Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1886-07-02


cousin. At seven precisely she knocked
ut Linnet's door, but the bird had flown.
elbow provoking" said Rose. "But
I'll follow her. She must have gone to
try to make that sketch of the old mossy
rock close to the lady-apple trccl Iwon-
der if she knows that my fathcr has pas
turcd Ajax in the adjoining ficld2'
"Ajax" w a savage, beautiful bull,
who was ut once the pride and torment
OF Farmer Hebron, and thrill of terror
came into Roses heart MS she made all
speed to follow the dcwy track of Lin
nets footsteps over tho grass.
AS she reached tho belt of woods close
to tho applc-orchard, she paused in dis
may at the sound of sweet, high pitched
voice.
It's Linnct!" she involuntarily cx-
claimed. "And she's scolding some
body. D,ar me, whom can it bc2 Sure
ly not Ajax!"
"You arc n thicfl" she could hear Lin
net cxclaim-"a robbcrl Let that bur-
rel of apples alone, say. 1 don't care
whether you are Squire Sandford or not.
That barrel of apples is mincl''
And rs Rose drew near, she could sec
this dimplcd young Amazon rcsolutely
defending tho barrel of apples, with her
single strength against Squire Sandford
md his stoutrst farm laborcr
She stood there, with one slight hand
on the red checked fruit, which was
brimming over the harrcl-hoops, and he
fore her the tall squire and his hcrculcan
aid-dc-camp were helpless.
"If you will allow INC to explain"
pacilically began the squire.
81 will allow nothing" declared Lin
net. ~ repeat, these apples arc mine /
Touch them, at your pcril"
Thus far tho yourg heroine was con-
queror. But alasl in that very moment
of victory Nemesis was at hand. There
was the dull sound of trampling hoofs,
then sullcn below, and Ajax himself,
bursting through weak spot in the
fence, was upon them.
Linnet Dcssoir collapsed, 30 tG sspealS,
ut once. She forgot her hcroism, her
! digniiy-everything but her danger, and
flew, for rescue, to Squire SAndford,
shricking:
"Savc mel save mel"
The farm-hand doggcd behind the
wagon; but Squire Sanford never
quailed, but held her rcsolutcly in his
arms.
''Do not bs afraid" he snid, almost Ms
if he hal been speaking to frightened
child Nothing shall harm you, little
oncm
For an instant, things look very black
then Squire Sandford spoke gently once
more.
"Do not hold my arm so tightly" said
he, 'Let me get ut my revolver. mus
shoot the brute! No, don't be SO terri
fed. Do not you hear me say that moth
ing should harm youi"
And then tho problem resolved itself
rs problems often do. Ajax, butting hi
huge head against the barrel of lady-np
pies, sent them rolling in all directions
and caught his horns in the barrel itself
clfcctually binding him. He set off at
wild gallop down the hill, believing n
he went, and there he met his fatc in tn
shape of two or three men with run
ming moose of rope and good stou
chain.
"Hcllo, pctl" shouted Farmer Heb
ron's voice. "What's the mattcr7 Sh
hasn't faintcd, has she, squirrel"
And Linnct, realizing thnt she was enfc
blushingly withdrew from Mr.. Sandford'
sheltcring arms, and ran to her uncle
II nm so much obliged to you, sir,
she whispered. "And plcasc-plcas
don't mind what said about the apples
You are quite welcome to them"
"IIey3 Applcsl" said Mr.. I,hron
"Why, Linnet didn't you know that
cnrted the barrel of npplcs that tn
squire gave you home Inst night"
Linnct grew crimson MI over, and fec
to Roses faithful breast for consolation
II shall never dare to look that maj
in the face again." she bcwnilcd herself
"Oh, dear-oh, dear, what must l,c hav,
thought of mel"
But of course Mr.. Sandford considcrc,
it only righ and proper to call that eve
ming, and inquire how Miss Dessoi
found herself; and really the mectin:
was not half rs embarrassing rs Linnc
had fsncicd it would be.
They had good laugh about Ala:
and the apples; and Linnet confessed
how dreadfully frightened she had been
"And with reason" said Squire Sand
ford. "Thcrc was second or two il
which VIC were in very serious danger.
"But you will forgive me about tn
apples2" said Linnet, with pretty, coax
ing carnestness.