South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-06-01
New Series lS-NO. III.

u""u nitoAy uuu pCeote u on. nc
roadway was poor, marrow and rough
aud difficult even in full daylight II
was almost impossible in the intense
darkness. More than once Mabel
stumbled over tho various obstruc.
tons. and their progress at best was
but slow.
o teacher, these is dreadful woods =
the little girl exclaimed. Ma says
che wouldn't go through them after
dark Cor thousand dollars, houest
and truc!'
They arc very dark now said Su.
san; 'b1t you sec we are half way al
ready, and there 10 nothing to fear.
You will soon be at home
The child gave a litilc cry of alarm.
tDoh'tyOu henr that, tcachcrY Some
one is following us =
The sound OF rapid footsteps behind
them We're now plainly 10 be heard
Susan listened for an instant 10 the
sharp resonance which schoetf through,
the forest; heard the person stumb-
ling over the obstructions, but never
abating his swift pace. 'Instinctively
she qoickcned her own movements.
She could, feel the little hand i'm her
OWE trcmblc with mortal terror, & the
child pleaded 30 aro .1ao. - 3
DO, please, run, teacher he is
comingn F.'h tti. htag =
l do not know why Susan, at that
moment, should have lost her pres
encc of mind, but so it seemed, and
at the solicitation. OF the child che
broke into a rut, rs rapid as the cir.
cumstances would admit. The worst
OF the way had now been passed, and
the road, tolerabIy smooth, led up a
long hill. ut the summit OF which, q
quarter of a mile away, was n clear.
ing in which stood Mabel's homo.
Nearer came the footballs behind
Notwithstanding the excrtious made
by the frightened pair, for it must
be confessedthat at this time the fright
was not Confined to ore. The frequent
reports OF terrible crimes in such re-
mote localities would come into Su.
san s mind, aud the horror of those
very woods among the residents could
not be quite ignored. $500
Her strength was falling, and the
child was declaring piteously that she
could not go another step, but Miss
Rodgers saw the stars once more
through an opening in the trees ahead
OF her, and she nerved herselffor one
final struggle. Catching Mabel in
her arms as they emerged from the for
eat, she stumbled rather than ran no
the path to Mr.. Burt's door, and de.
posted the gasping little girl safe in
her grandtather's arms. Cries of q
larm and anxious inquiry went up
for all in the room at the unceremo-
nlous entrance.
We were frightened by some per.
son following us through the woods
Susan gasped, as she dropped into u
chair. Il am sure / don't know why
l should have been 80 alarmed
a sharp knock at the door cut short
her closing words. D
Let me go!' said brawuy Grandpa
Burt. braciDg his ponderous frame tri-
hs as no swung the door ajsr. HE wife
was close behind him, bearing o lighted
candle. a aar =,
A well.dressod young man, with O
smile upon his face. wac the applicant.
L am looking for Miss Rodgers: I
Was told l should end her here be said.
Susan heard that voice. and she would
have recognized it anywhere this side
the grave Before G. sturdy flrmef
could mako reply she had darted past
him and was ciasped in tho arms OF the
transer4-stranger to them ,bu. the dear.
est one OF earth to her! a .t
" Arthur, you are free at llst!' she
cried, when the frat words of recogpi.
ton nsd been spoken.
Yes, thank God an free and vim
dictated! L am n man among men once
more, and now | have como for you ..
Dader the starlight they walk cd away
WITH none to hear The words they would
say, a1d then Arthur Westan TODD her
the glad tidings-hos q desperado who
had boen wounded to death confessed
the craze for which the innocent Arthur
bad been convicted. and thus the prison
door BAD boon opened and tie good
name OF the wroDged youth restored.
And l am sure, dear Susie he said.
that you will not wish to stay in this
wretched region another day +
But later on, when she had tod him
Of her work among. the poor and dis
tressed OF the community, and tue few
days That remained oflife N Ruth Mark
ham her interest in the cIosinl, days of
tao little school, now so near it's end.
and her wish TO linIsh her duties there.
and Der ILLUSTRATIONS beside tho bed
of hes dying friend, Arthur would have
been untrue TO himself had he not en-
10 ed into the spirit Of her purposes.
'In your own time. Susie, doar,' be
sail. 4 have waited long for this day.
md when your work here is done I shall
claim you.'
Before tie fow remaining DAYS OF
school bad passed. Roth Markham had
ilet, s~eetIy, trustingly; and rheo the
'arewells between teacher and scholars
we're GnalIy spokCn. IL was an event TO
i've ever IN the memory Of the lauar.