The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-05-28

. woman did not csussi Or IVES thsrs
ever death
Ny thoughts were cut short; by
sudden flicker of the dying candle,
borne aloft by my fierce guard, saw
myself on the brink of steep we'll.
Back / threw myself with o violent
force that at first staggered the man
and struck the candle from his and.
Oh, the horrors of dying in darkness !
My mad struggles were becoming
fainter and fainter, and, with the firm
grip OF my assailant's fingers on my
throat, my consciousness faded away.
Diana's voice first recalled my senses,
and babe me get mp and fee for my
life. With her firm, warm fingers
clasping my hand, she raised me to my
feet; and. when articulated, family,
"Where is hep" she only gave little
laugh and pointed to the horrible we'll,
where could hear the water with its
ceaseless drip, drip.
"Gone to join the rest OF his victims, :"
said she; aand long may he sleep"
DIANA" said, taking her hand, II
thank you for your kindness to me-
Why not let US go together, and forever
leave this horrible nest of pollution ?"
Diana lifted her soft blue ewes to my
face for q minute, and then gave little
sigh.
"Old ties are strong" she said, "and
hard to be severed, but if / do give up
all and go with you-will promise
to-marry me?"
hesitated for an instant; though
this girl had saved my life, was she one
whom / would dare to make my wife
Her blue eyes sparkled furiously at
my hesitation, and she shrieked aloud
"Speak, or else will tear you limb
from limb, and cast you down yonder
dark hole, to keep company with your
betters."
"Diana," l said again, quietly, abe
calm and listen, for only on this condi-
ton shall you be my wife; and if this
condition does not suit you, you may
deliver me to those brutes in yonder as
soon as possible, for in no way shall /
alter or change. If you" but she
had again altered her mood. and now
burst into a shrek of laughter, with
which the lantern in her hand shook to
and fro.
81 was only trying you," she said at
last, holding out her hand to Inc. Il
will go with you, but / can never be
your wife, for l am man like your
selfp
Tearing off various articles of dress,
she cast them down into the pit.
II am the decoy duck" she said,
"and there goes the ducks feathers to
keep company with tho ducks master I"
1t was slender but well-made young
man that left that morning with me be-
fore the day broke. We fled hastily
and for our lives Once we looked
back, and in the gray, dim darkness of
dawn we saw the mad fire-waves sweep
up to the sky, and the light of the
angry flames shed brilliancy on our
tortuous path. My companion looked
wonderingly, and /, recalling the light
ed candle that had fallen down the
trap-door, told him of it, and in turn
he mentioned that in addition to the
robber treasure the cellar was filled
with infammable material. Even as he
spoke there came loud burst of thun-
der-sound, followed by heavy cloud
of smoke, and my companion waved his
hat exultingly.
"Hurrah!" he cried. "Justice is at
last meted out, and the Bull-Bats,
winged with fire, are flying to the
regions of eternal flannel
We did not turn back, though, but
pushed right on, while he related to
me the story of his detention and life
among the bandits. When we reached
Columbia 1 procured situation for
him, and have kept his secret, and he
is now in q fair way to become rising
man.
Nothing was ever found among the
ashes of the burnt house of any sign
of treasure, and so we supposed that it
had been stolen by some one of the
survivors. There has been no more
trouble from them to this day, and to
that attribute the fact of my having
passed the night of adventure among
the Bull-Bats.