The banner-enterprise., 1883-07-12

luo ulUJu tAlOW piopu, "haSs
light upon the road; and MI Perkins
knew that he could not recross with
out being seen by the occupants of the
approaching vehicle. Accordingly, he
darted behind a clump of elder bushes,
and, crouching down, waited in breath.
less anxiety.
Jerusalem he muttered to him.
self. "7'his pretty pickle for a dea-
Con Of the church to be in !"
Nearer aud nearer came the car
riage, the horse jogging along at a fu-
nereal rate-evidently the driver was
in no hurry
There were two persons in the car
riage. The moonlight fell full on their
faces, and Mr.. Perkins, peering through
the bushes, recognized Henry Martin,
u likely young farmer of the vicinity.
and Dora Sanders, his sweetheart. 1t
may bewell to state just here that the
two were returning from a party at
which, for a wonder, fair Dora had
been SO unusually gracious that young
Martin, hitherto very timid lover,
had courageously made UP his mind to
60 through the trying ordeal of "pop-
ping the question on their homeward
Journey. Indeed, by the time they
had reached the Perkins domain, he
had actually gotten so far as to say In
Btammering tone:
sand now, Dora, you know, just as
we'll as do, that would do anything
for you. Because because = you
know l 10
"Oh, oh, oh r screamed Dora, for
lust at this instant, the horse, being
endowed with the short-sightedness of
animals in general, had suddenly seen
something white in the bushes-in
fact, nothing less than gleam of Mr..
Perkins flowing drapery-and, much
frightened, SHE'D to the other side Of
the road.
Coaxing, commands and even the
whip availed nothing Balky and de-
termined, he would not pass the un-
known object.
"Blast the creaturel What ails
him? He's never acted so before"
Martin exclaimed.
"Don't whip him again He's
frightened. He sees something in the
bushes. know he does-I see it my
self-it's something white
"a garment blown from a clothes
line. Or, maybe it's newspaper. I'll
60 and see.'
"Nol Don't leave the horse! He's
too nervous. Just see how he trem-
bles. You hold him by the bride and
I'll 90 and see what it is" and with a
nimble bound, Dora sprang from the
carriage and walked toward the bushes.
Now Mr.. Perkins was not nervous
man, but his predicament at this par
ticular minute was not very pleasant.
The thought of his scant attire filled
him with CONSERVATION. And there
shea fine, modest young lady!-was
every moment drawing nearer and
nearer. A mortifying discovery was
inevitable The only alternative was
to take refuge in flight.
The next instant young Martin and
Miss Dora were startled at seeing a
tall, white figure spring from behind
the clump of bushes, dart across the
road, and, half-lost among the shadows
creep along the side of the fence.
The horse, rendered frantic by this
sudden apparition, gave a violent
pltinge, and, breaking loose from his
masters hold, rushed madly down the
road.
"Oh, Henryl What is it? A
ghost-.I'm sure it is You know
that a peddler was found murdered
Just about here years ago. And I've
heard the place is haunted! oh, it's
a ghost Its ghost p
"Nonsense Ten chances to one
it's u burglar up to some deviltry
Pm going to shoot at bim-- that's
what | am !"
For, knowing that he would have
to ride five miles over a lonely road
and having his mind somewhat exer-
cised by the reports of there being bur
glars about, Harry Martin had that
evening taken the precaution to bring
a revolver with him. Drawing this
out now, he cried, excitedly:
"Speak, or I'll shootp
Unfortunately, Mr.. Perkins was 9
little bit deaf, and, in his trepidatlon
did not hear what was said. His only
desire was to get within the shelter O
his own house. For several yard'
along the fence there grew a row O.
brier.roses, and here he foundered, tn,
sharp thorns clinging to his carmen
and lacerating his flesh, as he vainl.
strove to find some opening through
which he might climb over.
Just as he put one foot on the lowe
rail in the act of leaping over, he hear'
the report of the pistol and felt a sho
stinging in the fleshy part of his leg
Groaning with pain, he sank upon tn
: grass.
Good heavens, Dora It's Mr.. Per
kins himselfp young Martin ex
claimed. overcome with horror ant
dismay.
The confusion of the next hour ma!
be easily imagined. Dorarushed upt'
the house. She was met at the doc
by Mrs. Perkins, whose alarm at , tn tn
long absence of her husband had beel
increased by the report of the pistol
. Fortunately, the little woman acte'
like many other nervous persons, who
weak at imaginary dangers, are stronI
,, in time of real trouble; and, repressinI
; her emotion, she calmly assisted MI
,, Martin and Dora in bringing in tn
! helpless body of her husband
, But an hour later, when Mr.. Perkin
! lay comfortably in bed, rejoicing in tn
! assurance that the wound wastrlflinG
! his wife could not help saying as sh
sank into an easy-chair beside him: