Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-01-28


and score of guests, came out pale
and frightened from a drawing-room
near at nand, all asking at once of mas
ter, servants, and one another why the
bell rang out 50 loudly.
No one seemed able to give an expla-
nation, though. All that Thomson
could say WAS that he WAS doing in his
snug old-fashioned porter's chair before
thr fire when he heard shl ITS fired in
rapid succession outside, followed by
. | the shouts of men, as if in mortal strife,
and at the same moment The alarm bell
rang out loud enough to wake the dead
"Where Is Lord TalbCtP" SAID the
old Earl, stamping with impatient
anger. and looking in vain upon the
women crowd ng round for protection.
"Where is Lord rAlbJt Where are
all the gentlemen who came to-day !?
Go-brIng some of the men servants,
boylr he SAID 10 Henry, the page, who
was endeavoring TO escape observation
by keeping behind some of the guests
''Am the only man IN the house when
men are most needed Z"
He motloned the lad away with an
impatient wave of the hand but. pale
and scared Henry stood before him
''If you please, my lord, he said, II
know what it is. OLkes, the keeper,
told Lord Talbot this morning that he
expected trouble tonight with Seth
Henderson AMI his pOachers. Keeper
had heard say as how the pOachers were
coming in strong force tonight, and
Lord Talbot and Captain Lucas and
1 of syantllnnan aS
how they'd see the fun and help to make
the men prisoners. I'm afeard, my
lord, 10 tell you Half an hour ago
thew went out with guns and sticks
Odkes came for them-and there'll be
harm done, there will, for Seth Hender-
son wouldn't stick at murder and they
do say that Captain Lucas is ike a very
demon when he lights"
That is enough, boy. Tell the men
to come with lanterns, and we will 90
and see what it means"
The old Earl's face, though stern and
proud, was very white. He loved his
only so7 with no common lore, and, in
the long moments that passed before
tie men came, he suffered agoniej, pic
/ turing to hIms ,lf his yellow-haired lad,
| the pride of his life, the heir Of VOL
stenholme, lying out on the snowy
grass, dead, with the moonlight falling
upon his bonnp face.
In reality but very few moments had
passed between the first claDg Of the
/ bell aad the time when the four men
| passed down the broad stone steps on TO
the lawn, the ladies following them at
little distance, to see il anything
strange presented itself.
Il never knew Captain Lucas was
here; did you, Isabel 2" sad Lady
| Grace to her sister, who, a thin shawl
of white lace gathered over her head,
was stepping quickly after her father.
mo" answered Isabel, with slight
shudder and Lady Grace wondered at
the whiteness of her beautiful face and
the terror which shone out from her
soft violet eyes.
"Talbot must have asked him at the
last minute without telling u.s." the
elder sister went on musingly, gather
ing at the same time the train Il her
satin robe from contact with the wet
bushes they passed but Isabel never
heard her.
lAAilC &lOup bAAtF q AtN PdCC' III
front had turned q corner now, and
were hurrying down a narrow path over
Swallowed by tall Scotch frs, ragged
underground of brdmbles stretching
out long arms 10 catch their feet.
As Isabel turned the corner and laid
a light hand upon her fathers shoulder,
two more shots were heard, following
each other with hardly a second be-
tween, wild oath or two in the rough
voices of the pOaclerS, and then ring
ing cheer, i'll which she could easily dis
tinguish young Talbot's powerful voice.
The men broke into run then, even
the old Earl forgetting his dignity for
a moment; ard in small circular OPEN
ing where moss-grown sundial stood,
and round which great frs lowered ma
jestically, showing black in the moon
light, they found the explanation of the
disturbance.
One man came through the misty
light to meet them-Oakes, the head
keeper, binding his left hand in a big
red handkerchief, and removing bis cap
when he found there were ladies pres
ent.
Its all over, my lord, - he said, cap
in hand, and speaking in half-depre-
eating manner. noticing the angry light
in his mas er's eyes; 'we've beat them
hollow. Jakes and Tom, two under
keepers, have got Seth Henderson safe,
and are taking him to lock him up in
the Toulouse. There's been a many
shots fired. but, as far as L can see
there hasn't been much time to notice |
thought am the only man hurt. Lord |
Talbot is sare and sound; he went with |
the other gentlemen to try to catch the |
rest of the poachers, There-I hear |
his voice now f; they are coming back"
1t was as lie said. They heard the
footsteps of the victorious party return
ing towards the little glade, AMI young |
Talbot's voice in jOvial triumph con-
graduating his companions on the fun |
they had had.
The whole party from the house went |
down the narrow path to meet them
all but Lady Isabel. She was standing |
erect in an attitude of keen attention |
in the midst of the trampied snow, lis
tening - for surely she heard some /
sound other than the wall of the cold |
wind moving the bare pine-branches
Hark There it was again
''Isabel pa groan as of dying /
man, aud then the sweet name came |
again-"Isabel II
All, Lady Isabel did not think to
meet him thus-her first love, whom
sne had sent away for an idle whim one
year before
Lying upon the witherei bracken and
the blood stained snow, his sad face
gray with the ashen hue OF coming
death and the hot blood yelling from
his side, was Captain Richard Lucas
and, with one great fearless sob. the
E .rl's daughter erouchei in the snow
and took his head upon her knee.
Poor Dick was dying hard to all ap-
pearAnce, drawing his breath in great
gasps. aud trying 10 stanch the horrid
low with both hands, gazing up into
her face with sad adoring eyes, and try
Ing with his poor dumb lips TO frame
her name.
Poor Dick The darkness fell from
Isabel's eyes at last. What were sll
her impossible dreams to her il Dick
should die ? And at the thought she