Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-29

sttuulH2 tilCEO tic llRub Vi Tue AAuO
rising moon hitched by the mounting
the housekeeper with a frightened face
same quickly through the gate. 20,
Mr.. Earring! something dreadful has
happened! can't you find herp" she
said, wringing her hands.
John Earring said nothing; his face
was set and he was peering close at
the side of the horse that Maun had
ridden. He could see the red print of
q hand on the milk-white side of the
horse, and other marks of blood, as II
some one upon his knees had strug-
gled to get into the saddle, and his
head was swimming and . noise like
rushing water was in his ears. He did
not hear the woman's question.
Where's her fatherP" he said as she
stood beside him.
"He's been away all evening hunting
for Manu." she said.
'And I've been idle!' and he looked
at her in a strained, strange way.
Then he mounted quickly and sent his
horse at headlong run through the
town, and came laundering across the
bridge by the mill-dam into the wood
lands. He drew his horse up as he
reached the crest of the slope and
WulppOOTWhlS WCIC
down in the silent valley and some
night-birds were twittering In subdued
and dreamy notes about him; he could
scarcely hear them, his heart beat so.
A little way before him some men were
distInguishable in the road. He went
forward quickly, but Maun was not
there. Beyond them were other men,
and the girls father going about under
the trees, calling: "Maun! Mauni
Maunr' in an eager, wild, half-mourn-
full way. The pale slashes of moon
light lit him up momentarily as they
fell through the boughs, and John
EARRING saw that he was without q coat
or hat and his gray hair was shaken
about his white face Springing from
his horse the young man went directly
to him. At sight of his kind old EN-
ployer's grief and fear and passion his
own trembling nerves at first seemed
to vibrate with a shock and then grow
calm. The blood seemed to go along
his veins with kind of burning steadi-
ness, the steadiness that seemed al-
WAYS to- come to John EARRING with
anger, anger that was often little more
than a fierce, pitiful sorrow. He laid
his hand on the old lawyers arm as he
reached him. what has been done
HeTE uG dSh6uS
. The old attorney turned quickly and
peered into his face with an agony of
apprehension IN his eyes. 'Don't-don't
a tone that sounded piteous, coming
from this man who was always so
strong and bitter. mo-" he went on,
without waiting for a reply, ''you don't
know; but you'll find her, boy. you'll
find her for me! She's all I've got,
and meant her for you, 1 meant her
for you'll"
For an instant John Earring was
shaken by this appeal; then he said, in
a thick, calm voice: "What has been
doneP Where have you searchedP"
Everywhere! everytoherer cried the
old man, with his elinched fists flung
up and away from him and his eyes
flashing" 10! o! if any one has
harmed her, boy! if any one has
touched herm-he ground the words
as they came through his teeth
peace, sir; do not be violent; she
may not be alive" said the young man,
huskily, "then anger would defile you'll
Wait awhile; she may yet be alive
,.ou had best go home and rest sir.
will find her before morning and
bring her to you" He spoke so ten
derby to the distracted father that it
half dissolved his own fear and rage.
mo, no, no." said the old man, 81
can't go home without her." and he
turned away under the trees and began
calling: ''Maun! Maun! Maunm as he
went down through the brambles.
John Earling stood still in the sill
very gloom, and his blood thrilled and
he shuddered as he heard him cali
lA~a.A,,aa1xv ,f.lxy
so fearfully along the silent river.
one of the men had caught his
horse and was holding it. At
that moment Absalom Heater came
striding along the road. When he saw
John Earnings white visage he stopped
and grasped his hand. wen find
her for you," he said, in low voice.
He had seen John Earring with the old
lawyers daughter at Joers party, and
somehow guessed that they were con-
nected tenderly.
"Have you seen her, or any one that
might harm her, ABB" the young man
asked.
WAS standin' in the mill door bout
dusk, saw the girl cross the lower
bridge an ride up this way. Let's
see; there was number comm out this
way, all farmers though; yes-ohl
there was that mouse-colored still fell
er that keeps the books at the store; he
went up this way about the same time
the Miss did"
John Earring gave q start, and
mounting quickly went galloping into
the town and ran up the stairs to Fowl
er's rooms above the store. He felt
about in the dark hall and found the
door and knocked. No one answered.
He called the mans name close to the
door, then putting his foot on the door
knob sprang up and caught in the tran
som and pushing it open called the
mans name into the room, but all was
breathlessly still. Then he went down
and rode hard to the woods again, and
all the night long pressed his horse
through the lanes and paths and high.
ways about Openstone. 1t was the
deadliest night of his life; darkling,
burning. longing. hearing in fact and