Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-07-24

an awful racket. There's one consolation:
if them there bosses have to go fur, they've
been well fed an every shoe is as sound as
a trigger-ha, hap And Ben Stone shut
up his knife and went in to inform his
master that as likely rs not some one had
stolen something or other about the place,
but it couldn't be proved by him.
"Shut up and go to bed with you, and
don't answer questions until your askedw
s.the curt reply, with this addition in
an undertone: 81 wouldn't begrudge
the best span I've got to get even with old
Gringer once more"
Patter, patter! click, click! neck to neck
and nostril to nostril, along ridge and
| through wooded hollow skinned the two
| feet coursers like some well mated birds
! of flight. But few words were exchanged,
! but two pairs of human ears, at least,
| strained, minute by minute, to catch the
| first sound of expected pursuit.
! Out of another valley and up to the top
| of another ridge they go steadily, painting
and steaming They pause q second to
breathe, and look and listen.
| Away.back on the last ridge, mile or
more away, the moonlight gistens on
something bright-a silver plated buckle
| or saddle decoration-and then there comes
a clear, ringing sound as when steel strikes
! flint.
He's coming! Oh, hurry, Dickl We can
not reach Mr.. Stilwell's in time; it's"--
| ''Three miles yet, and''-
| "You know Fleetwood's gait; Mr.. Ma
son never had a horse that could .outrun
him. What shall we do? Oh, if only we
| were''-
Married, and could call you my own;
xL4,, 4 49,, L.
| but could defend my right to you in the
| eyes of the law. Listen! What's that
! ahead?"
'The Corners are just down there, you
! know, and some one may be coming on the
| cross road.'
can idea! That is the direction from
which the preacher comes. What if it
should be- But, no; he's going straight
ahead of us. Yes, there he turns! Whip
| up, and let's oyertake him, whoever the
! rider be!''
| And the two blown and jaded horses
were urged afresh.
A quarter of a mile; half a mile; three
| quarters. The sound of hoofs in both di-
| rections are growing distinct. Oh, so near
behind!
"Call him, Richardl He may STOP Oh,
if it only isl"
"But your father will hear, too, and
hasten! Hello, there! Waitr'
"Who is it?"
81 can't be mistaken in that voice, Dick
He has stopped Now"-
In a moment the overtaken party was
seen, sure enough, to be the very preacher
they were riding hard and fast to find But
| while the situation was being explained
the footsteps of the pursuing horse were
heard close by, and in minute another
''Hello!'' rang on their ears, hoarse and in
furiated: "Stopl stop, command you'll
Mamie, your father tells you to stopi
Young man, I'll horsewhip you on the spot
if you don't give me my daughter!"
The two looked at each other in despair
There would scarcely be time to begin the
ceremony. Must they be torn asunder
when SO near the goal? The thought made
the girl turn pale, and she almost sank
| helpless in her lovers arms.
But the preacher, backwoodsman that he
was, was a man of wit and resources, and
of heart as well. 'sKeep on" said he
quietly, land ride as fast as you can. will
follow. Join your hands and sit firm in
the saddle when tell you. have it ell an
the tip of my tongue. The Lord please,
you'll be man and wife before that horse
y
Chatter, clatter--clink, clink! rang the
sharp hoof beats! Nearer and nearer they
came together; but the words rolled off the
preacher'stlips, as he rose and sank in his
stirrups, faster than the speed of the racers.
1t was race of tongue against hoof!
The wild, mad pelting of the iron shod
feet were pitted against heart throbs and
brain pulses and trembling lips!
The strain upon John Mason's horsefesh,
and its feeter competitor, whose master
spared him neither pain nor life, was tell
ing; but the tension on two hearts that
were tortured by suspense was still more
terrific,
Nearer and nearer sped Fleetwood, until
his hoarse painting almost drowned the
preachers words! But a few rods separated
them!
Join your right hands," came the sharp
command
"Halt, I command you, in the name
OFF
''Put spurs Forasmuch as Richard W.
Anderson and Annie Gringer have con-
scented toll
"Hold up there! Pm an officer of the
law!' demanded another voice, drowning
the rest Of the preachers "forasmuch'
But the wild wedding party dashed for
WdlSl, uON nlulOSU CONCISu ny UIlc uuSU UuG
others raised, and the preachers lips
worked fast.
SIN the name of the Father''-
"Halt, or you'll suffer the pepal"-
"And of the Son"-
'Give me my daughter, you villain!"
"And of the Holy Ghost, pronounce
that they are husband and wife. Amen"
And love had won the race!
There was a halt then and explanations
that disarmed the man of the law and sent
old Joel Gringer back to his belated supper |
with vain cursings OF his luck.
The supper at Stilwell's was Favored with
pleasanter reflections, and Ben Stone had
many an opportunity to wonder aloud, in
his SLY way, Glow in tarnation them hogs
ever did get into old man Mason's corn
field jest when Dick Anderson wanted to
steal Joel Gringer's daughter "-J. F.
CoWan in Frank Leslie's Monthly.