Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-06-10


ing behind my chair had not, only
two short hours ago, planned to take
my husbands life.
How l got through know not,
but the meal was over at last. Still
| could do nothing until Delaney
left the house and started on his
deadly errand. My plan was this:
When he had gone | intended to
go down to the stable, get the horse
and ride to Col. Arbuthnot's, trying
to reach it before Lionel had started
on his way home.
1t was daring step, but the only
chance ; lonely and isolated, we
were miles from any town, and no
help was possible. / should have
to ride hard, and, to avoid being
discovered and stopped, 1 must
make a long round, which would
take me many miles out of my
way. At last the time to act had
come. Delaney must have started
long ere this, and the servants
would be at supper. The clock was
striking nine as / left the room.
Going up strairs quickly, 1 put on
my habit and stepped out.
1t was a clear, bright night, with
the moon rising over the dark tree
tops, and shining coldly on the
glossy evergreens, casting ghOstly,
weird shadows across the path. /
reached the yard and saw, to my
alarm, a light in the harness room.
Without taking time to hesitate or
think, / advanced softly and peep
ing in saw, TO my great relief, that
it was only the stable boy engaged
in rubbing up the harness. Open
ing the door, Istood before the as
tonished lad, who gaZed with wide
open eyes as though / had been an
apparition.
"Christie," I said, "saddle Rifle
man as quickly as possible. Iwant
him."
"Sure, ma'am, you're not going
out tonight ?''
"Yes, [ am. Quick-don't stand
there talking, but do as I tell you."
Burning with impatience, I
watched him getting out Rifieman,
and then, as L was about to mount,
catching sight of the wonder and
surprise on Christie's face, an idea
struck me, and sending him back in
the stable on some preteXt, / locked
the door and took the key. No one
knew where / was; it would be a
long time before he could make
himself heard no matter how loud
ly he called, for the yard was long
way from the house. In another
minute I was on Rifieman and can
tering swiftly down the avenue and
out on the open road. "Rifleman,"
1 said, stroking his glossy neck, sit
rests with you to save your master.
You must do your best for the time
is short"
Away we went, keeping well in
the shadow of the trees which Skin
ted the road the soft grass muff1ed
the sound of the horses hOOfs, and
faster, yet faster, urged Rifieman
to his topmost speed, for what if l
were already too late? The moon
was nearly high in the heavens,
and / knew the hour was rapidly
approaching. 1t was ride for life,
and on we rode with fearful rapid
ity.
What if Lionel were on his way
already. Oh, for strength to keep
up a little longer! The entrance
gates at Col. Arbuthnot's stood wide
open, and with hope in my heart, l
galIoped up to the house. The door
was opened by the Colonel himself,
who hurried out in great alarm.
"My husband-is he here ?' L
gasped.
"No; he has just left-not more
than ten minutes ago, think but
what has happened ?"
"Too late! too Iate!" l cried.
"They have killed him Oh, Lion
ell, Lionel"
They tried to stop me, but 1 broke
away; there might be time yet, if |
rode hard and fast. My horse
might die in the attempt-what
it? 1t was life or death,
now; and away again, laundering
down the avenue [ went, needless
of cries and entreatieS to come
back.
Stopping one moment to listen, l
heard far ahead the rumbling sound
of wheels; it seemed to endOW me
with new life and strength TO keep
up, to struggle little longer but
poor Rifeman Was almost done for.
He still labored on, answering whip
and rein to the last.
Gathering up all my energies for
a last effort, urged Rifleman once
more to gallOp, and, sweeping
around a corner saw, with Wild
gleam of joy and hope, my hus-
bands dog-cart slowly ascending
long steep hill, right in front, the
foot of which on the other side was
the spot where the murderers were
in waiting. Every yard of ground
was of value now.
/ tried to call out, but only fee
BILE cry escaped my lips; and still
with kind of strength and
determination born of despair,
pushed on, till suddenly all grew
dim and indiStinct. / was conscious
only of a great and terrible darkness
rising and hiding lny husband from
my sight; struggling on blindly
with outstretched hands 1stagger-
ed a few steps, and then with a last
wild wall of "LioneI-Lionel !" fell
senseless upon the earth--my last
thought, my last desire being to
save him. Was it all in vain?
X X
When 1 opened my eyes again, I
found myself in a cottage, in the
bright glare of fire, with a crowd
of eager and frightened sympathiz-
ers around, and Lionel bending,
white and anxious, over me. 1t
was enough to know that he was
safe-to cling tightly to him and
feel his strong, protecting arms
around me-and weak, tired and
exhausted l tainted again.
1t had been very narrow escape
after all. Lionel had just reached
the top of the long hill when he
heard my cry, and driving hastily
back, had found me, to his great
lying insensible, and
Rifieman standing beside me. Pres
emily, Col. ArbuthnOt, who had fol-
lowed in hot haste, had come up,
and they had carried me into the
cottage, wondering greatly what it
meant. And l told my story. =
Had / been minute later, in all
probability L should never have
heard his voice again.
Delaney waited in vain that night,
and whether he guessed or suspect
ed that mis- plot had been discovered
was not known, for ere morning
had daWned he fled and succeeded
in making his escape from the coun-
try. Lionel and Col. Arbuthnot
did all they could to have him
brought to justice, but in vain-he
was never heard of.