Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-07-22
OVER THE BORDER.
By wALrER
CONTINUED

~ KANNNNAN@ W fA wv
that the boy would shortly be beyond the
reach Of hops. This done, he informed
Nan tbat the worst part Of her journey
had yet to DO accomplished, aud that abe
had better take some meat and drink, IN
less she wished 10 fall of her saddle with
fatigue, in which case Dan would have to
carry her. She accepted without speaking
nnd under cover Of her hood, made an ex-
eeIlsnt supper, being, in fact, already
pretty well exhausted with fatigue and
huager. When she had finished, Mathew
offered her 8 bottle which contained
brandy. He was amazed to find when
she returned it 70 him that she had taken
1t one draught about half = pint Of the
spirits, so that he looked to see her reel and
fall off the pony. That she did not do so
he attributed to the effect Of the cold night
air and the long ride, being unsusplclons
how strong and seasoned = head Was bid
deo beneath that hood.
Supper finished, Mathew examined the
boy concerning the rosd. He would tell
nothing at all about it, yet be said he
knew where 10 find il and how to follow
it, and, in short, undertook to guide the
party without danger by as snort = Wsy
"a could be found across the moor. lie was
certain that he could do this, but he
not explain how be knew the way no IN
what direction il wound among the halls.
Iu faet, how was the boy to describe o road
who knew moi north from south. or east
from west, nor had any but the most
staple English at bis command IN which
TO speak OF valley or hill, ascent or dssceoiF
Tue moor over which they crossed that
dark night in as perfect safety Is II q
broad highway had been laid down for
them, and was lit with oil lanterns hke
some of the streets of London, is the Wild
est, / suppose, in all England.
The boy, as before, led the way, walking
without hesitation, though the night was
so dark. What he saw to indicate the road
no one could tell. Nan, for her own part,
could ses nothing at all before her for the
pitehy darkness of the night and the o n
tinual patteriDg of the rain.
Here il the very head OF the Chevlots,
the middle OF the mOOrs and feils, across
which so many parties Of pluudecers, cat
tie ffters and smugglers have made their
= There ia not 3 valley among these
wild hills which has not witnessed many
a gallant fight. There is not = hillside
which hiss not run with streams OF blood.
There is not q mountain among them all
which has not its ghosts Of slain men. The
heath and ling have been trampled under
the feet of Thousands of soldiers, for in the
old days there was no peace upon the
bOsrder, and every dnsn was d soldier ail
his lite. Bat, since the invasion OF the Young
Pretender, there has been no fighting on
the Border. Smugglers have taken the
place Of the cs,tlelitters, and peaceful
ponies laden with forbidden goods go across
the moor iu place Of horses ridden by men
10 iron. For those who love TO be awed
by the wildneSs Of Nature, q place sd-
mirabls and wonderful, but full Of terror
At all times to the heart Of sensibiilty. L
do not say, however, that the moors were
terrible to any of those who crossed them
on this cold and dark night, save for the
darkness aud tAs rain, and the fear that az
any moment they might all 90 head first
into a quag. The boy, to begin with, was
quite iusensible 10 any impression which
can h produced ny natural objects; rocks,
prscipiees, wild stretches Of land, dark
~woods-all were alike tohim. Asfor Dan,
/ suppOse he never thought OF anything AT
ali. Mathew wSS too toll Of the gloomy
f~orebOdiugs which always precede the
punishment of wic&ednssS, to regard the
thing around hun, and Nan, aS ~inssnslole
a. the boy, was wishing only that the
Journey was over, because she was horribly
cold and getting tired.
The hoy led them by that wonderful IN
stinet ND the slope Of the hill to y high
level, where the Wind was kesper and the
rain colder. He kept Is nearly AZ possible
to the came level, leading them round the
middle heights upon the slopes OF the great
Fells and above the dales. The direct DIS
lance is not more than eight miles, but by
reason of the winding Of the way l suppose
they uust have doubled that distance. II
WAS l O'Clock when they left Alnham be-
hind them, and it was already D before
Ehev came down the hill on the north side
of Windgate.
Master" said the boy ut last, pointing
at something invisible, 'yonder's Hetholm,
and you are in Scotland"
Mathew started and sat upright IN the
saddle. throwing back his cloak. He was
in Scotland. Why, then, his work was
done. He laughed and laid his hand upon
his prisoners arm.
MY wife," he cried. bear witness,
Dan; my wife, 1 say"
CAV, ay, master. Give We JOY, miss.
Master, another dram to drink the leddy's
health"
Mathew gave him his bottle. Dan took
a deep draught and then, wiping the
mouth OF the vessel, handed 1t to the lady.
Take 8 drop" he said. "1tn warm
your blood after that long ride"
Then followed so prolonged q draught or
the brandy that Dan, too. as Mathew had
done five hours age, looked to see the girl,
unaccustomsd 70 strong drink, fall from
her saddle. But she did not. And honest
Dan marveled, remembering, besides, the
vigOr of her heels and tina. unexpected
reality of that elout. A wife so gifted
with manly strength of heel aud hand,
who could also drink so fair, seemed 20
this simple fellow q thing to be envied,
indeed.
As regards the run, let me say at once,
so rs to hsye done with il st once, that 1t
was quite successful, and proved q profit
able venture to all concerned, though
Mathew, for bis part, never showed any
10Y when the work OF the night was spoken
of. It was q bold thing to venture across
the nIoors on so dark y night; no n In
Office looked for such q venture IN the lit
tie village of Yetholm; and the stuff, taken
in the farmers carts to Kelso, was all sold
of at once, therefore Mathew might have
been proud of his exploit. But he was
not, and when the old woman, accompanied
by the boy, came home two days later and
brought the news of what had happened,
the success Of the venture lost sill its in
terest in presence of the wonderful tale
they had TO tell.
They rode into Yetholm 3 good while
before dsybresk, and the people Of the inn
little more than y village ale house
were still in their beds. Ii was now rain
ing again, with 3 cold wind, while they
waited for the house TO be reused and the
fire 10 be laid. Nan began now, indeed,
though she had borne brsvely the rough
Journey Of the night, to feel the keen
morning air and the fatigue Of the long
ride. Her limbs were numbed, and when,
At last, the door was opened and the hre
lit Dan had to lift her of the pony and
carry her in. They placed her IN q chair
before the fire, where she saddled upin her
cardinal and hood, refusing to take them