St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-09-01


MMANSNN$&< ened. Surely,
\ IWM&M ~(SS$&' that was q
WWMMA~M$M knocking at the
W\\<iM$$MA$$~ outer door.
-<\S& But who could
~ it be at this
limo Of night? She was quite alone
IN the house, and the house itself was
lonely enough, a small cottage stand
ing back from a country road; not
near any other dwelling. Then,
further, the curate had been called to
. sick man three miles off; he might
not be home all night: and the servant.
old Molly, was gone to see her sister
In the village q mile away; but Molly
had the key of the back door. and SO
had no need to knock ut the front
door. What made Nina cautious was
the fact that there was trouble at Mr..
Hinton's mills at Copeland-somef four
miles distant, and there might be idle
people about; otherwise she was not
fearful; girls accustomed to country
solitude are not so timid as their town
sisters. Yet girl of twenty, and q
very pretty girl, too, may well hesitate
70 open the house door between ten
and eleven o'clock at night to pos
sible ruffian. 1t was q wild night, too.
with a gale of wind blowing across
the moors-the sort of night burglars
affect
As the girl paused, the knocking came
again. There was no mistake about
It this time. Then a thought flashed
across her mind "How silly of me!
OF course, it's poor Molly; she has for
gotten her key;" and she quilted the
little parlor, and went out into the
hall, lighted with an oil lamp. She
drew back the bolts-there was no
chain-and opened the door-but re-
coiled . step. startled, even frightened
for . tall, slight man. wearing . low
felt hat, stepped hastily across the
threshold. closing the door behind him.
But even rs he did this, he pulled of
his hat, and Nina saw . dark, hand
some face. and head covered with
crisp black curls.
"Forgive me-" he said. speaking
quick and low; the intonation was re-
fined; the man, Nina could see now,
was certainly a gentleman-'I am fly
ing for my ife.''
"Flying for your life!" the girl re-
peated, amazed. She felt no actual
fear now. her unexpected visitor was
neither burglar nor madman, and by
his speech he was . Londoner.
Eyes; the men at the Hinton mills
are ON strike-they have fired the
mills; they broke into the house where
lodged was one against a hundred
Il had to fly. Some of them followed
me, but, stay-are you alone?"
"Yes, no matter for that!" The GIRL 9
brave spirit rose to the occasion. The
fugitive's looks. mien and manner car
ried conviction: he was speaking truth;
she would shelter him. II will help
you," she went on rapidly. Tell me
who you are: Why do the men hate
your"
II am Derck Werner. the new en-
gineer. Ihave opposed the mems de-
mands. They want me to dismiss the
foreman under me. and / refused. But
/ cannot remain il you are alone. Inn
possible! L"
You must remain!" the girl sx-
claimed, springing past him to the
door. They won't look for You here. :"
She shot the bolts. This way" she
said, then pointing to the open parlor
door. He followed her into the room.
s'If close the shutters" she said.
''they will see no light-they will
think the house is shut up. Are they
coming this way? How many are
there?'
IA dozen, at least They are pretty
close on my track. Let me!' He
stopped before her and barred the
shutters, drew The curtains across the
windows, then turned to Nina. She
saw his face full and clearly now in
the bright lsmplight-a face full of in
telligence, with brilliant dark eyes
and the look that wins instructive faith
from women.
Young lady" he said. quietly.
"thank you for trusting me. won't
fail you. Tell me who you are-whose
house is this?'
Il am Nina Medwyn. My father is
the curate Of the church here. He is
out visiting sick man. I haven't
any wine to offer You, but have some
spirit" She began to open q side
board. Werner touched her arm.
NO" he said. nothing but glass
Of water"
"Nonsense!-I beg your pardon-the
spirit will do you good" She poured
some into \ glass. added water to it
and gave it to the young engineer.
You are too good,' he said, and
drank obediently. As he set down the
glass Nina started. ''Hark- she said.
''do You hear? it was a shout, You
must hide: they might come here after
all"
Hide! do you think l would leave
you to face those villains alone? II
they come will go out and meet them.
They shall do no harm here.
NO! no." the girl cried, with fash
ing eyes. "How do you think l can
endure that?"
Miss Medwyn-it is useless TO hide
--he took her hand in his. speaking
firmly "If the men once entered the
house they would discover me. and |
could never svffer things to 20 that
ACoH VA. "ouio sOVuCI U6 SnOl ike
dog. Twill stay here; but il the men
come and insist on an entrance / will
give myself up
"Ah, no. no.-you must be saved
All. my God!'
TOO late" he said. quietly. but he
held her hands in Tightening clasp;
''they are here. Hush-'
A S,,,,~A -
heavy steps coming up the little gar
den path. Nina listened, white as
death. hut her teeth were set like a
wise. A heavy thump on the door.
The man and the girl looked at each
other; his eyes were, .glistening; he
drew his breath slowly. Out his face
was set like 4 aint. Another thud
and loud summons to open.
Hist" Nina whispered, She glided
away. up to the P0eI& above, and