The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-07-10


-whyW She searched his face, as his ey,
travelled toward the clump of oaks, fol
lowed II and read his meaning, The out
laws, secure In the utter loneliness OF the
place, were taking their ease in the near'
est shelter. An immediate surprise upon
them there might mean an easy capture
or it might mean death.
For an instant the giil gazed into
Boothroyd's eyes. Blue and gentle as
they had looked to her before, they were
at last alive with steely glitter, She
held out her brown, shapely hands to
him, and he clasped them impetuously.
"To avenge his DEATH" she cried
"Amenl"
A few seconds later, the trusty little
mustang, bearing double, aud with Will
lis behind, was headed toward the brush.
wood. Alexia held the bride, and re-
volver ready cooked. Her companion
was armed to the teeth with the dead
frontiersman's weapons.
Bolero sped softly over the grass, aud
the mail carriers trained eye kept him in
line of the densest cover, Their APP.
proach was as noiseiess as the
departure of the maraude had been;
whom they discovered through the
branches, seated upon the ground divid-
ing their spoils, and-in the carelessness
of their fancied complete securty-with
their own firearms laid aside, though
close at hand.
"Disable-not kill !" whispered Alexio,
and Boothroyd aimed low. At the same
instant the barrels of her own beieweled
weapon were discharged, and the out"
laws knew that the game was up.
Some time later the assembled idlers
who watched from Crimmins's Station
beheld Bolero coming down the post
road. He was long past time; and he
paced along as if he was weary, or else
IN courtesy bound to subdue his speed to
that of the pedestrian beside him.
81 swan ter gracious! Eff thar don't
come Alexy with that thar stranger
alongside! bod rot his blue-eyed carkiss
He amt grit enough fer her, an afore
he shall carry her outen these mount ms
he'll hev ter court the hull passed. ON us !"
Still the blue-eyed stranger was not
abashed by the unfriendly glances of the
irate loungers. "Friends," he said,
quietly, as he offered his hand to the
mai. carrier, who, for the first time in
their experience, accepted assistance in
dismounting, sit will be necessary for
%ho o,,fhorsfsao 10 10, tba l>,.,,al,
beyond the 'Hermit's' cabin and take
charge of few highwaymen whom they
will find there, bound and wounded.
And some to care for all that remains of
faithful old job Aldrich, misjudged
hero, who gave his life for your 'Alexia. :"
Public opinion at Crimmins's changes
swiftly. Twenty-four hours afterward,
when Alexia's red lips had told the story
of the strangers quick wit, prompt
bravery and "splendid aim," the voice
of the community was uttered in the
pipe smokers tones: They'd orter git
married. Them two amt no or'nery
kim, an eff they amt matched in pluck,
an looks, an cddycashun, swamp
Willis Boothroyd echoed public
opinion. So, before he returned to the
East, as he stood with the mail-carrier in
her fathers garden at Blooming City, he
tested its effects on her fair self.
"Alexia," he said, taking her brown,
supple hand in his, ~ love you. You
are the bravest woman in the world, and
l want you for my wife. Dare you risk
the chances of poor scientists future,
and share it with mea"
Though the hand he held trembled,
and her dark eyes dropped before the
passion of his blue ones, it could not
have been from fear, for a witching smile
came out about her red lips, and she
answered low, but firmly, "Yes, l dare;
because I-also-love. "-Frank Leslie's.