The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-10-17

GAM TO GIVE HER THIs!n HE ASKED.
awake He turned his great blue eyes il
mute wonder and appeal to his guide anc
companion.
Poor child" said Allen. II woBder IL
he knows where he is gong, or what is tt
be his fate when he gets there! wish his
speaking and hearing faculties were as
clear as his big blue eyes, would fathon
this mystery. Yes, | am mean enough t
pump child to find this out
The mystery of Turkeys Point had baffied
the shrewdest and most inquisitive of the
village Even Aliens daring was detico
by it, until he had become desperate.
1t was. one of those calm, quiet starlight
summer nights, and had it not been for the
constant strain upon his nerves, Allen
would have found the riding pleasant. The
moon did not rise until well on towards
morning. and the fore part of the night was
quite dark, especially when passing through
the forests.
While galoping along wooded ridge
Allen heard the sounds of horses hoofs In
the rear.
"Are we pursuedH he asked himself.
He soon became certain that the horse
man was gaining on them. The fierce ring
of hoofs became louder every moment
~ might outrun him. said Allen, but
with this child to look after it would be
best to play game of hide and seek"
On his left was narrow. dark path lead
ing down into the woods, and he turned his
horse into it, Here he waited until his pur-
suer had passed along the road. The ring
of iron hoofs upon the stony road could be
heard long before the horseman reached the
point opposite where Allen had reined IN his
horse When the sound of hOofs had died
away in the distance, the editor again re-
turned to the road and continued his jour
ney The little boy became sleepy, yawned,
laid his tired head against Aliens shoulder
and was soon buried in slumber.
:" Poor little fellow" said Allen, gazing
into that young face, disfigured with care
and WEAKNESS. His being part OF that
tel bile mystery has had fearful effect on
him"
The child had wonderful resemblance to
| Bertha. The fair, beautiful face and gold
en- curly hair was similar to hers Undis-
| turbed by the easy motion OF the horse, his
slumbers were not disturbed
Allen WIS kept awake by theresponsibil-
ity that was On him Sometimes he blamed
himself for having undertaken this journey
at the request of one whom he really did
not know Was ever man engaged in a
more madcap enterpriset 1t might be, att
err all, that il was only Il shrewd scheme TO
make him a tool in an abduction.
| Heaven knows II IL no wrong on my
part" sighed Allen. But | know that
am committing no wrong. She who babe
me do this errand is too good, too pure 70
mediate wrong l will not for moment
doubt her motives. By whomsoever she
may be surrounded, by whatever mystery
she may be engulfed, her goodness and the
purity of her motives can not be ques
toned"
He reached long bridge which spannec
q small stream. Before be reached the ap
proach he discovered horseman descend
ing the opposite hill, and. fearing that Il
was returning pursuer, Allen rode dowr
the creek bank under the approach to The
bridge, where he remained until the horse
man had come over and had gone out O
hearing up the very road he himself hat
come.
"Ifthat was pursuer he is now on the
back track" thought Allen
Our hero was really in poor condition
for either fight or defense The sleeping
child lay heavily on him, and he was total,
unarmed. When the horseman was out o.
ear-shot Allen returned to the road
crossed the bridge and ga!loped over thu
opposite hill and along the hard-beatei
road.
Night was well-nigh spent and he wa
several miles vet from his journeys end
This is certainly a remarkably pauen
child said the horsemsn, gazing into tn
face of the sleeping 10y, as his horse can
tered along the road. He has not, by
gesture or movement indicated eithe
WEAKNESS or impotence Poor little fe
low. this journey, hope will result in grea
good to you"
The moon, well on toward morning, cam
struggling above the eastern horizon, but /
its old age its light was but li;tle. Tn
silver ray thrown upon the earth was yer
pale indeed
Darkness, slowly but surely. began
fade The child slep. on. rne eastern hol
izon grew to a bright vernuho1. and star
in the far east began TO slowly pale and
out before the approach of more powerf'
light A new day was coming into exis
eace, and the journey -%c-ed several Ial-e
Of completion.