The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-07-31

AAA6 ~ 'NNSii 90 Pc'oAp'AAeJ 10 Nssai6SA
there and then.
Down the road she was coming,
and the frosty snow that cracked
under her light feet was not more in
nocent or fearless.
A man in the road
1t might be Jake, her fathers saw
mill hand, Or it might be one of the
farm boys, or it might be neither.
Why should she care?
And yet, as that man drew nearer,
Milly walked more slowly, and her
heart began to beat, she could not
have told why.
She could see him more distinctly
now, and never had her eyes fallen
on anything like that before.
81 almost wish l had the dogs
with me-" she said to herself, with a
shudder. "What a horrible-looking
man thought the tramps were
all gone"
More and more slowly walked
Milly, for as the hideous human
form drew nearer, a pair of blazing,
hungry, wild-beast eyes gloated
fiercely and triumphantly upon her
through the matted locks which
hung from under the battered felt on
his head.
"A darter of his, l reckon" growl-
ed the tramp. "It's all the same,
anyhow some rich mans gal"
A wild scream burst from Milly's
whitened lips, and she tried to spring
past him but his long arm caught
her as she went by, and in an instant
her shawl was wound around her
head.
'No more screechin'," growled the
hoarse, deep voice, though there's
nobody nigh enough to hear you"
Nobody?
Then why is it that the lash had
fallen so suddenly on the good horse
Gilbert Morse was driving, just bey-
ond the turn in the road ?
A scream from vigorous lungs goes
far in frosty weather, and the whip
fell more than once.
Milly struggled hard, even in that
grasp of iron, but her strength was
failing fast, when wild, angry shout
rang down the road, and the tramp
loosed his hold for a moment.
Don't meddle, youngster," he be-
gan, as a fercely plunging steed was
pulled up in a furry of snow at the
roadside
The answer came from the loaded
end of whip, square between his
eyes.
A thinner skull might have been
cracked by it, and, even on his braz-
en- forehead, the blow brought him
to his knees.
Milly Van Nleeck was free, and
she almost instinctively bounded
into the cutter.
There was no room to turn, and
Gilbert Morse gave his trotter the
reins, for he saw the tramp was feel
ing among his rags for something
which might have danger in it. He
longed to stay and finish his work
with his loaded whip, but there was
Milly.
ooh, Gill;" she exclaimed, Chow
shall l get home?"
"The saw-mill road" he replied
"the track has probably not been
broken, but the snow isn't deep"
eyes, but it has," said Milly
"They were hauling logs yesterday
"Safe enough, then" said Gil
"But amt l thankful l came along
then |"
"Did father tell you l was out this
way I knew you would come tc
see me, first thing. And how you
have improved p
Milly's excitement was taking q
form that could not be unpleasant
to her companion but deep cloud
was settling ON his face, notwith
standing, and she checked hersel
suddenly to ask him.
"But what can be the matter? He
did not hurt you, did he?"
"No, but your father has, Milly
l cannot stop at your house. You
father has forbidden me. Something
between him and mine about tn,
election. When we get to the gate
you get out and go in. Perhaps he'll
get over it soon, and l don't want tt
make him any worse just now"
A wise young man was Gilbert
Morse, in spite ofMilly's all but tear
full protestations, for the sight of hi
daughter returning home in sucl
company aroused old Squire Val
Vleeck to the uttermost.
1t was even an aggravation tina
Gil so deity pulled up just lonl
enough for Milly to jump out, anC
then raised his hat so politely to he
father as he drove away.