sent, and We took him ut his word,
you see. and took him."
The leader laughed--a low, stifled
laugh II was; q laugh that was shut
In by the disguise which covered his
face-but II showed that something
had pleased him.
lie spoke again, and as low as be-
fore; and the impatient man with him
answered:
"lIe'll do, you say9 ! should hope
so. Why, l wouldn't 60 hunting
through this black night for another
one for tiwce the pay you oirer!'
The leader spoke again and the man
before him nodded and turned away.
lie spoke loud enough for all to hear:
Whoever fails to do what he Is or
dered tonight will not have Il chance
to disobey orders again In this world"
To the woman he said:
"You know this placer 1t is your
fathers grave"
Her head was bowed and remained
bent lower than before.
He turned to the old man.
"You know the girlp Youpreached
at his funeral who lies here"
~ know her. I knew him. You
are right" he said
Morning again. Rain still falling,
bat a break in the clouds low down in
the eastern sky almost let's the sun
light through.
The party who have made the past
night mystery are mounted now-all
but Guy Crawford. The two cap
tives are captives still-he alone is
free. The one who has been spokes-
man during the night turns to him as
they are ready to move off.
GAS our way lies east this morn
ing, yours lies west. You may go first.
Never cross the path of any of us again,
and be thankful in what the gods sent
you last night there was hope for you.
Be thankful for life this morning"
CHAPTER II.
IT, Ia a heautiful morning Fall has