River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-03-10

she had run as fleet as a deer. laughing
at every step over her mistake. Now
she was grave, with a devotion to her
supper that absorbed all her attention.
And there was something familiar in
every turn of her head, in her rich,
ripe color, in the sparkle and dash of
her beauty. Who was she?
They were delayed again. this time
by a horse casting shoe at the last
moment While the hOstlcr was acting
as temporary blacksmith, the passen-
gers grouped themselves in or about
the coach Here the young man ven
tured to ask a question, which he could
not have done when they were making
that breathless run to the coach.
Going far?'' he asked, indifferently.
"NO; I have been travelling Iy rail
for a week, but now am nearly home.
am going to Longtown.n
Home? Longtown? Why, that is
where live
lie could not disguise the pleasure
that the announcement gave him, nor
the complete surprise it was to hear
her speak of LOngtown as ''home."
DO you live there?" She spoke with
eagerness now. Il am glad, for you
must know Col Robert Sheldon"
Certainly / know him. He has lived
there a good many years Most people
know him. Oh, yes. Col. Bob is very
we'll known indeed in all these parts. :"
Il was sure of il. Then You can tell
anc something about him. You see
do not know him at all. and-'-with a
hysterical little laugh-'I am going to
visit him"
Then he must be a relative of
yours" said the young man with pc
culiar infection of voice that was not
observed by the girl.
''lIe IS Yes, indeed, we are quite
relatives. / mean we are related, but
il Is some years since have seen him.
and do not remember how he looks ."
''Oh, he looks well enough-he is
very handsome, but you surely cannot
be going alone to visit such a man as
Col. Bob?"
"Such a mani" her voice was full of
Indignation, aud she turned away with
out another word and sought the pro-
lection of Priscilly's mother. by whose
side she was soon seated in the coach.
The young man who had offended
her did not enter the coach until it was
ready 10 resume its trip; then he sat
down by the door in the most unobtru-
sive manner, and remained quiet
1t was magnificent night The
road sk.rting the foothills of the
Rockies was lighted by a full moon.
Not sound was heard except the roll
and rumble of the hurrying coach, and
the rapid steps of the galloping horses.
Some Of the passengers were asleep;
tue grumpy old ma n snored a duet
with Priscilly's m other. whose head re-
posed on the shoulders of the young
girl, who was not asleep. The young
man at the door of the coach was also
awake. and anxious. He had been
FUN bling at something IN his hip
pocket. Suddenly there was a sound
the cry of a catamOunt, perhaps, but
it gave the horses a start and they
plunged ahead faster than before
Ben. as the driver had called hint
was his name. too-looled at the girl.
then he rose and made his way over
the feet OF the other passengers to her.
Are you afraid?' he asked, in low
tone.
Before she could answer the Goa IL
was surrounded by masked men, armed
to the teeth
Halt
Glands up. II any man pulls gun,
he viii be shot
Hand out your valuablesr'
The conflict was short and decisive
One man stood outside and gave the
orders, the others robbed the passen-
gers, without violence, but at the muz-
/ zle of a revolver The only man who
showed fight received a bullet through
the shoulder 1t was Ben, who at
tempted to defend the two women
with his revolver
Let them take my money and my
Jewels cried the young girl, with
superb scOrn. but when my father
hears of it he viii bring them to pun
ishment. YOU may be assured
Who is he, miss?" asked one of the
outlaws. with mock mOdesty.
"IIe is Col. Robert sheldon, of Long
town" answered the girl, proudly.
''Oh, my God" exclaimed Ben as he
sunk with a bullet in his shoulder and
lay in a heap in the straw flooring of
the coach
There was a hurried consultation
outside. and then one of the masked
men reentered the coach.
at was all joke, he said. in dis
guised voice, land if that hot-headed
young fool had kept still there
wouldn't have been any harm done.
Take your money and valuables, but
/ as YOU value your lives keep your hands
up Go ahead; drive of with YOU
He fred his pistol in the air by way
of expediting their departure. then,
as the horses galloped away, he disap-
| peared with his comrades in the oppos-
lite direction
The coach went into Longtown on
/ one wheel. the horses lathered with
foam. The two women alighted. pale
as ghosts. Ben was carried into the
/ LonCtown hotel on an improvised
st-etcher
Not bit of dar ger" said the local
medic an hour or two later. he was
talking to the pretty girl of the stage
| coach
He'll be out again in a month. You
I can 80 III anu SC nm "A = NA HAsAAs
/ miss"
What is his name?" she asked,
/ hurriedly.
Ben Holcombe," answered the doc
/ tor; hes one of our most promising
/ young men I'D like to string mp the
l wretches who shot him.
/ The young woman entered the parlor
/ softly. and saw by the dull flame of a
/ fiar.ng oil lamp the young man
/ bolstered up on the sofa Her beauti-
/ full eyes filed with tears
1T is very strange" she said. but
/ cannot find nv father. There Is some
/ thing wrong. What Is it,
Did he expect you?' asked Zen.
I family.
No l came to take him by sur
prise. I wrote that was sending him
a present 1t is SIX years since