Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-30

| Oh MS Cnl6I. Il WODOeE' WIltU IL lO
kindle tomorrow night to show us a
light, he unused; "the church, maybe,
if it bean't too far in-shore."
Meghorn visited his lonely dwelling
but once more that night, and then
only to buckle on anew the cloak and
belt which had rarely been laid aside
these ten days past.
A sudden Inspiration had brought
him back from the heat Of his pursuit
to Deepgang two days before. He
had made the tour | have described,
and pursued his search to q consider
able distance in another direction: but
as he failed of the least clue, without
success, and had suddenly bethought
him of the possibility that the flight
of his wife might have been feigned, to
send him in pursuit, he remembered
she must have been unprovided with
resources, and that she having lain in
wait till he was fairly away, might
returned to procure the money or
valuables.
Acting on this idea, he turned his
horses head-it was the third animal
he had taken into service-and spurred
homewards, to desolation and dis
comfiture. Yawmans who had guessed
pretty much Of the truth, had arrived
soon after, and listened to the tale OF
the escape without surprise, and, in
fact with secret satisfaction.
He expressed his conviction of the
supernatural aid which alone could
have released the prisoners, and urged
his remonstrances upon his superior.
p1,+ Il IF
his pursuit, and despairing of success,
was yet disinclined to own himself
vanquished, and while sneering at
Mats conjectures ofthe supernatural,
hecould not resist the idea that Nelly
must have been aided in her plan Of
escape by some person more astute,
and better furnished with the needful
means than she could possibly be.
He felt intuitively that his good
fortune, hitherto proverbial, was for
saking him that Fate had declared
herself for the opposition; and with a
gloomy desperation he listened to the
argument of his mate for what he
knew full we'll was his imperative
duty, resolved on one last and COM
prehensive swoop, and then, with the
tierceness that impelled his every
action, to tear himself away from the
scene of that fatal and deceptive act
in his existence, and to plunge anew
into the risks and daring of his former
life
$50 now for it," he cried, as he
strapped on his riding cloak, and set
forward to where he should take horse
to commence his familiar journey.
II don't know what it is, /" he NUT
tered, makes me fancy | shall come
up with tlem this time-I care not
with whom she be, care not who be
by; she may do her worst, and I'll
trust to my wits to answer her, or my
own strong arm to drag her back. Let
the brat 60, [ care not-but she is my
wife, and she shall come with me,
though she have a hundred to back
her, or may have discovered the
worst"
For the best part OF thai night he
was on foot; the early dawn found
him at lonely spot miles distant
from Deepgang, at a solitary dwelling
amid rocks, half public-house, half
fisherman's hut, and where the owner
again seemed on terms of intimacy
with the outlaw, and where more than
one fleet horse awaited his selection.
YaWmans been here?" was the
query with which he returned the
hoarse greeting OF the host.
'Not since yesterday, capt'n."
Brevity seemed to suit both equally.
No more was said; some meat and
rum, taken standing and hastily, broke
his fast;. then he mounted the horse
that stood just without the shed that
housed him and his fellows, and rode
away up the finty and winding path
with ease that showed the animal to
be we'll accustomed.
It is needless to dwell upon that
day s pursuit, which differed in noway
from the last save in it's headlong
speed, and the reclllessness with which
he now made inquiries of all he met.
For many reasons Meghorn WOULD
at another time, have been chary OF
exhibiting himself in broad day, and
in style so calculated to fix the OBJ
servation of hisfellow-men. But now,
all idea of caution was lost in the ONE
sole, fixed desire that held possession
Of his being
Between the rising and the setting OF
the sun he had made a circuit Of some
seventy miles-neither food nor rest
had he taken since he seated himself
in the saddle; his horse was growing
weary, and tagged in its pace; but for
himself a fever glowed in every nerve
that forbade him to think Of repose.
He saw the day close, and night
come down upon the world, The zone
day more was over-his task was
ended; nothing remained but to cast
the past to the winds, and begin anew
to live for ''glory" and for gain.
s'She has escaped met is plain, ;"
he said within himself. Il must delay
no longer, unless I would be reckoned
a traitor and false to them, and for
felt forever the name have so long
maintained, BAIL" he cried with an
oath, "she is not worth it-poor,
weak fool!-miserable wretch, that
could not understand nor share the
force and fire of q passion such as
mine! So even let her go! But oh! if