Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-09-23

looks from his deep-set eyes; but Guy en-
gagged him, thinking only of the inconveni
ence Of being short-handed at the time.
| After they had all set off for the fields, {
man drove up to the farm house in hot haste
asking if person of the strangers descrip
tlon had been seen there; and upon receiv:
ing reply in the affirmative, he looked
very much startled, and caused Hermione'
blood to turn cold in her veins by explain
| ing the cause of his uneasiness.
''He is an escaped lunatic, and neatly
Killed his keeper to make his way out of the
mad house. If his frenzy seizes upon him,
he will make bloody record for himself be.
fore the day is over. Is any one here who
can go and warn Mr. Fellows? 1t won't an.
swer for me to be seen by him.. He knows
me, and it would set him frantic to know
that he has been followed. The only safety
lies in not arousing his suspicious until a
| stralt-jacket can be put upon him."
81 will CO." said Hermione unhesitating-
ly. II would do anything to prevent such
tragedyr'
s"NlSs this with you and give it to Mr.
Fellows. 1t is strait jacket. Whisper
the truth about the man to him, and tell
him to watch his opportunity and take him
by surprise -
She reached the place, and catching her
guardians eye, motioned him to come to
her; and, in few frightened whispers, told
him the danger that threatened him
Some instinct must have attracted the
lunatic's attention and conveyed to his
mind the idea that they were speaking of
him; for, with a wild cry, he brandished the
scythe he held in his hand with threatening
gestures and shouts of frenzied fury. Then
he started towards them.
Louis had stopped work a moment pre-
vi GUS, and was about midway between his
cousin and the mailman.
Looking up, upon hearin, the discordant
yells, he saw at once that Guys life was in
danger, and, throwing himself directly in
front OF the madman, caught him about the
waist and clung to him, making himself as
much Of dead weight as possible.
The swinging scythe described a mad
| circle in the air, and then it descended upon
Louis, giving him fearful cut in the thigh.
But by this time others had reached them,
and the lunatic was overpowered by num-
bers and secured.
Louis, however, lay like one dead-pros-
trated by the shock, and with the blood
pouring from his ghastly wound.
Unless it could be slanched at once, he
must bleed to death; but where were the
cloths to apply to it before message could
be sent to the farmhouse?
This question was soon answered. Her
mione was dressed in dainty gown of en-
| broidered white linen, with mantle of the
same material over her shoulders.
She tore this in pieces, and, kneeling by
him, applied one after another to his wound
as each inEturn became wet with blood.
Her white hands were colored crimson,
and her dress was spotted with the same en-
| sanguined hue-but she faltered not. She,
who had always before felt faint, even at
the sight of blood, now unfinchingly played
the part of surgeon until more skilled help
could arrive.
In these terrible moments Hermione first
learned her hearts secret. Without Louis
the whole world would henceforth be as
nothing to her.
For long days afterwards the youths life
trembled in the balance, but at last his ma
| turally strong constitution triumphed, and
he began to mind.
Guy and Hermione were rarely absent
from his bedside, and one day Louis sur
prised tham by saying, with a faltering
voice, while his pale lips parted in half
smile:
"Cousin Guy, we are even. One good
buTu uSScTVtS duOIuor. Ou SdV6Q my re-
putation, and l rather think you would been
dead man now if it hadn't been for me-
| It's worth ones while to earn fellow s
gratitude, isn't it?''
''What does he mean? Is his mind wan
dering!" asked Hermione, looking from one
to the other with surprised eyes.
"He is thinking of tho bank book you
lost, Hermione. He was afraid I would
connect him with the forgery on account OF
his fancy for copying signatures"
"What silly boy! | would as soon i'm
agine an angel from heaven could do such a
thing as you, Louis" and Hermione took
his poor pale hand and kissed it, bright
tears falling upon it as she did so, in spite
of her efforts at self-control. "And 1 am
sure Cousin Guy never once thought of it,
did you?' turning almost fie1cely towards
her guardian. eff you did 1 would never
forgive youv'
Guy smiled. Her indignation was so
childishly impulsive that it took away the
sting of her words Then, too, he did not
deserve it
"Gently Hermione," he said, cor you
may hurt Louis feelings. You won't hear
Cousin Guy scolding, will you, boy ?"
But Louis made no answer. He was for
the moment oblivious of the presence or
even of the existence of any one but Her.
mione.
Her agitation had betrayed her secret to
him, and he was SO exultantly, recklessly
happy that he rocked not of anything out
side of the one blissful fact that his love was
returned by Hermione.
81 see. IT'S the old, old story" said Guy,
gravely but kindly; and he took Hermione's g
hand and placed it within Louis, 'tand 1
will now leave you alone to settle matters
between you, merely saying to you, Louis,
that Upland Farm is yours, and that shall
secure to you the funds with which to carry
it on successfully. AS you said, little
while ago, "One good turn deserves an
other, and thus prove the truth of the
adage. You proved it previously in what
was almost your DEATH"
AS soon as Louis was fully recovered, he
and Hermione were married.
It was not until several years later that
the truth about the bank book came out.
1t had been left carelessly upon the
library table, and thief, who had gained
unobserved entrance to the house, had stolen
it, and at the same time had picked up one
of Louis practice papers, thinking that it
would serve to aid him in drawing tie
money, as he had confederate who was
handy enough with his pen to take advan-
tage of the fac-s simile to Guy Fellows hand
writing.
BEFORE THE FARMERs.-Mr. Cleveland
and Mr.. Blaine have recently appeared be-
fore the farmers, in one case in New Eng
land, in the other in New York, and the
contrast between their speeches is greatly
to the credit of the former. Mr.. Blaine
availed himself of the occasion to talk poll
tics in rhetorical strain, whereas Mr..