The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-13


You arc not sorry, my sweet ono, you
camo, aro your no said to hor tcndorly.
She looked up ut him.
"Why do you always think I'm sorrY2 I
mint sorry. Only dad-dad'll miss mo,
an know ho'll never take mo back, /" sho
said. "an Jim-Jim'll miss mo too"
'I'm afraid you're getting tired of my
love-" he said.
,"No, no; I'm not. won't speak of them
again. won't, 1 won't,' sho cried cling
ing closer to him and trying to stop tho
heavy sobs which would como oven when
no had told her I'LL over again low much
sho was to him.
can you'll marry mo whom wo got to
tho city, won't you?" sho asked.
But he turned his head away, and sho
could not SEQ tho look that camo into his
face.
my dear Nal, why do you CRY SOP You
know lovo you. Rest your head horo
and go to sleep. I will wake you when
it's light"
So, with sigh, hor head dropped upon
his shoulder, and NAL went to sleep.
The moon had risen little higher. 1t
shone full upon Mails face, and her lover
kissed her.
"Ono would almost take her for man
in this coat of mino," he said to himself
"but how sweet her face isl'' And another
A cool breeze had sprung up from tho
coast and WINS bringing heavy fog with
1t. For some time Malls lover wntchcd it
through u break in the trees as it camo
rolling in over tho range and sottlod down
in q cloud over tho Russian river yalloy
Thon he must have fallon nsleep but only
for moment. Ho awoko with littlo
start and under tho impression that ho
had heard voices. He listened. The wind
was stirring the dead leaves and moaning
among tho trees. Was it only the wind
he had heardP Gently he laid Nal down
upon the bunk and drew tho hood around
hor head. He stopped to tho window and
listened again.
Still there was only tho sound of tho
wind. Yet he WAS sure ho had heard other
voices than those of the forest. Yes, no
was right. Presently there came to him
tho sound of cracking brush. Some ono
was coming. Yes, now ho caught glimpse
of some half dozen horscmcn ON the trail
Heavens! Hcr fathers horse and
Jim's," he brcathcd. 'Thcy' ro after mo-
They'll lynch mo if they catch no.
Ho glanced hastily Mt Nal, kissed her
| softly-it must be his last, no knew-then
out through the door into tho long grass,
upon his horse and away.
Tho mon coming up tho trail heard him
crash through tho brush in tho distance,
| but thought it some deer startled ut their
| approach.
A little distance from tho cabin tho mon
halted and dismounted. Their leader was
Malls father. Ho went softly to tho win
dow and looked in. Tho figure in the
black coat caught his eye. Fury seized
him ut tho thought that it was tho alb
ductor of his child. 1t was all no cared
| for to have his vengeance upon him. He
| m nj tnr,
He did not think of her. His passion for
revenge had mastered him.
Ho beckoncd to tho men. There were
six of them. They crept stealthily through
tho open door, Jim and Malls father q littl,
| in advance of the rest. For ono moment
thcy hcsitatcd, then threw heavy sacl
about the sleeping figure and drew it tight
round tho foot and neck with ropes II
was quickly done. There was hal
smothercd Cry, brief struggle, and thel
tho men bore their burden away in thu
rodwoods.
"A fcw yards from the trail they stopped
A rope was run up over tho projecting liml
Of hugo tree and its moose passed to jim
to fastcn. The others knolt upon tn,
struggling PROSTATE figure to quiet 1t
With quick jerk Jim loosencd tho cord
that had held tho sack cloth about thu
shoulders and neck and Slipped tho noos
over in their stead
"All ready" no breathcd.
Tho men got off the body. There was ,
sound rs of u rope running over hard bark
and Jim and Malls father lifted tho 1gur,
to u standing posture.
"A moment tho men hcsitated. For nj
instant the moose slackcncd its grip. Lift
and sense and thought rushed back [,
Nal with that breath, and tho stiffness o
tho rcdwoods awoko to tho shrek of he
voice calling:
Jim! Jim! Jim!'
Tho figure in tho sack fell heavily tx
tho ground. Tho terror of tho woman.
voice camo over the men. They stoot
spcechless. Again Nal called but 1t wa
only moan-"Jim! Jim!'
Now they bostirred themselves. The,
tore open tho sack and freed Nal from thu
cloak and the smothering hood. Jim knoll
| to hold her.
"And ho--whorc is HOP Ho, your mane'
! they shouted.
Nal shook her head.
One of tho men spoke up cxcitcdly
"Tho cracking bush wo heard Ho saw
us. Ho was off. We cam
But without tho words tho fact hat
communicated itself to them. They were
| mounted i'll n momont and Off down the
| trail Jim alone remaining with NAL
Tho two listened to tho mad CHATTER Of
hoofs over tho stony trail until they died
away in tho distance. Jim was still kneol
ing by tho girls SIDE Hoput his hand OIL
| her shoulder.
| ''Do yo' love him so, girl?' he said
| But Nal only gripped his arm more
tightly and leaned forward to listen more
intently.
'Ho may get away, girl; ho my. Dc
| yo' hope no will?'
| Nal looked mt tho man.