The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-02-02

iusing her cheek.
"But, Carrie, | thought It was settled
between mo aud you two weeks agow
exclaimed Fred, with 4 frown.
"Was il? am sure. had forgotten
it."
Fred was silent. Capt. Logan'a
smooth, soft toned voice broke tho
silence.
II exact no promises" no aaid. gal.
lantly," but ii am not punctual to tho
hour aud the spot, Miss Brown may
draw her own conclusions"
And Carrie went home.
"'Pon my word. she's regular
beauty" said the captain. staring
through tho tiny window panes at tho
retreatinc figure of Miss Brown.
"A beauty" went on the captain,
"and it's a thousand pities she should
be wasted on any OF the country bump
kius who vegesate among these wilder
nesses. Sam, ,you young villain, are
those boots OF mine BACKED yet?"
mo they ain't," said Sam. Grossly.
"Well, what's the reason?"
"Cause amt had time"
"See you find time. then, quickly,
toe" said the captain.
"Just wish I had tho friu, OF him
out" said the boy, 2loomily.
"You and l are about equal in our
love for him, Sam" said Fred Jones,
laughing.
81 hecred him talkin' with Miss Car.
RE about soin' sleigh ridin' tomorrow
night" said Sam, shrewdIy. I'D les
like to put 'kickiu' Tom in the shafts;
I would If it weren't for Misa Carrie.
Ho don't know nothin' about horses.
that there militia cap'n don't" And
Sam chuckled.
81 say, Mr.. Jones. whv don't you get
beforehand with him? Miss Carrie
dom; really Gale for him; she's only
dazzled like.'
"AIiss Brown must choose for herself,
SAM" no said, and Sam went back to
his work.
The night camc-a perfect night for
sleichin. expeditions and rustic love.
making, tho roads hard and well pack
cd and glorious moon shining down
Whitley, as il a rain OF silver were del.
uylng the whole world.
Couldn't be better weather." said
the captain. Sam, where are the
sleigh bcll.?"
dunno" said Sam. There's them
old jinglers in tho garrett that used to
belong to Deacon John kendrick. that
was in the Revolutionary war. aud
there is the cowbcls that Mary Janc
might scour UP with ashes =
"Pshaw. said the captain. "Do you
take me for Rip Van Wrinkle? There's
a pretty little string somewhere, for
saw them when Mrs. keudrick went
out day before yesterday
81 hain't socn no.hin' on 'om," said
Sam, stolidly.
Come, come, Sam, don't make your
sell: out any stupidcr than you be By
nature" said the farmer. laughing
nevertheless for tho captains airs woro
fast woarin. out his welcome. and he
secretly sympathIScd with the much
abused Sam.
81 guo,s they're oil! in tho barn. You
mad be,ter. 60 with him, captain, ii
YOU expect TO find EN-; our Sam is
dreadful thick headed when he chooses
to be-"
Come along, my fine follow. We don't
need any lantern in this moonlight, that
is ono comfort"
"Whorc are tho stairs?' demanded
tho captain, rs they ontored tho barn.
"Ain't none" SAID Sam. "lts a lad.
dor"
"Up with you thcn." said Logan, but
Sam Hhrunk back.
IL wouldn't, not for $50" said Sam.
"Old John Kondrick hanged himself
from tho middle beam fonrtoon yoars
ugo, and folks say no stands mp thcro
with a rope around his neck every
moonlight night"
"S.ult and nonsenso!" criel tho cap
tain in accents OF contempt "iou COW.
ardly lout. stay whore you are, then,
and I'll 20 myself"
Ilo spranr lightly up tho rounds Of
tho ladder aud disappeared through the
trap door.
"whoro is it?" no called.
"Tho phost?"
"Rlockhcad | moan tho string Of
bells"
Look for EN- yourself" said Sam
snlkily. III don't know whore they DO
and, what's moro. don't care"
"I'll Hottlo with you, my fino follow,
whom como down." said tho captain,
throntenngly, as no gropod about in
tho dim light.
Don't hurry yourself, cap'n," re-
Joined sam, in ioering tone.
As tho captain plunged into a dark
corner there was jingle, aud tho string
of bells, suspended from n nail, hit him
directly on tho neck, so like tho grasp
of death.cold fingers that ho could not
but start.
"OhW said tho captain, nervously.
"IIoro tI,ny nre. Catch ON. Sam.
Hello! Where's tho trap door?'
And II took tho worthy cnutain fully
six,y scconds moro 10 roalizo that tho
trap door was closed aud faatoncd on