The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-25

me take the money on and you stay here. IT,
they stop me | will tell them that you have
sent the money TO Mr.. Mitchell"
"You can say | met Mitchell s man, Wilson.
in town, if you choose. ! often send it out by
him, but / met him today before it was paid.
But. Nettie can't let you run into danger"
'There will be no danger TO me. They will
never think ! have the money"
"But they may look to see''
For answer Nettie took down a coil Of superb
brown hair, that had been neatly twisted up
under her hat. Shaking it out she said:
"Give me the notes, grandfather"
He took big roll from his wallet, and looked
on in mute admiration while Nettie twisted it
into her hair, pinning and patting the enlarged
coil until 1t was in order, and finally perching
the dainty hat over all.
Don't worry about me-" she said, kissing
the old man tenderly. Then, after moments
hesitation, she said, very, very grayely:
Grandfather, you will keep secret If 1 tell
you one"
eyes, dear"
"Then, while you are grateful that you are
not exposed to robbery and, perhaps, murder,
, thank heaven. too, for my escape. One of
these men is Frank Mitchell"
She kissed him and was gone before he had
sufficiently recovered from his amazement to
answer her
She drove rapidly, hoping to pass Higgins's
barn too quickly to be stopped, as dusk was
gathering. But three men stood across the
road, and the horse stopped. The men were
all masked, but Nettie knew well that it was
her lover who grasped the horse by the bride
and ordered her grandfather to alight.
1t was a hard task to laugh, but Nettie was
brave in the face of the actual peril. With a
light laugh she said:
~ am not Mr.. Snow. Don't you know
girl from an old mau?'
"This is Mr.. Shows buggy" growled one of
the men.
"Well hasn't he a right to lend it to his
granddaughter to 90 home imp retorted Net
tie.
"Ain't he going over to Mitchell's?" asked
the growing voice
mo. Oh' as if the idea had suddenly oc-
CURED to her-"Oh, you wicked men! You
thought grandfather was taking money to Mr..
Mitchell's. Oh, I'm SO gladi He met Wilson
in town, and he has sent Mr. Mitchell the
rents"
The fierceness of the oaths that met this
statement made Nettie's heart sink. But she
sat erect and watched the hand that held her
horse. In the first surprise the man turned to
his companions. and Nettie, gathering the
reins firmly in her left hand, suddenly brought
the whole whiplash with all the force of her
young arm across the hand she was watching.
Involuntary il loosened its grasp, while the
horse, startled by the same blow, dashed ahead
with speed that threatened new danger, for
the dusk was gathering.
Nette saw Harry Lane at the cross roads,
patiently waiting, but was compelled to pass
at full speed, with only nod of recognition.
Before she reached her destination she had
full control of the horse again. but it was q
very pale face that confronted the fathery old
man who received her.
With a low faltering voice she told her story,
unbound her hair and delivered the money.
But instead of counting it Mr.. Mitchell
tossed it down and asked:
"Nettie, did you recognize the men?'
"Only one of them"
"And that one-who was be "
ooh, don't ask me. Oh, Nj Mich Il, don't,
don't ask me!'
4 ~ i 1o,t
tie broke into passion OF sobs. She turned to
the door, her hair all streaming about her
shoulders, but Mr.. Mitchell put his hand on
her arm and gently detained her
You must tell me! Is it for my sake you
are silent? Would he-he--the man rob me?
Nettie, you must speak. Was it my son ?''
Her face answered him, for she could not
speak, With shaking limbs she left the house
and drove home What spirit of bravado
tempted Frank Mitchell to be there waiting
for her, she could not tell but he was in the
sitting room chatting with her mother as she
entered. Weary she was. the sight reused
all Nettie's spirit and in answer to her moth
er's question, "Why, Nette, did you drive
home2 ?" she told her story in every detail, ex-
cepting her recognition of the man who lis
tened. Then saying:
Il must so and put MP my hair, she turned
to leave the room again. Stopping as she
passed her visitor she said in a voice only
heard by himself:
''You are wise TO wear your gloves until the
mark of my whip lash is gone from your
hand"
Folks said they "reokoned young Mitchell
was Tilted by Nettie Wilder fore he left
Clovordale and went off to New York to live
but, arter ell, she'd got good husband, for
everybody knew Harry Lane had just loved
/ the ground she walked on ever since he was a
mite of boy" And Harry Lane wonders
why Nette always has a grave face for mo-
ment when she secs the first October pippins
or any OF Higgins yellow pears.