The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-06-13


one absorbing thought now was e. Put
him on his guard Gathering her skirts
tightly around her. she turned to ~.
But IN the net shr trol ON a dry twiS.
"Wots THAR challenged the 6ruf
voice.
Instantly che squnttel down on nook
OF the bushes anu thanks God she HAD
dark dress On.
She heard 4 football, and, with sick
fear clutchInE At her heart she c7picd,
through the twigS OF brlmble, short
thtck-sct man standing Mt the farther
mouth OF the sheep track and pcerlng
Gown IL In her direction. Just then she
with difficulty suppressed n cry. Tor
some three yards beyond her something
scuttlcd aut Of the garse an her side
across the track. II was the savinE OF
her, by Gods mercy. as Patience ever
after thought, for the man, with 4 snt-
ishrd Erint. went back TO his mate.
and she heard his report:
'"Twor nowt but u rabbit"
This time she picked her way with
Feduubled care. ard, once she reached
tka open. she spend onward like lap
wing til she reached old Silas' door.
BinEO was always loose at night 10
guard the yard. The old dog came up
to her with great demonstrations OF
bUtAAloUSs nv IT lEsAstE was AHAAi'ANA'
But the house itself was all darkness.
She knew that neither men nor women
servants slept there. The only woman
old SIlls could endure about the place
was Phoebe Stubs. who did the CharlnS
and cooked for him and his son. The
farm men slept at their own cottages.
At length nlght-cdppcd head was
p0kcd out.
What tho plague"
Hush, Master Croft! IT'S !. Pa
t!encc Furnull. and there be them COM
ing as would rob and murder you. can
BinSo In and load your gun. I'll 80
and get help"
mot II knows IT, Why. there's nc'"r
a body within arr mile! Come ye In.
lass, uut o danger! Btdc n Wee BIT WI
get my toys ON. an I'll open TO zee.
She could hear him strike light and
hubble on his clothes. and ere long he
had unbarred the door. pulled her ana
the dog in, and turned the key and shot
the bolts back.
He was a man OF action. was old Silas.
Then he sat down tn load hts gun and
pistols. and nodded cncOuraGInGly TO
Patience. But thought struck him.
and. going To- a corner cupboard, h"
produced a glass OF excellent port wine,
witch b. made her drink OF, Ike a dose
Of medicine.
"Npw tell me all about 1t, lassie.'
lie listened without comment ri any
sort. and when she had done, said:
TWAS partly COS o SilaS BEN away.
| II he'd a bin here them varmints would
| nc'er ha' vcnturcd to call HoWsumdes-
CT
And dangerous Gin. came into the
olt mans eyes.
''Now. mark mo. CELL! Yc'rc andy
with gun. for I've sen W with Wun
a.watchin' yer unCle's cherries, and
hr!n' hof II hon, too! Now tex We the
/ gun. and. .hlf them fcllcTs breaks thr
| door iR. Hrr 4; IN. same has hit they
w0r blackbrds. whick'-ard the old
man chucklcd grimly-''ln Co1rsc they
b.. For me, shan't FIRE iii they be
pretty close nj the clock.
He glanced at the clock.
'"rls nigh time they w0T here
And with the word came tl9a sound OF
steaithy steps shutting about the door,
| and 4 voice mot the Erun one) whined:
please. good sir. FOR the love q
| Gawd. hopcn 10 4 poor man wots badly
hurt"
No answer. 0ld Sllas signed "a Pa
| ,lence 10 rest the barrel Of the gun on
| the back Of a chair and u knccl behind
| II, with her finger on the trigger ready.
There was 4 whispering. and the tool
| on which the file had been used soon
! forced the lock. but the bolts held I'LL
furious charge burst the door open.
| Patience shut her eyes and pulled the
trigger. and the foremost man fell head
long into the house and lay senselcss
! while the other turned tail and ned into
the night.
Her. shr lung herself PROSTATE bury
Ing face in the dcwy grass and moan
ing out her pain on the bosom Of the
great mother. THUS had she been wont,
| from childhood tfDr she was an orphan),
1, uuburlen herself OF her troubles.
In ;hr phrase II the countryside,
young Silas Croft and she had always
been named together" AZ Silas, Jr.,
was quite the brightest and best look
ing Of all the young fellows Of the par
ish. 50 was Patience the bonniest and
sweetest u all the girls.
Old S!las was at the door with n leap
and discharged his pistol after him, and
Rlngo. relieved ~ his masters grip on
his collar. durted In pursuit
Then Sllas turned 10 examine inc
PROSTATE man. saying, IN his Srimly
humorous fashion:
"'Pon my credit, but twas true woi
he said bout a pOr man wots badIy
Hut Patience. after the tension Of
nerves tu which she had been So long
subjected. burst into passion OF hys'
trrlcal tears.
"H5ot taot. my IassIc. doaut ye be
frlt! IT'S not mortal hurt. an nell
live to be- hanged yet
So saving, he brought his rude sur
gerry 10 bear on the robbers shoulder
where the shot had taken effect, ana be-
Ing shrrwd old man named Patience
help him by holding the light ana othei
little services, 80 the doing AZ which IN
Girl gradually rcgalncd composure' rs
H. meant she should.
And now. my bonnie. can We do 'noth'
.r bit fob for me, Or are yc wore out
And he laid his hand carcs-7nEly or
the brown hair
willing"
"Wen. It's nowt save 20 come long
| a. me 10 thine unslc's and then 10 Eri
thee To bed. Then III rouse the neigh
bora and get this chap seen TO. bu'
nrst---"
And he stopped down and tied the
| mans legs tiglSly together
I!c gave the girl his arm and support
cd hcr trembling steps with Iniinlt
tenderness. At her unclc.s door NJ
graapcl her hand. and his voice SHOOK
with emotion:
Yen never want friend. litil1 maid
while Old Silaa Croft lives for Sc saved
my life last night As Tor yuunE Slld5
he'll likely have summat To say to "
an his own hook"
rbrgn words were very sweet 10 pp1l
Patience; but So uttrry weary was she
that they sounded TO her dumb bF4'r
as little more than pleasant melody
And no sooner was lrrr head on her Pill
low than she sank into the dreamicS'
| gl.nr, ~ ,yhnugliDu