Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-06-03

who was at once the pride and torment
of Farmer Hebron, and thrill OF ter
ror came into Roses heart as she made
all speed TO follow the dewy track Of
Linnel's footsteps oyer the grass.
AS she reached the belt Of woods
close to the apple orchard, she paused
in dismay at the sound of sweet. high
| pitched voice.
I:'s Linnct y she involuntarily ex-
claimed. And she's scolding some
body. Dear me, whom eau it bep Sure.
ly not Ajax y
you are a thief = she could hear
Linnet exclaim-.'a robber Let that
barrel Of apples alone, say. don't
care whether you are Squire Sandford
or not. The barrel of apples is mine =
And as Rose drew near, she could
see this dimpled young Amazon reso-
lutely defending the barrel of apples,
with her single strength, against Squire
| Sandford and his stoutest farm laborer.
She stood there, with one slight hand
on the red-cheeked fruit, which was
brlmmng over the barrel-hoops. and
before her the tall Squire and his her
culean aid-de- camp we're helpless.
IF you will allow me to explain
pacifically began the Squire.
Il will allow nothing = declared Lin
net. Il repeat, these apples are mine I!
Touch them, at your peril j
Thus far the young heroine was a
conquerer. But alas in that very mo-
ment of victory Nemesis was at hand.
There was the dull sound of trampling
hoofs, then sullen below, and Ajax
himself, bursting through a weak spot
in the fence, was upon them.
Linnet Dessolr collapsed, so to speak,
at once. She forgot her herOism, her
dignity y-everything but her danger,
and flew for rescue,to Squire Sandford,
shrieking :
save uc save llc !!
The farmland dogged behind the
wagon; but Squire Sanford never quail
ed. but held her resolutely in his arms.
DO not be AFRAID he said, almost
as if he had been speaking to fright
ened child. Nothing shall harm you,
little one y
For an instant things looked very
black; then SquireSanaford spoke gent
ly once more.
DO not hold my arm so tightly said
he, Let me get at my revolver. L must
shoot the brute No, don't be so ter
rified. Do not you hear me say that
nothing should harm you p
Aud then the problem resolved itself,
as problems often do. Ajax, butting
his huge head against the barrel Of
lady-apples, sent them rolling in AL d.
rections, and caught his horns in the
barrel itself, effectually binding him.
He set off at a wild gallop down the
hill. believing as he went, aud there
he met his fate in the shape of two or
three men with running moose of
rope and a good stout chain.
Hello, pet = shouted Farmer Heb
ron's voice. What's the matter She
hasn't tainted, has she, Squire y
And Linnet, realizing that she was
safe, blushingly withdrew from Mr..
Sandford's sheltering arms, and ran to
her uncle.
Il am so much obliged to you, SIR
she whispered. And please-please
don't mind what l said about the ap-
Piles. You are quite welcome to them.'
Hey Apples = said Mr.. Hebron.
why Linnet, didn't you know that l
carted the barrel of apples that the
Squire gave you home last night
Linnet grew crimson all over, and
fled to hose's faithful breast for conso-
lation.
IL shall never dare to look that
man in the face again. she bewailed
herself. 'Oh, dear-oh, dear, what
must he haye thought of me i
But of course Mr.. Sandford consid
cred it only right and proper to call
that evening, and inquire how Miss
Dessoir found herself and really the
meeting was not half as embarrassing as
Linnet had fancied it would be.
They had a good laugh about Ajax
and the apples {; and Linnet confessed
how dreadfully frightened she had been.
And with reason said Squire Sand
ford. There was a second or two in
which we were in very serious danger.
But you will forgive me about the
apples p said Linnet, with pretty, coax
ing earnestness
'Oh, yes, will forgive you about the
apples = Squire Sandford laughlngly
returned.
And in that moment Linnet thought
what very pretty color his eyes were,
and decided that he couldn't possibly
be thirty years old.
Isn't it strange said Rose Hebron.
| Sthat up havn lived npiohhOr tO Souirn