Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-06-07

that there are such brutes in the
world? 'llarkins' folks going to sing.
ing-school tonight, and the coast will
be clearr Oh, the peril should have
been in If had not been fortunate
enough to overhear those horrible
wordsl must hasten home at once
and tell Mr. Harlsins But, oh, if /
should chance to meet these ruffians on
the road againV'
She stood still and listened, but no
sound greeted her ears other than the
rush of the wind in the tree-tops over
head and the murinur of the river be-
low and the wild beating OF her own
heart.
'At all risks" she thought, ~ must
get home. can't stay here in the
forest all night, though perhaps the
perils from wild beasts would be less
than the dangers from my own lSindl'
And flying in desperate haste
through the gloomy paths, where the
first faint silver rays of the starlight
were beginning to irradiate the scarce
ly visible way, she came at last in sight
of the old stone mill by the waterfall,
with the long, low dwelling of the
Harkins' at its side, all shining with
welcome lights.
"Suppcr's ben ready this half hour"
said Mrs Harkins, lean, fretful
female, who always wore sunbonnet,
winter or summer. indoors or out and
shuflied around the house in tapping
carpet slippers You're late, amt you,
Miss Clare? And, good land alive,
how pale you bep'
"I-I walked very fast" said Sophy,
with a convulsive catching of the breath
and turning paler than ever as she saw,
lounging on the wooden settle, just
within the huge stone chimney, the
very man whose voice she had heard
half an hour ago in the twilight woods
Hal Tucker himself
Involuntarily she drew back, falling
almost into the arms of honest Hosea
Harlsins himself, who had just come
in from the mill, with his working
clothes on, and his hair and eyelashes
powdered over with flour.
"Hel-lo!' said that worthy. You
amt a-goin' to 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.. Harkins," cried she, you are a
constable, arc you not?'
"Wal, / guess l be-" answered the
miller, staring with all his might out
of pair of pale-blue eyes
''In 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
"Ehl" echoed Mr.. Tucker himself,
coming upright all in heap, like a
jointed doll.
II heard him plotting in the woods
this night" she gasped out, with his
confederate Slocuml Let him deny it,
If he dares!'
II swan to gracious, was therer'
said Hal, scratching his head. "Me
and Jerryr'
LET him deny" went on Sophy,
with an unconsciously tragic effect,
that he was plotting to murder-with
sharp k aife-when all the Hardness
were at singing-school tonight! OH
Mr. Harkins, arrest himl For heavens
sake, save my lifel 1t was that was
to have been the victiml"
The miller stared harder than before.
Hal Tucker seized his head in both
hands, as if apprehensive that it might
split if not safely guarded.
"Hold on, Miss Clare, hold on!" said
he. You're clean wrong, as it hap
pensl IT wasn't you at all as we was
goin to murderl Good Lord above for
bid 1t was little Polly's pet lamt
therel And the missus wanted to turn
it in toward the butchers account, anc
she wanted it took away on the sly, be
cause of the children And me ant
Jerry we thought it would be good
chance tonight, when they was all of
to singin'-school But the cats out O.
the bag now, reckon!"
Sophy Glare sat down on the ole
patchworls-covered lounge, with burs
of relieved laughter that was almos
hysterical The miller clapped hi
hands on his thigh with a force tina
surrounded him with an aureole O.
-four dust. Mrs. Harl1ins smiled grim
ly under the shadow of the sun bonnet
and the children, one and all, set up {
howl of depreciation over the fate O.
their beloved, woolly lamb!
"Mr Tucker" said Sopby Clare, a
soon as she was able to regain com
mand over her voice, don't take poo
, little Snowflake away! l will pay he,
value to these good people for the So
OF the relief now feel And the CHI.
dren shall not lose their pet"
ats only lamb" said Miller Har
, kins, who did not know what sentimen
was.
, 'But it's the children's darling,
J pleaded Sophy.
anu SO SnOWudhe y llle was StVeu
and Sophy Clare's fright all went TO
nothing.
But she could never pass jeremiah
{ Slocum afterward without q shudder
, And the very sound of Hal Tucker
voice, speaking in the twilight, wa
enough to blanch her cheek.
/ For she had been terribly frightene
, poor little Sophy Clare!-Amy Ran
dolph, in N. Y. Ledger.
Tit for Tat
A funny man is amusing the compa
49, H., tl,a 81 ano n