The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-01-30


thrusting into his hand sealed note. mur
INJURED the name Of Mddsn,oisciS Cdmiie.
"Am to give her thisln he asked
soul, monsieurl" she answered.
Too bad, too badl" said Allen, thrustinf
the note into his pocket, as his horse started
down the road. every one connected witt
this confounded mystery is either dumb OIL
speaks some foreign language except
Bertha, who refuses to reveal any thing"
The child proved TO be very patient little
fellow, and sat silently in front OF Allen
Fearing that some Of the villagers might be
awake and that they would see him, Allen
after cantering gaily down the old turn
pike to the bottom of the hill, turned aside
and rode around Turley's Point, entering
the road two miles beyond It.
Knowing his danger he became quite
nervous. Every sound emitted from tha,
dark wood he construed into pursuer
From those dark recesses he seemed to ever
sec the frightfully stern visage of tho tall
dark man ut the chateau. The dcmonacal
smile Of triumph on his dark yisage bode nc
good to the horsoman and his young charge
Tho face followed him everywhere. II
peered at him from the fence csrners, or
hedge-rows, or the orchard beyond wherever
he went, that revengefGl face followed him.
Down long lane, through forest, across
a bridge and Npa hill the noble steed, bearing
his double burden, gallopcd Tho child was
so still and quiet that Allen thought he must
be asleep. 1t was moi until he attempted to
change his position that he found him
awake. He turned his great blue eyes in
mute wonder and appeal to his guido and
companion.
"Poor child" said Allen. ~ wouder IL
he knows where he is gong or what Is to
be his fate when he gets there! wish his
speaking and hearing faculties were as
clear as his big blue eyes, would fathom
this mystery. Yes, l am mean enough to
pump child to find this OUT
The mystery of Turley's Point had bafHed
the shrewdest and most inquisitive of the
village Even Aliens daring was defied
by 1t, until he had become desperate
1t was ono Of those calm, quiet starlight
summer nights, and had it not been for the
constant strain upon his nerves, Allen
would have found the riding pleasant. The
moon did not rise until well on towards
morning, and the fore part of the night was
quite dark, especially when passing through
the forests.
While galloplng along a wooded ridge
Allen heard the sounds Of horses hoofs in
the rear.
"Are we pursuedln he asked himself.
He soon became certain that theshorse-
man was gaining on them. The fierce ring
OF hoofs became louder every momont.
81 might outrun him." said Allen, I" but
with this child TO look after it would be
best TO play game of hide and seek"
On his left was narrow, dark path lead
ing down into the woods, and he turned his
horse into it. Here he waited until his pur-
suer had passed along the road. The ring
Of iron hoofs upon the stony road could be
heard long before the horsoman reached the
point opposite where Allen had reined In his
horse. When the sound Of hoofs had died
away in the distance, the editor again re-
turned TO the road and continued his Jour
ney. The little boy became sleepy, yawned,
laid his tired head against Aliens shoulder
and was soon buried In slumber.
"Poor little fellow" said Allen, gazing
into that young face, disfgured with care
and WEAKNESS. "His being part of that
terrible mystery has had fearful effect on
him.
The child had wonderful resemblance TO
Bertha. The fair, beautiful face and gold
en- curly hair was similar TO hers. Undis-
turbed by the easy motion of the horse, his
slumbers were not disturbed.
Allen W Is kept awake by the responsible
ity that was on him. Sometimes he blamed
himself for having undertaken this journey
at the request Of one whom he really did
not know. Was ever man engaged In
more madcap enterprisei II might be, aft
or all, that 1t was only shrewd scheme TO
make him tool In an abduction.
Heaven knows 1t is no wrong on my
part" sighed Allen. "But know that l
am committing no wrong. She who bado !
me do this errand Is too good, too pure to
mediate wrong. / will not for moment |
doubt her motives. By whomsoever she |
may bo surrounded, by whatever mystery
she may be engulfed, her goodness and the |
purity Of her motives can not be ques. |
toned"
He reached long bridge which spanned
q small stream. Before he reached the ap- |
proach he discovered horscman descend |
ing the opposite hill, and, fearing that 1t |
was returning pursuer, Allen rode down |
the creek bank under tho approach TO the
bridge, where he remained until the horse
man had come over and had gone out Of |
hearing up the very road be himself had
come
=" If that was pursuer, ho is now on the
backiracli," thought Allen.
Our hero was really In poor condition
for either fight or defense The sleeping
child lay heavily on him, and he was totally |
unarmcd. When the horsoman was out Of
ear-shot Allen returned to the road,
crossed tho bridge and galloped over the
opposite hill and along the hard-beaten
road.
Night was well-nigh spent and he was
several miles yet from his journeys end.
"Thl3 Ia certainly remarkably patient
child,n sGid the hor8eman, gazing into the
face Of the sleeping boy, as his horse can.
tered along the road. "Hc has not, by a
gesture or movement, indicated either
WEAKNESS or impatience. Poor little fel.
low, this journey. hope, will result in great
good to YOU
The moon, well on toward morr,ng came
struggling above tho eastern horizon, but In
its old age its light was but little The
silver ray thrown upon the earth was very
pale indeed
Darkness, slowly but surely, began 10
fade. The child slept on. The eastern hoY.
lion grew to bright vermillion, and stars
In the far east began TO slowly pale and 20
out before the approach OF moro powerful
light A new day was coming into exist
once' and the journey lacked several rlilos
Of completion.
CHAPTER Kill
NILE. CAMILLE
u davnod, tho sun rose above the hills