Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-05-02

| sCcuro III tne projecting darkness.
"Take mol" Isaid. "Tako mel"
Again he was silent for moment.
When he spoke it was in curiously
altered voice, ind with q littlo de-
lighted laugh.
"Dost mean it, sweet2" no cried.
"Como, thon"
gave scream OF alarm "a portion
of the play we had arranged together)
as he caught me round tho waist and
landed me on his horse. A moment
later l WINS olinging to him for dear
life, as wo dashed headlong into the
black night and went forward across
the moorland. I heard him chuckle,
as my unclo roared his Indignation
after us.
We rodo ON and on through tho
darkness. AT first my excitement was
60 great rs to ronder thought impos-
sible; moreover, the riding was Of tho
toughest, and had all could do to
keep my scat. But gradually, us l
begun to grow moro accustomed to my
situation, l was ovortakcn with most
dreadful misgiving. Tho rider had
hitherto seemed like enough to Dick,
Ava l. hoNh hhOn IL IC MOulu uO IltS DCEt
to change his voice; and as for his
foolish robbery. it was just of piece
with his natural love of mischief.
But now Logan to feel certain that
some impostor had taken his pnrt; TINT
l had clopcd with another man--and
him common highwayman. Imagine
my distrcssl could conceive of no
method of extricAting myself from tho
position; sense of blank hclplcssncss
came over mo, and could do no moro
than cling tightly to tho highwayman
and await tho event.
We had hidden some miles, when he
suddenly drew rein and dismounted,
landing mo lightly beside him.
'Upon my SOUL" ho said, "here is
n pretty adventure! Heaven knows
that 1 had always passion for the
unusual, or should still bo humble
usher in Brancaster Academy. But,
tell me, what nm to do with you?"
I suppose 1 had hoped against hopo;
TO find my fears were justified was
disastrous blow to Inc, nor could l
mako any answer.
al would not wish Drawer sweet
heart" he continued, speaking with
an odd and attractive pcrplexity.
''But what have wo gentlemen of tho
road to do with wives? Why, sweet
heart, you henrd tho promises of your
guardian. He will surely do his ut
most to fulfill them, and how should 1
dnro to 60 to tho gallows if knew
that left you widowed and alone? 1
trust scoro Of maids woul l weep
little if poor Jack Arthur went the
common way, but God forbid that any
should remember him Mt weeks end.
1t may seem that 1 am ungallant, vet
protest I do not like my share in
this adventure. kiss mo, sweet, and
thon fancy L nm old and very wise,
and Take my counsel, which is that
you permit mo to conduct you back
to some place near your home. And
yeti would not wish Drawer sweet
heart"
And then, moved by tho kindness
of his words and his pleasant voice,
lost command of myself and bust forth
into foolish weeping.
Sir" said, "I am altogether nj
your mercy. l have dono that which
will shame mo NIL tho rest of my dnys.
But, indeed, I thought you wero an
other, my sweetheart, whom L should
have married tomorrow.
fancied no spoke less gnily than
beforo; perhaps ho Ind not hoped al
together that l would not take his
sage advice. "Ho, hoi" no cried,
"then my good fortune is but another
theft to my account? do not under
stand Your were to have married
your lover tomorrow, and yot you en-
treat n stranger, and IL highwayman ut
that, TO carry you OIL This is tho
maddest of adventures.
"'Sir." said, "my uncle stands to
me in tho place of father and mother. :"
The highwayman chucxlcd. "Poor
child |" ho said, and softly strokod my
hand, which, it seems, he had been
holding for some minutes. 'Poor
childl'
"He would hnvo mo marry ono
whom L do not love, and I began to
fear that presently he would overcome
mo and compel ="
"The old hulks - cried tho high
wayman. ''You shall marry whom
you choose. Nay, 1 withdraw my
foolish wisdom; come with me, and
before the night is here ngain you
shall be Mistress Arthur. Believe
me-" no added, with pretty coiceit,
'believo me, there arc many who will
envy you"
"But, sir" interrupted, "you for
get what I have told you. or lato 1
have been closely guarded, for my
uncle had discovered that I have given
my love to yooman of the place. To
night thcro was ball ut tho house Of
Nine. Trelnwnoy 70 great lady, whose
son was destined by my uncle and by
her to DO my husband), and it was
arranged that he should stop the
conch on our return, and carry me
away with him."
The highwayman laughed loudly.
"And that is why you did not faint or
scream?" no said. 'I fell in love
with you because OF that, and that is
why was SO hattered at your suggcs-
u