The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-08-31
the road AGAIN.

the road AGAIN.
She stood still and listened. but no
sound greeted her ears other than tne
rush OF the wind in the Iree-tops over
head aud the murmur of the river be-
low and the wild beating Of her own
heart
"A all risks she thought, II must
get home 1 can't stay here ia the
forest all night, though perhaps the
perils from wild beasts would be less
than the dangers from my own kind
And flying in desperate haste
through the gloomy paths. where the
first faint silver rays of the starlight
We're beginning To irradiate the scarce
~ visible way, she came AT last IN sight
of the old stone mill 6y the waterfall.
with the long. low dwelling o. the
Harkins' at its side, all shining with
welcome lights
Supper's ben ready this half hour
said Mrs Harkins. a lean. f-.tful
female. who always wore. a sun bonnet.
winter or summer. indoors or out. and
shnfiied around the house an hapninr
carpet slippers You're late. ain l vou.
Miss Clare? And, good land alive.
how pale You be-
II wal.sed very fast" said Sophv.
with convulSive catching % the breath
aud turning paler than ever a. she saw.
louuging on the wooden settle. lust
within the huge stone chimney. the
very man whose voice she had heard
half an hour ago in the twilight woods
Hal Tucker himself,
lnvolunJarIly she drew back. falling
almost into the arms of honest Hosea
Harkins himself, who had Just come
in from the mill. with his working
clothes on, and his hair and eyelashes
powdered over with -four.
Hello said thac worthy. ..You
amt a-goin' 10 faint away, be you. Miss
Sophy?'
But spirit and courage had come
back to the Yankee schoolma'am once,
again She drew herself up and
pointed to the lurking vagabond on
the wide, wooden settle
Mr. HarIlins," cried she, you are a
constable. are YOU nut2'
Wal, l guess l he" answered the
miller, staring with all his might out
of a pa Of pale-blue eyes.
''ln that case" said Sophy. II call
upon you to arrest that villain-that
murderer And she pointed straight
at Hal Tucker
''Eh?' said the miller. his eyes more
like over-ripe gooseberries than ever
'Eh!" echoed Mr. Tucker himself.
coming upright all in d heap ike a
jointed doll.
II heard him plotting in the woods
this night she gasped out, with hEs
confederate Slocum, Let him deny IL.
if he dares,'
Il swan to gracious, was there
said Hal, scratching his head. Ne
and jerry
Let him DENY" went on Sophv,
with an unconsc. .ousIy tragic effect.
that he WAS plotting IL mur,ler-yyilh
a sharp X lif,.-W hen all the Har41ins.-s
Were at sin-ing->chool tonight, Oh,
Mr.. HarlIins, arrest him, For heavens
sake, save my life, 1t was / that was
To have been the victim
The miller stared harder than before
Hal Tucker seiz-l his head in both
hands, a. If apprehensive that it might
split If not safely guarded
Hold on. Miss Clare. hold on said
he. 'Nou're clean wrong. a. il hap
pens! 7 wasn't you at all as we was
goin' To murder, Good Lori above for
bid, 1t was little Polly's pet lamb
there. And the misSus wanted To turu
IL in toward the butchers account. and
she wanted il took away ON the sly. b.
cause OF the Children And me and
Jerry we thought IL would be a good
chance tonight, when they WAS ali OF
To sinyiu'-schooL But the cats ont Of
the bag now, | reckon
Sophy Clare sat down on the old
patchw orll-covered lounge. with a burst
of relieved laughter that was aim st
hg-S-.aris-at Tho al q.
hands on his thigh with a force that
surrounded him with an auresl,- Of
-four dust Mrs Harlzins smiled grim
~ under the shadow Of the sun bount L
AMI the children. one and ali. set up 4
howl of depreciation over the IaUe of
their beloved. wooilv lamj,
Mr. TucSer." said Sophy Clare. as
soon as she was able To regain com
mand over her voice, don't take poor
little Snow flake away I viii pay her
value To these good people for the sake.
OF the relief l now feel And the chIl-
dren shall not los their pet
Its only a lamb said Miller Har-
kins, who did not know what sentiment
was.
But its the ehildren's darling
pleaded Sophy-
And 80 Snowfiase's life was saved.
and Sophy Clare's fright all went for
nothin @.
But she could never pass jeremiah
Slocum afterward without a shuldcr
And the very sound OF Hal r -cl1er's
Voice, speaking in the twiIIgL-, WAS
enough to blanch her check
For she had be,.n terribly frightened
poor little Sophy Clare,-Amy Ran
dolph, in y. y Ledger