Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-09-26
Her Fathers Victim.
BY THos p. MoNTFoRT.

along running hours into minutes and
minutes into seconds. Such was the
vav he treated Paul and Louise that
day, and when eventually they did come
back to their surroundings they found
that it was almost night, with the sun
hanging like great red ball low down
in the sky, but few feet from the
earth, seemingly.
Louise was greatly surprised and
shocked when she saw how late it had
grown, and expressed q wish to return
home with all possible speed.
''Ah, Paul. said she, chow could you
treat me so? Why didn't you turn back
before this?"
why didn't you call my attention to
the fact that it was getting so late"
Paul said in reply.
II didn't know it. 1 wasn't MOTTO
ing"
"Neither did know it. But it don't
matter, Louise, for the moon will shine
out bright tonight and we are in no
danger of getting lost"
Are you sure of that, Paul?"
Sure of which, Louise?"
'sNVhy, that the moon will shine out"
.sWhv, I think it does. 1t ought to,
anyhow, and reckon it will"
Louise had some doubts on the point,
and misgivings took possession of her.
What if it became quite dark, and they
so far from home with no road the
greater part of the way to guide them
baclll She began to worry and fret,
and Paul began to console and comfort.
Thus they went along for mile or SO,
and Louise began to feel more cheerful,
But directly she espied a dark cloud
stealing up in the south. Only the edge
of it was visible as yet, but it was stead
lily approaching and bade fair to mantle
the heavens within an hour.
paul" she said, what shall we do?
Thore will be no moon, and the night
will be cloudy. All, we shall get lost
and not get home till morning. What
will pa and mamma think?"
Don't, Louise" Paul replied. ''Be
calm, and don't fret. I'm sorry that we
came so far, but we shall get back all
right. Are you tircd?"
mo, not a bit"
"Thcn let's walk fast while it is light
and get as far towards home as possible.
There will be q light in the window at
your house, and if we get near enough
to sec that we will have no trouble in
finding the way, even if it is dark"
They hurried on as fast as they could,
and before the night came on they had
traversed several miles of the way.
They were hurrying on thus, when just
as the twilight began to fall they heard
| the fall of horses feet behind them,
| and soon thereafter man on horseback
camo Gathering up. They thought he
| was going to pass without speaking,
| - L. Of
| he checked his horse, and turning in the
| saddle so as to face them, lifted his hat
saying:
| ''Excuse me, but could you inform me
whether I am on the road leading tC
Paradise Park?"
"You are," replied Paul.
Thanks, can you give me the dis
tance?"
"a matter of a dozen miles, 1 pre-
sumo"
The stranger asked no more ques
tions, and, evidently having gained al
the information he desired, Paul eX
pectcd him to ride on. But he did not
lie went along slowly for several yards
retaining the same position in tho
saddle and keeping his eyes fixed on the
couple. Louise had not dared to lool
| at MIN aIUCE Vic hE0b RldhCS SIlC SdNN
him when he came up, for somehow sht
felt that his eyes were fixed on her
and she felt an undefnablc dread o.
him, and longed to be rid of his pres
ence After awhile the stranger broE1'
the silence, saying:
"a dozen miles. That is long ride
and this is going to be bad night, too
1t will be terribly dark, and I think i
will rain, don't your
SIT may possibly" Paul replied. car
you stranger in this scction?"
Yes, entirely so. l am just out fror
the east and came up from the railroa
to-day. You live near, I suppose?"
= eyes, quite near"
e Then they went on silently again, an
a Louise kept wishing that the strange
5 would ride away and leave them. Hi
5 presence and his voice bored her an
+ made her nervous. Paul felt that hi
{ company could very well be spared an
he would rather have him go, but h
had no particular objection to his pres
ence. He experienced none of tina
aversion for him that Louise felt.
care you acquainted" asked tn
d stranger, again breaking the pause
with Solomon Scraggs over at Pars
= disc Park?"
81 am" said Paul, land 1 suppos
most anyone in this section can tell 20
the same. The most of them know hi
quite well, and they would perhaps /
J a great deal happier if they knew hi
less"
"So2 Then he is not popular?"
mo, nor would any other man be III
der the circumstances"
''What is that, may ask?"
"Why, loaning money to the settlers
thieving rates of interest. He just rol
every man who borrows from him."
W "You don't say? why he must have a
iron heart, to take advantage of poop
that way. Catches them in close plac
1 suppose, and then bears down on the
to the last notch?"
THAT'S it, exactly" said Paul.
"Then he is merciless miscreant
the other replied. ga heartless wretc,
81 and | SvmpathiZe with those who are