The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-08-23

met from the adjoining town of Seaside.
Baal cantered slowly along, Molly not
caring to urge him up the ascent. al
am almost tempted to go back, Baal,"
she said Thereat Baal, bent back one
ear and listened. They two had had
many condolences during their sum-
mer's intimacy, and understood each
other. s'But | should be ashamed to
do it. What would my grandmother
say if l was such a cowardP 1t was
my grandmother, you know, Baal, who
was cooking her d inner one day bend
ing over the fire place when she heard
an 'Ugh! ughr' and turning saw an
Indian in his war-paint standing in the
doorway with his tomahawk raised,
and she never hesitated a moment-if
she had she would have been scalped,
Baal-but went towards him, laughing,
with both hands held out in welcome
and gave him meat; but that very night,
sure all was not right, fled to the
block house with her baby-that was
my father whom you have never seen,
Baal-and that very week the Indians
ravaged the whole country and killed
forty people. My grandmother grand
daughter ought to have more pluck than
to be scared by squirrel, or rustling
leaf. Baal."
However, Molly was Enthusiastically
nervous; and one result of her nervous
ness was that she held the rens tight
ly and sat firmly in the saddle. 1t
was often her habit while riding to let
the reins lie loosely on her horses
neck while her thoughts were busy
elsowhere; but well was it for her to-
day that something occult influence
in sky or air, perhaps-had made her
uneasy. .
The road, after reaching the crest of
Saddle-back suddenly dropped, begin
ming the descent by passing through an
opening in the granite ridge. but little
more than sufficiently wide for wagon
to go through. just as Mollywas riding
through this miniature mountain
notch, out from the dense thicket at the
foot of the rocky wall man sprang
and, endeavoring to grasp her bride,
Baal SHE'D then and shot on like q
flash, and the same instant brave Molly
Crowde was herself again, her nervous
ness gone, her grandmother qualities
rising in her blood.
"Ah, Baal, that was the right thing
to don' she said, with long-drawn
breath. "And now, my brave fellow,
you have got some steady work to do, ="
for she had seen, as she dashed past, a
horse tied to a tree and she knew,
whether drunken Indian or murderous
white man, that in a moment he would
be on her track, and the open country
and safety long five miles away.
Nobody witnessed that ride for life
but the squirrels and rabbits and, per-
chance, wild deer.
No poet has ever sung it, no story
teller chronicled it. But | should like
to have seen 1.-THE flying coal-black
young horse, with blazing intent eyes,
matched by those of the girl he bore,
her erect figure, her loosened hair
streaming in the wind, her fearless and
gallant air-I would like 20 have seen
it! And, please do not tell me that
Baal did cot know and understand the
peril. and his duty. .t,
Once the saddle girths loosened and
Molly felt herself slipping. There was
nothing to do but to stop and tighten
them. She sprang to the ground and
drew the straps with firm strong fingers
that did not tremble, while Baal bent his
head and touched her neck caressingly.
In the silence she heard the coming quick
canter of her persuer. Up again and
away down by the border of the brook
that trickled unsteady under the bend.
ing alders. On through the clearing in
the heart of the woods where the
fringed gentians lifted their eyes OF
ctnaHfaSt hlnn fn thn hlt,n
above, mere fash of silver and blue
in Molly's eyes as she fed past on and
on. under 'interlacing oaks through
which only an occasional sunbeam
filtered dropp ng its glory on the flying
pair; over beds of yielding pine needles
that gave back no echo TO Baal's quick
falling hoofs, through sunlight and
shadow without pause they fed, and al
ways the sound OF the quick coming
canter behind.
Once Molly thought of the rifle hang.
ing on its hooks above the mantel in the
dear home Kitchen. She had brought
down many wild goose or maraudino
hawk with it, and o that she had il
in her hand now.
They were just entering upon the
iouith hiio anu INC coming cantel
sounded perilously near. when Molly
saw at a turn of the road q horsemar
approaching, and as he drew near C
Joy too great almost for reality! it was
Jack Thompson himself on his OWL
sorrel horse with his riIe at his saddle.
He looked his surprise at the breakneck
speed with which Mollie came on, and
his surprise did not lessen as she refined
Baal by his side, turned pale. reeled in
her saddle, then making a mighty effort
to regain her composure gggled con.
vulsively and ended by dropping the
reins, and her head, too, on Baal's neck
and sobbing outright.
BIT all this was soon explained. Jack
was Tor riding batk and ''settling the
rascal then and there; but the ''ras,
cal, )" whoever he may have been, must