The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-12-24

IL iuiSit him, Suorely WILL" But
fresh burst Of tears and sobs gave scant
promise of fulfllment of her words.
He air bad stock, Telury. an we
has reason to thank the Lord that you
has got shet of him.
"Folks do say, pappy, as how he air
the pine rozzum image of his man, an
that she air pow'ful good CONAN"
Folks don't know what they is a.
sayin one halt the time, F" he answered,
angrily. ''How could he be anythin but
ornery with feyther like thatl Think
no mo about him, chill, n mex time 90
to Meeridgyun 01eridian) I'll buy you
pink caliker frock"
The young girl opened her lips as if
to speak, but closed them with sigh,
and moved away, YEARLY, to prepare
the evening meal.
All through the weary vigil which
preceded their departure to the old oak
she sat. heavy and silent, "a-grievin,n
as the old man thought, with touch of
anger and sympathy combined.
A little breeze sprang up before they
started. 1t swayed the flame of the
pine knot which Telura bore to light
her father at his work, and plainly de-
fined her finely nodded figure beneath
its cotton gown.
The Pickering light of the torch
brought out the golden CLEANS of her
curling hair, and, as she stood, pale and
silent, holding the light aloft, she looked
like beautiful priestess aiding at q
mystic rite.
The old man dug on excitedly, and
his pick struck at last an unyielding sub
stance. His breath came hard. Were
the hopes of y ars to meet their long
delayed fruition2 But wild cry rang
out suddenly ON the night, and drew
his startled attention.
What terrible sight was this that
burned itself into his senses?
The torch lay fitfully gasping upon the
earth, while speeding away us on the
wings of the winds fled Telura, pursued
by a circling fame of fire. Some unno-
ticed spark had fallen upon her gown
from the back, and quickly ignited its
cotton folds.
He started in agonizcd' pursuit; but
long ere he could have reached her man
sprang quickly from thiclet near,
caught her in his arms, wrapped her
about with his discarded coat, and
smothered the cruel flames. She sank
back fainting as her father reached the
spot.
The two men lifted and bore her ten
derly home. No word was spoken be-
tween them; but whea the light was lit
in the cabin it fell full on the face of
Tom Carruthcrs.
''Ill fetch my mother and the doctor, {"
he said.
''retch Mrs. Tompkins and the doc
tor" was the angry reply. Twas hard,
thought the old man, that in dire ex-
trcmity he should again have to depend
for aid On member of this hated fam
lily.
Would this one, too, betray him2
"What ware he a-sneakin aroun in the
woods fur, out to spy on mel" he NUT
tered.
No feeling of gratitude toward the
young man asserted itself in his breast
during the long night spent by himself
and the kind Mrs Tompkins in attend
ance on the suffering girl. And early in
the morning, when Telura, with wounds
carefully dressed. lay quiet under the in
iluence of a narcotic, he crept out to re-
new his interrupted work.
He gazed with bated breath into the
cavity made the night before. 1t was
empty, and his pick was sticking into u
root of the tree. This, hen, was the
hard substance, the striking OF which
had so raised his hopes. he sank back
with a groan.
The hand of Fate was against him.
An hour later he went back dazedly
to the house Telura still slept, and,
throwing himself ON lounge near the
bed, lie, too, fell into deep slumber.
When he awoke. toward evening, and
looked at the young girl, lying pale and
statue | Ike, great fear smote him.
Might he not lose her after alll Had he
never priced hsr enough9 She, who had
spent her whole young life in his service.
Had he not accepted that service as too
much his due2 He saw revealed as in a
lightning flash how all-absorbing had
brcn his passion for the recovery of the
money, and how little he had thought or
done for this unselfsh child. How
willingly for his sake she had given up
the man she loved. Then he recalled his
own wild regret when he had feared to
lose his sweetheart mother. Had
Tclura suffered like that? Perhaps he
had been too harsh. Tom Carruthers was
spoken of as steady, industrious young
man; and he had noticed last night that
while his hands were badly burned he
had seemed to have no thought but for
rclura. But there came back the old.
bitter question: "With feyther like
that how could he be anything but
ornery2"
"Pappy." broke in feeble voice upon
his thoughts, would you han me drink
of wahteri'
The cooling draught was admins
tered.
Ten DAYS later utterly FRUSTRATED from