St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-04-09

1reess stirred the creepers that trailed
lever the porch pillars I thought oi
Sultan, already overwearied.
II have half . mind to walk, and lei
you send Sultan after me this after.
noou," I said.
'.lts Just . pleasant walk, sir" said
mine host, rubbing his hands and smil.
ing. esquire Aclkley IN old friend OF
yours, sir?'
"Yes-no; ! have never seen him.
He YVES my brothers friend"
The landlord looked st the mourning
band On my hat. and nodded.
Are you expected. sir?" he asked.
II suppose 60" replied.
Other questions NO doubt INV land.
lord would have asked. but checked
them BY inquiring the exact way. and
Get forth
II Wa lonely path. lying through q
solitary glen The trees were yet
drenched and dripping from the storm
Of the night before. and, q I lushed
ny way through oyerhanging bushes,
the drops drenched me with miniature
showers; but cared not
was picking my way over the stones
that lay across . rivulet directly In the
path. when, looking mp. met the gaze
Of pair of dark eyes
A man, wearing . little SLOUGH hat
and with his hair and clothing sprinkled
with bright drops. stood before me.
He must have sprung down the steep
hillside. with almost incredible agility.
Pale, with dark eyss, and wet. matted
hair pushed away from his high white
FOREHEAD, he seemed to me to bring
back the scene Of the night before
the wooded wilderness and the blue.
white CLEAN Of the lightning.
Il wish You . good morning. sir. /" he
said, pleasantly. II confess I didn't
expect to meet strangers in this out-of.
the-wsy place"
returned his selutation some what
stifay. - -
He glanced 1t my dress, which prob.
ably bore the impress of my journey
Of the night before.
'Ah," he said. loosely. 'boyou were
out IN the rain last niGht?"
Was I only giving vent to my suspic-
ions. or was the crafty cunning of mad
ness in his eye - he looked at me, ss
il to sound whether remembered him
or not?
looked him steadily in the eye a
answered: ''Yes, and you were. too"
He started, and his eyes suddenly
fell before mine--a deep crimson spot
burned an instant in each cheek and
left them paler than before.
s'You are mistaken. SIR" he said.
Iresolved to humor the within of the
instant more particularly a I caught
sight Of the CLEAN Of . silver mounted
revolver in the inside pocket Of his
coat
Truly this was no pleasant predica-
ment to be alone In the woods with .
mailman, and IN armed madman, too.
I had faced death. undaunted had
lain in . fever trance and heard the
physicians whisper Of me: There Is
not the shadow of hope for him." yet
never before had felt such . sickcn-
ing thrill Of terror. such an appalling
nearneas Of death, rs now came over
me. What should I do? where should
I turn? resolved to conciliate him a
far - possible
"A lonely place." said, trying to
speak conposedly.
"YeA"'
could zee that he was watching me
intently Is we walked along, never
taking his eye OF me, and my blood |
ran cold 1t the glitter Of that unnstur-
ally brilliant eye.
''Are We far from the high road?' |
asked.
about half . mile, I" he said.
! dropped . little back; with one
spring he was 1t my side.
The path il narrow" apologized,
and"
''wide or narrow, I prefer walking /
side by side" he said, sternly, with . |
glance 1t the weapon lying
againsf his breast, aud.a menacinR look l
d ma
certainly" stammered. ''cer-
tainly."
But what had been half defined doubt
before, became open apprehension now.
felt the full peril of my position.
Shoald be murdered In this solitary
glen, with no human aid near. no NOR
tai ear TO catch my dying cry? No
oue could prophecy how or when the
fearful rnalady Of my unweleome COM
panioa would burst into open fury! I
did not like the expression Of his face
- glanced sideways ut it; ventured
no more question: The cold prespira-
lion stood ON my forehead; the blood
seemed congcaling round my vitals; at
every step felt n il my limbs must
give way beneath me.
I stopped an instant, ostensibly to
fasten the lace of one Of my boots.
which had become loosc-actually to
rest moment When I rose mp again
was alone in the green, shifting light
Of the shadowy glen!
My companion had vanished!
I looked around, half expecting to
Iee some rift in the messy ground
through which he had disappeared. or
ZONE rock behind which he had con-
sealed himself; but no such natural
phenomena" presented themselves. 1
wss standing on q sort of table land
half way mp the steep ascent, and
DsVVe08 WING OtfCu0S W0vGO v0CIS |
'ilvery arms and green foliage around
ne. A looked more closely. how.
Dver. the faint tracery Of . footpath
,eldo0 used and little trodden became
Iia61ss branching on from the one
lpon which stood and losing itself in
he thick woods beyond II
My heart leaped up with . sensation
4 freedom and lightsomeness that per-
aided every pulse. The summer sum
hiue on the moss seemed frightened
With . new glow; the wild roses nod.
ling round my feet seemed sweeter.
md the song Of the birds bore new
meaning to my cara Free! free at
asst! And I fastened my footsteps
oward Arch hall with feeling that | Z
vas hurrying to some city Of refuge.
The square ehimneya came in sight
{ last and hailed the solid old
tructure with delight springing over
he light wire fence that divided the
rounds from the glen, and. striding
p the walk with CHEEKY footsteps, I 4