The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-09-13
A WILD RIDE.

We nAQ Ucou AlNAuS ia Aioaoue AoA
about two years, and every day l re-
GREETED the time more and more when
nv husband had decided to leave Eng
land and come over to manage his prop
erty, which was situated in one OF the
most lawless and disaffected counties.
Fenianism was rife, and heartily l
wished we were away and over the water
again, at least until these troubled days
had given place to better and more
peaceful times, and now that the long,
dark winter afternoons and evenings had
set in again, used to sit and watch
anxiously for my husbands return;
when Lionel would come in looking
moody and uneasy, and kept his revolver
always loaded, though he never told me
he suspected danger, and tried to make
light Of it for my sake.
Oh! it was o wretched, miserable time,
and / can never forget 1t.
1 remember so we'll how the crash
came at last, and how the volcano burst
forth that had been smoulderlng so long.
We were citing at breakfast one morn
ing when the letters were brought In,
and after handing them the bearer stood
fdgeting about.
Lionel looked up.
THAT will do, Delaney, and tell John
TO bring the dog.cart around In half al
hour"
"Lionel, don't like that man." said,
after he had left the room. II am sure
he is a spy. I wish you would get rid
of him."
"Oh, the fellow is right enough. 1t is
his brother, you know, thstI am going
over to the court about to-day"
what is it?" / exclaimed, as Lionel
got up suddenly, looked vexed and an
noyed, and threw a letter into the fire.
"Lionel, is it another of those dread
full letters?"
Eyes, warning me against giving evil
dence against Delaney to-day. What is
the country coming to? But there; |
ought not to have told you-it will
frighten you into fits"
"Lionel, you must not go to-day-in-
deed, indeed. you must stay at home;
they may mean what they say. Oh,
promise me you won't CO."
Nonsense - absurdity; Winifred,
don't be so foolish. Why, dear. these
are all empty threats. But once show
the white feather and they will be ten
times worse. You foolish little wife" he
added, tenderly, land so you worry and
fret yourself when 1 am away, expecting
me home on q shutter, suppose. Well.
don't sit up for me tonight, for after the
trial is over I am going to dine at Col.
Arbuthnot's, and shan't be home till
late. Now must be of"
A few more loving words, and then 1
stood watching him driving down the
avenue, turning now and then to wave
farewell.
Iwas only half satisfied, and was wish
ing he had not gone.
After lunch 1 went out to take some
vine 70 the lodge-keeper's child, who was
III.
Il was rather late when I started, and
The sun was setting behind the mountain.
shedding food Of crimson light over
The golden glories of the fading year.
I stayed there till II was quite dark.
when I started home.
Suddenly hearing footsteps. I paused;
nearer and nearer they came. and then
through the darkness I could see two
men slowly approaching. talking in low.
earnest tones.
Sick with terror, I drew back behind
Q large tree, for ono Of the men Was
Delaney.
At Srst they spoke in low, cautious
tones, but. by degrees. their voices were
raiaed, and ct last Delaney, raising his
hand, exclaimed, With vsksmsnoe that
made mo snudder.
81 tell you, il its doas q all, it must
- done tonight. What's the use Of
talking, mani It's aots, not woris. We
want. He passes the cross-roads to-
night coming homo from the Oolonel's g
nile beyond, by the common and the
ehalk-pit. IT'S . lonely spot there's onr
place. Be there when the moon is up.
and mind, make NO mistake this time 4"
And he laughed, actually laughed. as
he planned and plotted the cruel and
deliberste murder Of my husband. who
had been kind and good master to
him.
At last they parted. Delaney hurryinR
back in the direction Of the house With q
last Injunction to his accomplice not to
fail; and, after waiting long time to
make sure that he was gone, weut
slovly home, and reached my room un-
observed.
There I matured and laid my plans
dolibseatsly and carefully. for 1t va
liz il succeeded, and obi far worse
49, dsa&h il failed.
- dressed for dinner - usual, and
ehooGh every ssrsp Of color had len NJ
-, cd kssw that ] could not sebdus
- Grpesssion a the hosTos hat ! tslt.
Ireuiervsd - outvsrd eal0nsas, md
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