The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-09-19

But why should make short tale long
IN its tellingf Sunday liter Sunday p2ssed
away and on tn m al in .uccession the little
Church in the vsllsy gat cred its small con
gregation togeth into C cser ard growing
communion. The weeks glided impercepi-
bly, into months and the circle Of the minis
tef's friendship seemed 10 widen with the
suns. The orgenist, whose bright eyes aud
sweet voice aided so much, IVES not forgot
ten for the Others who came later, and many
sunny afternoon did she find company in
the long walks up the winding road, and IN
them Gordon not only learned to read his
heart Alright, but to forget her surroundings
sno 10 see his future in her every word snd
ceed, snd paint it the brighter by every flush
that frightened her clear cheeks. There the
word CT love wss spoken in the twilight of
the hills, snd The two lives blended in their
hopes ard fesrs iato one current Of love
eternal All this time, through the hot sum
mer and into the crimson autumn, the val.
ley rested in the quietness of pesca; there
came I'D the mountain side nc rumors of
projected raid, and, lulled into fsncie1
security, the men who thrived by illicit trade
grew careless and composed.
Thus il was when one afternoon lac in the
fall Gordon climbed slowly up that road
alone which led by the Cheswick cottage.
be won't forward with slow steps and with
hesrt msde heavy by foreboding,fcr re knew
well that old Tim Cheswick had never fully
trusted lin, had always despised his prOtei
SIGN 81 rkI ked It lower even than his own
precsriors mode of life, and yet he now goes
10 stk Ct him the greatest gift ofsll-!he one
thing left the old msn-his daughter. The
cAi k, weather beaten house looked doubly
lCnUcme and neglected thst day, standing
there among the rocks, and with old Tim
himself, TO perfect the picture, leaning
egsinst Its outer door and lazily smoking his
pipe. a cur dog beside him barks ssvsgely
Sc the intruder advances up the path to.
wsld them. The master looks carelessly up
ard says sulkily:
"Gcod day, psrson.'
Gordon nodded in reply. and immediately
intin sted his desire for private interview.
With slight lifting of his massive shoulders
ard quesiioning glance at him from under
bis thsggy eyebrows Cheswick led the way
into the Kitchen, The matter was soon con-
ciely stated, and a. the close, as the reverend
gentleman paused doIbtfully for the reply.
Tim brought his great clenched hand down
with crash upon the table and exclaimed
yeht meItly:
Psrfcn, I've always reckoned you a
quar- mao, but l want you TO understsu1
mat my gal don't marry no preacher. You
tear thGtl lite every word I've got to say,
al q if that be all yer wsEt ye can CO."
Gordon rose to his feet Ct the harsh words.
with q flush of anger reidening each cheek,
sLd fer Il moment the men stood there in the
iiiIle lew kitchen, looking with no. eyes into
each Cther's faces. Then, with an effort, the
he,iIg WAS conquered by strong will, and
he younger, without trusting himself to
sTesk s word, turned to the open door, and
Ltyer glancing back went ont into TIE sun
=hire. As he stepped into the barren yard,
detttute Of care or flowers. he felt halt in
DIT, III and unconscious Of surroundings, but
IL that moment his dull eyes saw something
down the mountain that brought back al
his & culties with sudden shock. A mo-
nitLt be Looked downward earnestly, aud
dor ipfsng leck into the room.
The revenue oficeri' he cried exci!e1ly.
They will te here inside of Eve minutes.
YCu inust act quickly"
Fer once in his wild life old Tim Cies-
wick WAS completely taken Of his guard, and
Gordon was quick to see his condition OF help.
iessLCss.
Get into the bushes" he said rapidly. 81
will keep them sack until you spread the
ALARM"
DO you mean It, Psrson?' Tim asked,
scsIcely creditirg his own ears"
Yes every word. Come, move quickl It
is ioI Ler sake and not yours"
81 understand that" Cneswick found time
20 Ietcri, and then stopping loR ran TO the
CIV bush,s in WHOSE cloee thiellets he disap-
pesred. Gordon, with little sigh OF pain,
walked apparently uncorc erned into the
cocryud and wait ed for the swifs-appr oach-
ing end. In his hear. for al instant there
rsged fierce COZ fret between the demands
Of duty ard love; but love proved tie strong
Or ard COZ quered. There was scsrcely s.
sound he waited; yet the man felt that
Bellies eyes we're upon him from soma crew
ice in the old house, and that Cleswick
speeding away would soon call Bald Noun
tain again to arms. Then came the swift
advance Of the party below. first toe sound OF
the ho1Ees' kco!s emitting the finty rock then
q iiDelipg Of their accoutremsnts, and close
following the body Of horsemen, riding cOm-
psctly together, swept around the edge of
the high bank, and, turning into the little
clearirg advanced straight toward the
house.
'Hullor' exclaimed the man riding ahead
suddtE liz, refining in his horse as he caught
sight Of Gordon. 81 say, stranger, where's
cid mcn Cheswick2"
Ill uOb btii tAhNht1s Who sAo foAiOSs'J
ool T. ply, for the reverend understood that
tie OF ly thing he could hope TO do was in
gaining time.
Wei, where do you suppose ne is?"
thpndeTed The man.
Probably somewhere upon section
known in the aliases Of this region as AID
Mountsin," and the speaker looked the lesd-
er in the eye.
"See here now" tho latter said, cit don't
ray TO fool with us, you know. We are Of
fctTs. Of the law, and We want Cheswics.
Do YOU Know where he is?
mo, do rot" with emphasis. "Whsn l
saw him lust he WAS going towa-c town"
"How long agof' sweeping the valley
with hssty glance. "Come, speak quick,
my man"
Il ave no WATCH" Gordon said slowly,
"blt il WAS some time ago"
Perhaps that's so, and perhaps it isn't"
tie tficer said With sneer. "l'l go
through The old den anyhow for luck, and
be tossed his bride rein to tho man next him
ard swung down from the saddle.
The thought of Belle being questioned and
possibly ever roughly handled if they once
entered the house fred GoTdon's hot blood in
sn inEtsnt.
"No. you will not" The words exhibited
no trace of anger, but tbs tone in which they
were epoken meant business, and the
minister's broad shoulders blocked the door,