Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-03-18

Odlc tutlH All Sout bi-uti ANU hnubtbS
my horse, not without considerable diff
Guilty, for my ankle was now paining Sc
verely, took the road home.
"Tbe moon was still up, and ! Went
along filled with such pleasant thoughts.
that | forgot the pain, and entered the
village before | knew it, The streets
were deserted, and lay siill and white in
the moonlight | rode to the house, up
the short lane, and dismounted at the
stable door. The pain which shot through
my ankle, as my foot struck the ground,
told me that il was in bad shape, and |
knew il must be badly swollen because
the Logging had grown SO tight. My first
thought was to call for Eben 10 come and
take The horse but then reflected that
the old fellow was asleep and that il
would be a shame to arouse him at such
an hour. So / took off the saddle, threw
I it over my arm, opened the door and led
the horse inside. Il was all dark in here,
so dark that | was forced 10 feel my way
over TO the stall. | had taken off the
bride and was in the act Of putting on
the halter, when suddenly, l received a
staggering blow on the head. 1t da1ed
me. but did not knock me down Then
someone seized me by the throat, threw
me back over the ugh, and the next in
slant a sharp pain shot through my meek
aud chest. Then another heavy blow fell
on my head aud sank down on the ho r..
The next thing remember was awak-
ing as il from a troubled sleep, and find
ing myself up in my room in bed, sur
rounded by my mother and father, she
village doctor, and stranger, who, soon
learned, was a skiiiful surgeon who had
been ielegraphed for from the city. Old
Eben was seated on stool over by the
window. My head was aching violently.
There was a queer feeling about my
throat and chest, and SO great was my
weakness lbat [ could scarcely whisper.
When | tried to frame some question as
to what had happened, my mother, sitting
in chair close by the bed, and holding one
Of my hands, checked me, saying Hush,
darling, dou't Try to talk. You've been
badly hurt, but the doctors say you will
soon be we'll and strong again, SO don I
try to talk Keep quiet, aud go TO sleep,
I'll tell you all about il in the morning.
My father too, stroking my other hand,
said yes, my boy, do as your mother tells
you, keep q uiei ; and noticed there
were tears in his eyes, and his voice fal-
tered. Old Eben only looked at me, but
with an expression that meant more than
words. The doctor then gave me some
thing to drink, and soon fell asleep, but
moi before had noticed that the sun was
streaming in through the windows, and
that the afternoon was far advanced.
"WelI, for about a week, my life hung
in the balance. The blows had receiv
ell ON the head were severe, and then, as
you Williams said, that cut barely miss
ed the iugular, and was ugly and deep
Then began to grow better. | recalled
now, with great disiinctness the manner
in which had received my injuries, and
from my mother, learned that Eben
had been aroused by the frightened sDoris
Of the horses, and hurDiug to the stable,
had stumbled across me lying o The stall.
II had picked me up, and his fright man
aged TO carry me into the house and up 10
NV room then he aroused the house
Nv mother had hn,lened over to my cous.
ms room 10 send him for doctor, but he
wa. nowhere 20 Le found. - E1en had
gone and sent the telerrims which had
brought father and the surgeon mp on the
next train.
"As soon a. they thought me strong
enough. they piled nae with questions as to
whether or no, had beea able 90 recognize
nv as-ailuut. ! replied that it was very
dark but that wa- satisfied that it wss
Young negro. But knew better. / had
known better ever since had been able TO
think clearly. recalled the cur'e which
had accompanied the stab, and in il had
plainly recognized my cousins voice. l
could still hear +, ringing in my ears: J
will send YOU TO h-l, d-n YOU Bat dur
ipp the dsv- IN which they bad forbidden
me 10 peak, I bad firmly resolvel TO shield
nv cousin for my fathers sake. OF course,
thrown off the scent in this monner. little,
in fac, nothing, was accomplished, though
nv father made every effort 70 bring the
felon To Justice Mucn wonder was express
ed ~. To- The na,ige. since 20 was evidently
not that of robbery, ior my watch and the
little money | had abaut me were uniouch-
ell "
TO BE CONTINUED
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