Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-15

the now rising storm. Then Lucy turned.
and scarcely conscious of what she did.
ran swiftly across the sands, through the
TANGLED gorse bushes, and over the low
marshv track, thick with reeds and rush.
es. which Law between her fathers house
and the road that ran half a mile from the
beach.
It was here that George Hezelton must
pass on his return from the distant town
OF NJ, whittier she knew he had yes
terday gone. She had heard neighbor
say something about his having purchased
a tract of land adj oining his own, and that
it would be paid for on the morrow. For
this purpose, doubtless. was the $4,000
intended, which was now perhaps to cost
him his life. The thought quickened the
girls steps, and she flew rather than ran.
despite the now falling rain and the vio-
lence of the wind, which was tossing her
hair and garments wildly about. Hoarse
peals OF thunder broke over her head, and
vivid flashes of lightning nearly blinded
her. but on she ran, never slackenlng her
speed or pausing to take breath.
Suddenly she caught, amid the roar of
the storm, a sound which sent every drop
of blood tingling to her heart-the sound
of horses rapidly approaching tread.
If she should be one moment too late !!
And again the girl pressed on with wild
cry. which the wind bore away like the
sound of lost spirit in agony.
Faint as was the sound it reached the
ears of young Hezelton. He slackened
his horses speed and turned in the direc-
ton whence it came. And then, rushing
across the dreary waste, with arms i'm
ploringly outstretched, and hair flying
wildly behind her, he saw form which
had more the appearance OF spirit than
of anything human. The next moment
she had reached him, and the lightning
revealed to him the white face of Lucy
Mott, the fisherman's daughter.
In an instant young Hezelton had
sprung to the ground and caught the form
of the almost tainting girl.
Good heavens, Lucy. what has hap
pened !? Why are you here in the storm p
He questioned anxiously. And Lucy
could only answer in breathless, broken
gasps: ,.ASsH 7TH
mo further-nO further! Danger
robbery-murdeI-" and then, utterly
ing in his grasp.
George remembered the money he had
with him, together with certain warnings
he had received from his friends and had
laughed at, concerning the danger OF car
rying it with him on a lonely ride. and
he now instantly comprehended it all.
He was armed, and trusting to this and
his horses speed. he would still have
braved the danger; but to ride on and
leave the girl alone and helpless in the
storm was not to be thought of even had
she been less dear to him than she was.
Neither, considering the circumstances,
could he take her home to her fathers
cottage.
lie knew that Philip Mott, relative of
his own father, was not very scrupulous
character and that he had of late been
very intimate with the young man, Martin
Heriot, concerning whom vague rumors
had but this day reached his ears in NJ,
in connection with mutlny and mureer on
the high seas. AS this thought flashed
across him, he instinctively OWNED the
circumstances of the case, the cause of
Lucy's strange appearance and warning
1t took not moment to decide upon
what course to pursue, and lifting the
form of the still insensible girl, he placed
| turning sharply off from the road, struck
across the low, marshy track which ex-
tended some distance further between the
road and his home. His horse foundered
on rather heavily at first, for he was weary
with his days journey but ere long,
finding firmer ground beneath him, broke
into switter pace. In an hours time
the young man had alighted at the door
of his own house and lifting his strange
burden, he conveyed her tenderly within
and gave her in charge of his mother and
sister.
'Do all you can for her, mother" he
said. "She has saved my lfe''
And good. motherly Mrs. Hezelton, and
warm hearted Alice. prompted partly by
kindness, and more by gratitude, did dc
all that could be done for their fair though
humble guest, both then and through the
long illness that followed; for the ex.
citement of that evening, together with
her fatigue and exposure to the storm,
had their effect upon Lucy, in fever and
utter prostration of body and mind.
For three weeks she lay ill beneath the
roof OF the great house with the tall
chimneys and Lombardy poplars, upon
which she had so often wistfullv gazed
from the window of her humble home.
And yet as they told her when she
grew better-her own great grandmother,
who was also the great-grandmother of
George and Alice, had once been mistress
of that house.
Wherefore, said most people, it was
not so strange or inappropriate, after all
that Lucy herself should in time become
its mistress. They would not allow her
to go back to the cottage on the beach.
but won by her loneliness of person, and
disposition, insisted upon keeping her
with them at Rockford; and, George
Hezelton, claimed it as her legitimate
home. And no stranger who now sees
her, beautiful, refined and cultivated.
presiding at her husbands table. OIL
driving with her two rosy children along
the beach towards the fashionable water
ing place which has since sprung up in
that neighborhood. could imagine that in
one of the fshermen's cottages on the
sands the elegant Mrs Hezelton, had
once her home.
Martin Heriot was arrested the dav
after the designed robbery and probable
murder of Hezelton, by officers of Justice,
who had long been in search of him.
Phillip Mott. who, though reckless, was
not depraved, rejoiced that he had escaped
the commission OF the crime from which
his daughter had saved him; and thence
forth. through his own better convictions