Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-05-03


sadiy. b, turning sharp about, Ne struck
for he hsdgss shadow. and thers pullsd him
dow. In . dry ditch and lay With hand On
his mouth 10 stins his ejaculaticus, whtle ws
oursslvss held our breathing.
The runners came up the road. pausing for
. moment by the gata heard it crpak, and
sAw two or three dark forms enter the field
the remainder tearing on up the road with
great clatter Of boota
"Alas, my poor Jacquesf" moaned Sir
Deakin; 'and to Be butchercd %, that never
In his days killed . man but - II he loved
himfr
'sir,"l whispered harshiy, III you keep
this uoise must gag you" And with that
be was silent for while.
There was thick tangle OF brambles In ths
ditch where We lay; and to this we owe our
lives For one Of the men, coming our &kay,
passed within two yards Of us, with the Hat
OF his sword beating the growth over our
heada
"Rsu-bsnl Reuben oedsss!" called voics
BY the gate
The fellow turned; and, peeping bstwesn
the bramble twigs, mw the moonlight gilt
tering ON his blada A narrow, light haired
man he was, with . weak chin; and since then
have paid him out for the fright he gave uA
"whats the coilfn he shouted back.
"The stable roofs ablaxe--for the Lords
sake come and save the hossesi"
He strobe back, and In Q minute the deld
was clear. Creeping out with caution grew
aware Of two mournful facts: first, that the
stable was indeed afire, as perceived by
standing on tiptoe and looking over the
hedge; and, second, that my knee was hurt
by Black Dicks bullet The muscles had
stifened while we were crouching, and now
- k~A Wa 10 49,
We started of again to run.
But at the stile that, at the top Of the field,
led into the woods pulled up.
'Sorry am to say It, but you must 60 on
without me-"
'O-ohl" cried the girl.
"'Tis for your safety. Bee, leave trail
Of blood behind me, no that when day rises
they will track US easily"
And, sure enough, even by the moon, twas
easy to trace the dark spots on the grass and
earth beside the stile Ny left boot, too, was
full of blood.
She was silent for while. Down In the
valley we could hear the screams Of the poor
horses. The light OF the flames lit up the pine
trunks about us to a bright scarlet.
"Sir, you hold our gratitude cheaply."
She unwound the kerchief from her neck,
and, making me sit on the stile, bound up my
bandage to stop the bleeding.
! thanked her, and we hurried on into the
depths of the wood, treading silently on the
deep carpet Of pine needles The ground rose
steeply all the way; and all the way, though
the light grew feebler, the roar and outcries
In the valley followed u.s.
Towards the hills summit the trees were
sparser. Looking upwards l saw that the
sky had grown thickly overcast. We crossed
the ridge, and after a minute or 30 were in
thick cover again.
Twas here that Sir Deakin's strength gave
| out. Almost without warning, he sank down
between our hands, and in second was
taken with that hateful cough, that once al
| ready this night had frightened me for his
| life.
"Ah ahI" he groaned, between the spasms,
"I'm not ft--Fm not fit for It'll" and was
taken again, and rolled about barking, SO
that feared the sound would bring all Set
| ties gang on our heels "Tm not fit for I'll"
he repeated, ss the cough left him, aud he lay
| back helpless among the pine needles.
| Now, understood his words to bear ON his
unfltness for death, and judged them very
decent and properly spoken; and took occa-
sion to hint this In my attempts to console
him.
"why. blcss tho boy |" he cried. sitting up
and staring, "for what Aye think I'm UNI
| suitedf'
"Why, to die, sir-to be sure!"
"Holy Motherr' He regarded me with sur
prise, contempt and pity, all together; twas
ever such dunderhead! II ever man were
at to die, am he-and that's Just my reason
able complaint Heart alivel it's unfit to live
am, tied to this absurd bodyr
suppose my attitude expressed my lack Of
comprehension, for he lifted finger and
! went on:
''Tell me-can you eat beef and drink beer
and enjoy them.'
"Why, yes"
"And fght-heyi and kiss pretty girl,
and be glad you've done IL! Dear, dear, how
do hate fool and FOOLS pityl Lift me
up and carry me STEP This nights work
has killed me; feel it in my lungs 'Tis a
pity, too, for was just beginning to enjoy
it,
lifted him as would babe, and of we
set again, my teeth shutting tight on the
pain of my hurt. And presently, coming to
little dingle about half mile down the
hillside, well hid with dead bracken and
ackberry bushes, / consulted with the girl
The place was we'll sheltered from the wind
that rocked the treetops, and feared to go
much farther, for we might come on open
country at any moment and so double our
peri 1t seemed best, therefore, to lay the
old gentleman snugly in the bottom OF this
dingle and wait for day. And with my buff
coat, and heap of dried leaves, made him
fairly easy, reserving my cloak to wrap
about Mistress Delia's fair neck and shoul-
ders. But against this at first she protested.
"For how are you to manager she asked.
~ shall tramp up and down, and KEEP
watch" answered !, strewing a couch for her
| hos. fot Gan fia Init fair cbap pUe
for the kerchief you gave me from your own
throat"
At last persuaded her. and she crept close
TO her father, and under the edge Of the buff
coat for warmth. There was abundance o,
dry bracken in the dingle, and with this and
some handfuls Of pine needles covered then
over and left them to find what sleep they
might
For two hours and more after this hobblet
to and fro near them well as my wounc
would allow, looking up at the sky through
the pine tops, and listening to the sobbing o
the wind. Now and then would swing my
arms for warmth, and breathe on my fingers
that were sorely benumbed; and all the whil'
kept my ears ON the alert, but heard nothing
Twas, as l said, something over two hour
after, that felt soft, cold touch, and theI
another, like kisses on my forehead. Iput uI
my hand and looked up again at the sky. A
did SO the girl gave long sigh and awok
from her doze.
"Sure l must have dropped asleep" sht
said, opening her eyes and spying my SHADOW
above her; "has aught happenedf'
SAY" replied /, something is happening
that will wipe out our traces and my blood.
track"
'And what is thatF
"Snowl See, It's falling FAST
She bent over and listened to her father
breathing.