The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-03-20
Ole GItelLiasater.
omOo, Nos, as and ~ Fourteenth street.
THE GOLDEN CROSS


peared in sight. Dlsmounting he led hi
horse by the bride and tried in vain Il
discover by the sense OF touch the road hC
should follow.
VI must find some shelter for the night,
he said. "lhe people hereabout have not I
Verygood reputation but amnotRiraido
men, and | do fear swamp fever and scor
plons, I'll call, there may be someone
within hearing" On this he sent up I
shout that proved his lungs to be in ROoG
condition, and followed it by another and
another. After this third he paused and
listened. A faint "hello" seemed to echo
his, and in moment more there appear.
ed among the, trees the figure Of an old
man who held q lantern in one hand
and shaded his eyes with the other.
"Who Is that2" cried thls parsonage
zone Of the bOysP"
"a stranger" said the traveller, "I'm
lost in this Confounded place. Can you
tell me where can get shelterP"
tromW
II came FROM farther north; travelling
on business; my name Is Hogan. | can
pay for anything Task, and shall be thank
full, too"
far off," And, turning he tottered away
into the darkness,
The traveller put his hand upon the pis-
toll Rt his belt and followed him, A lew
steps forward, and amid dense mass Of
foliage, they made their way to the door
OF a hut, Within, u fire burned upon a
rude hearth. Over tia girl crouched, idly
looking into the embers,
"That's my dsrter," said the old man.
"We're alone here, and it's q poor place,
and you're welcome. Walk in; I'll see
your horse is cared for"
The girl looked up sharply and looked
down again with flush on her face. The
old man drew a broken chair toward the
blaze and lit pine torch.
"a flreis comfortable these damp nights
II II is warm" he said, "Make some col.
fee and an ash.Cake for us, Mamie. The
geuLlema&'s hungry, no doubt"
II confess am" said Hogan, taking
the preferred chair. "And | do not know
what l should have done tonight without
your hospitality"
Meanwhile, the girl, handsome Great.
ure Of seventeen, lazlly prepared q meal
She moved slowly, but she did not do her
work badly. The coffee smelled we'll and
the ash.Cake was brown.
When IL was done she sat apart and
watched the men as they ate and listened
TO tho old mans questions and the stran'
GERS answers,
Afterwards she spread upon tho floor
bed Of straw and blanket and glided out
Of the room.
~ hope you'll sleep WE'LL" said the old
man. "G0od Night, sir"
"Good night" said Hogan, but he
thought al the same time:
"You seem 10 BIO very, hospitable old
gentleman, but you have the lace Of a
rascal"
Throwing OF his coat, he stretched him.
self upon the bed and In five minutes
found himself fast sinking into slumber
The pine torch fiCkered on the wall, the
embers died out In the gratei when sud
denly hand rested on his arm and a
voice whispered in his ear: =.
STRANGER, I've got something to tell
YOU"
Hogan started up. The girl knelt be.
side him with her finger on her lip.
"Get up" she said, land put on your
coat. The sooner your of the better. The
old man lied when he said | was his
daughter; he has gone for the boys. He
said 10 me Just now: GIVE found out his
business. lie must have plenty Of money
with him. And l know what that means.
There will be four Of them here In half an
hour; and you are a dead ifyou don't
60 now"
Hogan started 10 his feet. Stitched in
his belt were several thousand dollars, and
be remembered that he had chartered
away most indiscrsetly, fancying the old
man would know no more than he chose
10 tell.
"l'am fool" he muttered, starting to
his feet. "This Is no silly jest girlH"
Goods truth" said tile girl. "pve
seen sights that would make you move
faster than you're doing now II you had
seen them. There, get your horse and
come. III show you which way To take.
They'll kill me II they suspect mel but
reckon I'll ward them of. Come"
As In a dream, Hogan followed her. She
led him by the hand through the thick
woods, until they came 10 wide opening,
"Mount," she said, land ride that way.
Make all the speed you can: I've done
all can to save your life, Jack Hogan"
"God bless youw said he. "You know
my name, see. II the time should ever
como when l can do as much for you !
will"
"Perhaps," she said, doubtfully.
"You have saved my life, child" be
said, as he mounted his horse. ut is a
debt man don't iorgetin q hurry listen
swear that II / ever can do anything fol
you WILL swear on this" He drew Q
little golden cross from his breast and
kissed II. keep II To remind me Of the
oath II should iorgetit," he said, and put
II into her hands. Then, as a man rides
for his lie, he rode away and reached his
destination In safety.
Two years from that night Captain Jack
Hogan sat alone in his tent, writing q let.
ter home. There was someone at home
who waited for these letters anxlously,
and who Wore them fondly Ia her bosom.
Thoughts Of her soitened the SOLDIERS
heart. Glad indeed would he have been
to leave war and all It's cruel scenes fol
home and peaCe-home and her. Hall
the sentence In which he told her so was
written, when his servants voice sounded
In his ear.
@BeS pardon, Captain. There's girl
outside. Can she see your"
"a girlln said the Captain. "Yes; send
her III. Some poor starving creature,
suppose for orders for rations.n
And then he started to bis feet and
stood amazed and silent; for the figure
that glided in was that Of the girl who had
saved bis Life two years ago that night
She, for her part, drew from her bosom q
litils gold cross and held IL toward him.
"Do you remember your oath 2" che
said.
He anSweredi II do.n
"Then save my Dams life az l saved
yours two years ago."
"Your DAMP" he asked.
Eyes, Dan. Barton. He is to be shot To-
morrow.
Dan. barton, the spy, lay well guarded