The Opelousas courier., 1884-02-16

One lovely afternoon In autumn
Harvey had q half-holiday. and h,
wandered along through the woods
drinking in the beauty around him; ths
gorgeous tints of the trees, the purple
and gold of the wood flowers at hi
feet, and the dreamy blue of the sky
that Swallowed in patches overhead.
Suddenly the sound of voices, broke
the stiffness, and ,Hervey, peering
through the bushes, saw the man who
had worked for Mr.. Adams, and
another man, still more rough and
e~yil-looking, lounging upon the ground
with their guns beside them. They
had built a fire, at which they were
cooking some rabbits; and as Harvey
looked, a dog bounded through the
underground and crouched down be-
side them.
The men were discussing a plan
which made Harvey's heart beat SO
violently as he listened, that he shiy-
cred with dread lest they should hear
it and discover his retreat.
They had decided to burn Mr..
Adams barn. in which was stored all
the fruits of his long summers ork,
and the ex-farm hand added contempt
uously:
"Since he sets such a store by his
horses, and cows, it will be a mercy to
send them where they will neve be
abused any more.'
There's Brindle, Daisy and Rose,
besides the horses, that ought to keep
good Mr.. Adams family in roast meat
for some time to come" i
The two wretches burst into a loud
laugh at this sally, and at the same
time the branch upon which Harvey
was leaning, broke with a sharp crack.
Even then he might have escaped. but
the dog sprang up with a growl, and
a moment after the unfortunate lad
was held a most unwilling prisoner.
Poor Harvey As he looked up into
the cruel, scowling faces of his eaptors,
he felt that he could hope for very
little mercy from men who would de-
liberately plan to roast alive unoffend-
ing helpless animals. Indeed, the
rougher of the two men advised that
Harvey should be put out of the way
at once.
"He's heard what we've had to say
and he'll blab. Dead men, and young
ones, too, "tell no tales he added
grimly, seeing that his companion
hesitated.
"But we might swing for It." OBJ
jected the farm hand. eSee here. young
one, well let you go scot free on one
condition. You hold up your hand
and swear like i show you, not
to breathe a word of what you've
heard, or by - you'll not live long
enough to say your prayers He
picked up his gun as he spoke, and
held the muzzle against Harvey's
breast.
Poor Haryeyi A sickening feeling
of fear and faintness seemed to stifie
his breathing and arrest his very heart
beats. The cruel and determined
faces of the men, seemed like demons,
and he looked around thelonely woods,
then at the gun. then he took the
awful oath which the man babe him
to repeat, that he would not reveal
anything they had said.
He was at last allowed to go, and
the farm hand called after him.
q say, young one. you can tell
when the deed is done. and don't you
forget it. / want the old man to know
who his good luck comes FROM and
BE added to his companion: NO dam
ger Of his giving Us away, he's got no
more pluck than q chicken, and he's
scarf most to DEATH
When Harvey reached home, supper
was laid in the big kitchen. Mollie,
the help. was turning flannel cakes,
Mrs. adams was pouring the tea, and
MI. Adams turned from the sink
where be had been washing his hands,
and spoke to the boy with q genial
smile.
sWell, Harvey, my Lad, did you have
q good timer Had d nice time, eh2''
yes. sir,-no sir-part of the
time. : stammered poor Harvey, with
such a miserable face that the good
farmer stared in establishment, and
Mrs. Adams noting the pale face and
trembling limbs, exclaimed:
BLESS the boyl he looks Git to dropl
What is the matter, child?'
Nothing, sobbed Harvey, aud
bursting into tears he rushed away
from them all, and ran up to his own
little room under the caves.
Pretty soon Mrs. Adams hustled up
with a cup Of nice tea and some nicely
buttered toast and when she found
that he could not eat, she bathed his