Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-06-10

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the little wood rang again with sound;
but there came no answer to his call,
none except the faint echo of his own
voice.
"Come, Grace" he said, after long
pause, during which We listened in
tently, lit is wasting time. She is not
here evidently. | will take you home,
and ride into Redstone and make inqui-
ries. Something has happened, but !
cannot make out what"
The carriage was standing at the
front door when We returned-the car
riage which was TO have taken MS TO the
ball Earle sent it away and ordered
his horse. | had never seen him lock
SO pale and troubled. In few minutes
he was gone, and was leaning over the
gate listening to the ring of the rapid
hoofs growing fainter aud fainter on the
still night air.
| heard the clock III the church tower
slowly toll eleven as | wandered rest
lessly about the garden. felt as though
| could not end1re To be III the house.
| must be where my ears could catch
the first sound there might be to hear.
the first thing there was to see. Ii was
long weary miserable waiting; but at
last fancied that l heard the sound of
distant wheels
With shaded eyes | leaned over the
gate, trying vainly TO see: | knew that
the wheels were approachIng-I could
easily tell that. 1t seemed, i'll my ex-
citemeht, so long before anything came
in sight; but presently | made out a
trap of some kind, and the next instant
Sir Edward Melville's voice called out
To me
at is all right, Grace; Miss Preston
is here, safe enough. She has little
wound ON one arm-she thinks it is not
much. Call Earle to help Inc TO lift
her down.
"Here | amr' Earle said, jumping
from his horse and running forward.
| had not heard his approach. | had
heard nothing except that Lettie was
there. and safe; but he must have been
riding close behind Sir Edwards dog
cart.
What is it all about, LettIe? Do
you know have been dreadfully fright
ened about youpn heard Earle say as
he lifted her down.
''It is a long story, and | AMI am
so faint" she answered.; and she reeled,
and would have fallen had not my
brother caught her IN his arms and run
into the house with her.
We followed, after seeing the horses
led away.
"Why, she has been shot atr' Earle
exclaimed, Sitting up the sleeve OF Let
ties light muslin dress and disclosing a
wound in her arm. ''Sir Edward, where
has she been, and how is it that she is
woundedp" he continued, busily dress
ing the arm while he spoke.
81 know very little more than you
do" our friend said. sitting ON corner
of the sofa By Lettie, who opened her
eyes and smiled at him.
81 will tell you about it," she inter-
posed, speaking family.
''Not one word uutil you drink this"
Earle said, STOPPING over her with some
wine. "You are quite exhausted
II va. some Tina before bc would al
low her to speak; and, when he did, it
was strange story she told.
81 reached Arlie Brake all right,
Grace" she said. II had found some
lovely little fronds and was just return
ing home, when watt of air brought
the smell of tobacco To me. | thought
it was Earle coming To look for me; and
so, in spirit of mischief, to frighten
him, | crawled into assure of rock
which was quite hid from view, and
there | waited while | listened to what
| imagined were Earle's footsteps ap-
preaching. was soon aware of my
mistake, for heard rough mems voices.
"'I tell you, man. said one, that
Sir Edward Melville will drive through
the Black Lane tonight at about ten
or thereabouts, and Tom will be at one
end and We at the other; when he gets
to our end. we will put q bullet into
HIM; then We will jump up, drive on to
Melville, put up the trap, and sack the
house.
but how about the servants, Tim p
asked the other.
''They are all right. Sir Edward
never lets them sit up for him; he al
ways goes about by himself. A groom
meets him at the door for the horse, aud
he lets himself into the house with a
key we must borrow
81 heard nothing more distinctly, for
the men passed on. | trembled like
! leaf and while | was waiting for the
sound of their footsteps to die away in
the distance | was bracing my nerves
for action. | must reach Black Lane
first, SO as to speak to Sir Edward. |
knew the lane, Grace, and | knew it
was seven miles away. / had not quite
an hour and three-q quarters 10 get there.
Well, | came out of my hiding-place;
and when began to run | began slowly
Il had heard of men who wanted to
90 a distance dong the same thing.
Whenever | found my legs trembling
and | assure you, Earle, they often did,
/ though YOU have always given me credit
for selt-possession thought of Sir
Edwards life being in danger, and my
fears for myself grew very small in
comparison. Between running and
walking, | managed to reach Black
| Lane before the time, but not many
minutes too soon.
'''Sir Edward sald, stopping him,
take me up beh nj you, will your
/ QuicKl There is no time to be lost. l
will tell you all as We go on
81 preferred the back seat; thought
it commanded a better view; though
the darkness caused by the trees meet
ing overhead made seeing at all mat
ter of difficulty. They may well call
it Black Lane We had not proceeded
many yards, and 1 had not recovered
breath enough to begin TO speak, when
a woman got up from the side of the
lane where she had been sitting
MASTER said she, will ye give me
lift? | have walked all the blessed
way from CoppletOn.'
"'Surely!' replied Sir Edward. Here,
give me yom bag!' And he took it from
her. and put it at the bottom of the
dog-cart, while she seated herself beside
/ him.
"As the bag struck the bottom of the
dog-cart, heard the sound of iron; and
all my blood seemed to freeze as it
flashed upon me that this woman was
the very Tom of whom one of the men
had spoken. l looked round; and, be-