Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-08-13

have managed to scare up courage
enough to stand up to danger like
man, but the conditions were such as
would have made rabbit turn and
fight. What l want to know now is il
the inspiration We're merely an ex.
aggeration of the instinct of self-dc.
tense, or if l really did gain victory
"Well, you're certainly in a fair way
to settle the question if you carry out
your programme. Has it occurred to
you that your calm demand will prob
ably be answered with couple OF rifle
balls?"
eve thought of that, but I mean
to take the chances-if don't weaken
and make a failure Of the whole at
fair"
Ringbrand completed his hasty toi'
let, and they went down to the din
ing-room, where Mrs Ludlow was wait
ing to serve the returned wanderer.
He took his accustomed place and made
q ravenous onslaught upon the hastily
prepared supper that astonished and
gratified the sympathizing hostess.
allow dreadfully hungry you were"
she said, calling Aunt Nina to replen-
ish the empty bread-plate. Haven't
you had any thing to eat all these days"
"Not very much. I'll tell you all
about it the first chance I get
"Are you going away tonight" she
asked, when Ludlow went out to hitch
up the horse.
eyes; we are going up to The Lau-
rels,' and it may be late before we get
back"
"Tm SO glad! Ifyou'rc going there,
I'll be good and not ask single ques-
tion-until Tomorrow"
"Why are you glade"
"Becuusc Hester is worried, and
want her to know you are alive and
WE'LL"
They heard Ludlow drive out to the
gate, and Ringbrand pushed back his
chair. ''EIave you anything else to tell
me?' he asked.
She shook her head with precise en-
ergy. mot single, solitary word
except that you're to give my love to
Hester"
"rll certainly do that" he promised.
Good night" And he ran down the
walk and sprang into the phaeton be-
side Ludlow, who drove off rapidly up
the mountain road.
The colonel and his son were sitting
on the yeranda when the phaeton
turned into the avenue, and Hester,
gricving silently in the darkness of her
room, heard Ripgbrand's voice answer
ing the hearty welcome of her father
She ran to the stairway, stopped mo-
ment to regain her self-contro!, and
then went down to meet him. They
had all gone into the parlor, and when
she followed them Hester felt for
might read her secret in her face
Ringbrand rose to meet her, and took
her extended hand in both of his. II
told you good-by for some purpose aft
err all, didn't l, Miss uester?" he said,
smiling.
II should think you did," she an
swerrd, reproachfully "Wherc in the
world have you been? And what makes
you look SO thin and pale?'
II tunbled into Il hole Oh the noun
tain" he explained, and, leading her to
chair, he seated himself beside her
and recountcd his adventures, careful
ly suppressing all mention OF the
Bynums, and leaving her to suppose
that he had simply met with an acct
dent.
II should think you would have been
starved almost to DEATH she said, pity
iugly. GLOW was It that some of the
men didn't find you?'
Ringbrand had heard nothing of the
search party, and she told him OF the
efforts that had been made to find out
what had become of him. When she
told how the men had secured the
plateau, shouting, he remembered the
cry that had reached him just as he had
placed the first round of the ladder, and
he held her attention with graphic de-
saripton of the sudden hope and its
disappointment, while Ludlow took the
colonel aside and told him of the in
tended attack. EingDrand saw the look
of grim determination come into the
eyes of the elder Latimer, and a mo-
mcnt later Ludlow came Overland began
to talk to Hester, While the colonel and
his son left the room. When they came
back the conversation became general,
and Ringbrand was glad of this, for he
felt that the one thing impossible under
the circumstances was tete-a- tete
with Hester.
After little, the colonel suggested
to his daughter that she retire, adding
that they had q little matter of business
to talk about that would keep them
up awhile longer. She went willingly
enough, being in a beatitic frame of
mind which would have made her
obedicnt to q much more unreasonable
request, and when they heard the door
of her room close behind her they drew
their chairs together, and Ringbrand
gave rapid outline Of his plan for the
capture Of the mnrauders.
Upon hearing it, Col. Latimer de-
INJURED at once because of the danger
attending Ring part in the un.
drrtakinE; but he acquiesced finally
when Ludlow added the weight Of his
advice, and the young man glanced
gratefully at his friend for the timely
assistance. When the details were ar.
ranged, and Ringbrand had appealed tc
Henry not to fire unless it became plain.
ly necessary, the colonel spoke again:
in that conversation in the cave, Mr..
Ringbrand, did you happen to heah any
thing that might th'ow any light on
this ?"-handing q soiled and greasy
note to the young man.
Ringbrand unfolded it and spelled
out the contents penciled in grabbed
characters scrawled irregularly across