The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-13

else but a gentleman. 1 tried hard 10 re-
member that this fierce white--nalreu
man was my Amy's father. pul my pa
thence could not stand the test, 4 rose,
shaking with anger Of insult and ois2ouI1
aged hopes. and with my nnger pointse
In the ola mans face. told him that aly'
one who questioned my sincerity ana VI,
selfish motives In this suit, ned nke q
scoundrel. The last syllable OF scounoret
had hardly been uttered before was
struck terrible blow on the lore1 ,D. ~ :,
while shining, seven-eyed revolver III n'S
left hand gave. emphasis 20 tne col nt hnd
that / leave the house Whhe ss1 ANN
the power TO do so.
II foresaw the danger, not alone 10
ovself but the unsav0ry tax ana ols-
grace further remonstrance would brln8
to all concerned, 80 left the house With
out more ado. I. OF course. deeply re-
greet the incident. but. In spite OF ALL am
relieved to think that Amy viii not be
made aware OF to-day's happenings ~
her home. for her father knows too wei
the nature Of his daughters indepenuent
spirit to further provike this resistance
IN 20 this.tlme having tried her TO the
utmost Ana on his fact rests the one
hope for success I'm tO-nights plans 'has
I have already laid out, providing and
here he paused 70 give me look Win
his large, shining eyes that 1 VIII never
you. And before explain the important
service l am going TO ask. l VIII swear
before heaven n positions were reversed
no power under the sun could prevent me
doing what / now crave or YOU redu-
fly OWNED his PLAN and, though natur.
ally shank from a part in drama that
had in it's plot such a man as Coiohei
Randall. my hesitation was soon over
come as J contemplated the resolute' ue
terrnined lover before me. pacing up anu
down the floor with the vehemence OF
wounded Hon. I was soon Informed tnal
time was precious. and, as prepared my
disarrangod costume. heard sehems IIl't
bold as IL was carried with IL tpe con-
viction Of success I'm tho careful atteh-
ton 20 time and details that one py one
Kirk soon unfolded 20 me. Being red-
sonaby sure that l understood my par !
Of the programme we solemnly snoof
hands, and. receiving hearty uoa PTS to
you" I took nv leave 70 fulnll an I'M
portant part IN the destiny OF two human
lives.
Twice before 7 had called on Miss Ran
dan, and this. together with the fact thaI
my friendship for Kirk had never been
mentioned in Colonel RandalPs presence
gave me an entree without any suspicion
being attached 20 my rather late cali;
Have just arrived In town, was inc
excuse I gave as tho 0ld-fashionod hall
clock sounded nine clear strokes mo.
ment after l entered. II was at least
thirty minutes before the Colonel gave
me the slightest chance 10 say a NoEu
privately with Miss R. which ! lmihe
-
/ had an important message from klrk'
She readily suggested a walk, and. turn
ing TO her father with some trivial pre-
text, told him she would only De gone "
few minutes. In as few words as posi-
bic. / told her very carefully the arranse-
ments for tonight In which her cooper
alton was 50 vitality necessary. AT hrst'
tho suddenncss, as we'll as the DoldnesS
OF the project. visiby unnerved her pl.
she soon consented TO, at least, meet hHA
at the rendezvous.
Promptly at 10 o'clock we reached the
appointed place and found Kirk awaiting
us I'm the shadow OF large en- wiz
through the row Of trees we could easily
discern. not "a hundred feet away, three
saddled horses that looked very much Ike
business. Tie sight OF these increased
0ur Iair companion fear ana hesita'ioh'
and an Kirks well-traincd persuasive
powers were brought into play before she
delightfully."- stamped her hltle 1901 as snt
gave utteranco 20 Yes. l WILL ll3S ma
stirred us in every impulse that would
tend IN the least to make this desperate
venture q recOrd-breaNing success.
I'm a triCe We were IN our saddles ana
of for memorable chase. We all Ielt
great relief as the SOFT summer breeze
was felt against our hot excited faces I.
ms definite action now took the place OF
Irain-racking plans We encouraged our
horses 10 their greatest speed as We rOue
towards the town Of R. twenty mlles
distant. where we were 10 eaten the ll'tV
train for Atlanta.
Ne reasonably expected that Miss Ran
dalI's absence for any length or Time al
ter such stirring events In the afternoon,
would cause her father TO inquire very
| diligently of everyone IN the Nllase, II
| necessary. and IL would not be long pc
| fore he would find out from the stable
| enough TO warrant him soon DelnB d4teI
us IN hot pursuit ,...,
| ourselves on the good lead we evidently
| had ana. slowing down for the hrst TIME
| as We neared "a steep incline cecldcu ~
| rest ourselves and horses by takins the
| lul I'm "a walk. But the halsh cidhS VI
| our paIlOuing horses had barely taken a
| lower note. than numbering, aWlui
| sound was heard that struck terror 10 our
| hearts We now realized the great speed
! al which We had been travelling, Tor tls
| approaching chorus of horses ho9ls Coulu
/ not be now more than hair mle IN our
| rear and the noise OF our own sieeds was
1 am that had prevented US from nelts
| aware OF our pursuers' proximity Ior the
| Dumb with fright. yet every nerve
| strung t0 lbs highest tension. MISS h
| loOspd her horse rein, anu squirting IN
| Side with an her might, SET the pace TOT
| an uphill squirt WIN a YIN r aiI "a me
| nation that inspired both XIX anu nle
| with courage and hope even 50 cloSo ~
| inter defeat We lasned ana sputfru ant
| coaxod and urged. but IL was soon eVlleh'
| that our livery huI1erf ht - ~, "a, -
| we're no match for Colonel Randall tnpr-
| ouphbreds. and that personal encounter
| on complete submission would soon DC our
| only alternative. ,nt.,
| However. there was one last possi0lllly
| which might materially change the pl'9.
| emf outlook III We could reach NHt Wy ".
| the hUi while our purslers were yet iu
| the valley being out or sl-Nt on ,ue pieln
| bav0nd some strategy could take pla'S
| t1ot would be impossible on Level Brouhu
| and TO this contingency we no" luil-u
| our excited attention. Whatever We
| done had 10 be done quickly ana IL We
| AS soon decided on as our horses ~,
| feet were planted on the crest or inc
| Tbe plan we were now 10 put into ef-
| feet was that I alone should necone tns
| pursued while Miss R. ana MIX snou,u
| sex shelter behind the little brick scnooi
| house. now about nifty yards on on. Ilsn ..
| and TO wait there until the eNciled ,dI,y
| ~ ntirsuere should be several miles ahead.
| In less time than II takes 20 tel IL, the
| two most interested In inns WIZ Sh. ma
| Lqd dismOunted from their horses my
| 80 leading them through the DRIED
| Ives of the sch0Olhouse yard, wnlle
! rontinued my mad ride over the road we
whether or no the party In the rear
| ,ottid notice the detection from our rdnhs;
| a. u,os soon evident 20 me tnaL lh.F hf1,
10. abafed their speed I'm the least ana
| oniv the greatest urging could Keep NY
| Srrsa ir Inc lead until the village Va
| -oocbod But that ] most enerseucaNy
| snnnlied. encouraged az ! was each uiile
| 1 thought OF COL Randalls uncoAiIg,I - -
| bfa nearness and the eagerness Win VIII
| be ,torlJ present himself If l allowed the
| VI ~ lever prayed so much IN my life az l
| ala I'm the last fifteen minutes on ma ~ ~,
| t-frst my rravcr was for glimpse or the
4 ra all