Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-07-13

of fresh baked pie, or a slice of her ia.
nous home made cake, and without
stopping to think drew in old Pomp'G
relh.
care you going towards Lenox Cross
Roads?" said l.
"Yes."
"Then jump in; I'm going In that
direction TOO, and will be glad to give
yon lift"
He thanked me in a silent, dropping
sort of way and seated himself on the
board at the back of the wagon, TO-
ward which pointed with the handle
of my whip.
''YOu look ILL.,"
81 am not i'll, )" he said with q smoth-
cred cough. "Only tired with my long
walk. | didn't know it was 80 far TO
Lenox."
II suppose you are going for work."
said |. deacon Briefly has good
many hands now in his tobacco facto-
ry."
NO." said he, "I'm not going to
worA."
l asked no more questions. l did
not like the idea of q man shrouding
himself in mystery in that sort of a way
AMI, as if glanced around once more
a sudden revelation came across me
like blaze of light.
1t was the same man who eyed
me so keenly on the steps of the Park
Hotel.
remembered my mothers words
of caution, Leeman'S reiterated exhor-
tations, and the landlord 8. friendly
words of warning.
And in spite of all, had deliberate.
ly thrust my silly head into the Jaws
of danger. There was only one thing
for me to do-to get out of the scrape
as well as l could.
cast about in my mind how 80 do
this; and presently with beating heart
dropped parcel OF blue ribbon into
the road.
30" cried checking up Pomp,
give dropped my parcel. Would you
mind getting out after it?"
"Not in the least" said the stranger
and he climbed laboriously out of the
wagon.
He had scarcely set his feet on the
ground before | laid the whip on Pomp
with will, and ratified away over the
long straight road at pace that
seemed perfectly marvellous to me and
Pomp both.
So we left our passenger behind in
the middle Of Red swamp.
l could 500 him standing there, blank
and astonlshed, the sole picture in the
long perspective; ventured to look
back; but only whipped Pomp the
harder, and never lot him ouce stop
his pace until we were out OF the Red
Swamp
give outgeneraled him." said I to
myself, "and I've saved Leeman 1874,
but am sorry about the blue ribbon;
but it was only yard and quarter
after all, and can trim Lil's hat with
something else. They were delighted
at my prowess when / related my ad-
venture at home. Leeman declared
was capital little market woman;
mother shuddered at the desperate
tramp alone with me in the swamp; Lii
declared was heroine.
"Wasn't it good idea for Kate to
drop the blue ribbon and send him after
it ?" said she.
"Kate was a goose ever to let him
get into the wagon" said Leeman knit
ting his brow.
"Kate must not go by herself any
more such long distance" said her
mother.
And drank my cup of tea and rest |
ed myself, and went out atterward to
see the new brood of darling little vel |
low chicks which Old Speckle had /
brought off the nest during my absence.
was on my knees in the hen house,
feeding them from the palm of my
hand, when heard mother calling me
from the house.
Kate! Kate! come up at oLce. Col.
Hay has arrived"
Col. Hay!'
l started up, looking with bland dis
may at my calico dress and the meal
stains on my hands.
However, there was nothing for it |
but to obey the summons; 80 went |
up to the house.
A sort of blurr seemed to come be.
fore my eyes rs l entered the sitting
room and heard mother saying:
''COl Hay, this is my eldest daughter
Kate.
And then the blurr cleared away,
and l knew the man had twice kefyre
seen that day the pale, tired traveller
whom l had 80 recklessly abandoned
in the middle of the Red swamp.
81 beg your pardon Col. Hay"
cried impulsively. 81 thought you were
a thief"
The burst of laughter that burst from
every inmate of the room effectually
scattered all embarrassment,
That was my adventure.
Col. Hay has long since forgiven me
that unkind desertion of him. In tact,
this is quite private and confidential,
mind; we are to be marie soon, and
am going with him to Florida, to try
the effects of southern climate on his
health"
"That is all. Isn't that eDough?"