The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-10-24


that nc was to sleep ana rest himself for
awhile. He now remembered the sealed
letter which the ed woman had gwen nim
10 bring to the mademolse, lc. and taking It
from his pocket sent II TO ner by the negro
boy
Having no other cares on MS IN nd for the
present, Allen threw nnseli upon c oed.
and IN five minutes was sound asleep The
exhaustion, mental worry ana excitement,
through which he had passed IN ne asst
few hours would have overcome any per.
son Of ordinary strength ana powers of EN-.
durance.
After toll sweet is sleep, and no sleep so
deep and refreshing as the sleep OF ex-
haustion The shadows engtneued and
the sun was just dipping oennu the West
ern horizon when he was awakened oy the
muatto boy
Signaling Allen to rise. he handed MN a
sealed note, which contained instructions
for his safe return. The note was written
in English, in plain, neat Iady-hke hand,
and Allen suspected that the directions had
been written by Bertha herself and IN.
closed with the note which he had brought
Mademoiselle who now sent II to Inn. AT
dark he was to start on hls return, anu ne
would reach a certain village ten miles from
Turkeys Point, where he was TO remain
closely concealed all day At or near sun.
down he was to again sci out tor 1ureys
Point reaching it after night The horse
he was to return and tie to the same tree at
which he had found him
"Umph, humph," SAID Allen, gazing at
the writing and wondering IT Bertha had
penned those lines. 81 suppose lnis affair
is to terminate as mysterious as 1t pegun.n
The mulatto informed him by signs that
his supper was ready, and BY the tune he
had finished it his horse would be waiting
for him. Allen rose and went to supper
He finished his meal in silence, and then
by the same pantomimic motions. the boy
informed him that his horse was ready. 1t
was almost dark when he found himself
once more at the side of that coal. black
horse that had borne him so noby on nis
long journey to Frenchtown days rest
and excellent care had removed all indica-
tons of evil effects OF his hard travel
Neither the child nor mademoisele had
been seen by Allen si4ce mornlng, and no
message was givetE I'm n return. He
vaulted in the saddle;and TIL, nulatto point
ed to road leading ofAthrougn grove OF
trees, This road wenCby ectly north from
the village, and by following II he would, he
knew, come into the man road mile or
two away from Frenchiown
"They seem to fear That | am beng
watched" said Allen to himself, land |
suppose that the sooner ! get away from
here the better"
He gave his horse the rem, aud the ami.
mai cautered away at brisk pace.
It was il quiet night. The hum of insects
and chrp OF crckets along the wooded
road made pleasant music for the lonely
traveller Though he had been conslderau v
rested, his muscles, unaccustomed TO The
hard STRAIN so recently put upon them, were
| bruised and sore Had not his horse been
an easy gong animal he could not have
stood the journey. Being alone and unin
numbered the return was much more com
Portable than his ride of the night before.
The farmers were returning TO theil
homes after their hard days toll. The
weary horses. now freed from the clankine
chains, crunched their corn and oats at theiI
stalls. AS Allen cantered along the dusty
road he envied the farmer, sitting on the
doorstep to cool his heated feet the nigh
of sweet repose that was before him.
The country was thlckly settled, and fol-
the first hour or two OF his night ride ht
heard the low murmur Of voices in ant
about the farm-houses. At one the wear,
plowman sat on the front porch smoking
his evening pipe, at another pair of lovers
were cooling upon the lawn; at third tw'
or three noisy children were playing prison
house. their shouts and laughter making thu
weary Traveller glad.
But anon he hum of voices and scenes o
life died away AS nigui >,,, l4,te ,osciy
enWrapt The earth Ill nei eauie mantle a
quiet repose ieil over the scene ana All be-
came silence The rarnet mad cooled his
feet and was sleeping Sweel.y; the pillow
man had smoked his pipe and retired, the
lovers had separated with parting kiss,
and the merry childish voices were hushed
in slamber,
Only occasionally was he aroused from
his gloomy revcres bv restless dog run
ming oui INTO the road TO bark al the passing
stranger. Then he plunged into a great
forestcovered valley and the hoot of owls
and scream, 81 niyh, ords grated upon his
nerves. causing MN 10 shuuucr
Havn2 oiiIy n forty mile ride before him,
and not w,shn2 10 enter the town before
daylight. Allen allowed his horse 10 joy
along quite ieisureIv. WINE his mind dwelt
upon the strange events oi the last few
weeks, terinluHting III this most extra