Middletown transcript., 1898-02-26
CHAPTER I.

mile away. 1t lay yellow and warm in
the summer sunshine. From the long
grasses of the meadow came the rbyth-
mic click of the insects. Occasionally
frogs in the hidden brook made pecul-
lar chug chug sound as If somebody
throttled them. The leaves of the wood
swung in gentle winds. Through the
dark green branches of the pines that
grew in the front yard could be seen the
mountains far to the southeast and in
expressibly blue.
Mary's eyes were fastened upon the
little streak of road that appeared on
the distant hill. Her face was flushed
with excitement, and the hand which
stretched in strained pose on the sill
trembled because Of the nervous shaking
of the wrist. The pines whisked their
green needles with a soft, kissing sound
against the house.
At last the girl turned from the win
dow and went to the head of the stairs.
"Well, I just know they're coming
anyhowl' she cried argumentatively to
the depths.
A voice retorted with the shrillness
and mechanical violence of occasional
| housewives. The girl swished her skirts
defantly and returned to the window.
Upon the yellow stream of road that
lay across the hillside there now was a
handful of black dots-horsemen. A
cloud Of dust foated away. The girl
few to the head of the stairs and whirl-
ed down to the kitchen.
"They're coming They're comingl"
It was as If she had cried "Firer"
Her mother had been peeling potatoes
while seated comfortably at the table.
She sprang to her feet. "No; it can't
be. How you know it's them? Where?"
The stubby knife fell from her hand,
and two or three curls of potato skin
dropped from her apron to the floor.
The girl turned and dashed up stairs.
Her mother followed, gasping for breath
and yet continuing to fill the air with
questions, reproach and remonstranoe.
The girl was already at the window
eagerly pointing. "Therel Therel See
'eml See 'eml"
Rushing to the window, the mother
scanned for an instant the road on the
hill. She crouched back with groan.
"It's them, sure as the world. It's
them!" She waved her hands in de-
spairing gestures.
The black dots vanished into the
woods. The girl at the window was
| quivering, and her eyes were shining
like water when the sun flashes. "Hushl
They are in the woods. They'll be here
directly" She bent down and intent
ly watched the green arehway from
whence the road emerged. "Hushl I
hear them coming, I" she swiftly whis-
pered to her mother, for the elder wom-
an had dropped dolefully upon the mat
tress and was sobbing. And indeed the
girl could hear the quick, dull trample
OF horses. She stepped aside with sud-
den apprehension, but she bent her
head forward in order to still scan the
road.
Here they arel''
There was something very theatrical
in the sudden appearance of these men
to the eyes Of the girl. It was as If a
scene had been shifted. The forest sud-
denly disclosed them, dozen brown
faced troopers in blue, galloping.
"Oh, lookr' breathed the girl. Her
mouth was puekered into an expression
of strange fascination.
The little troop rode in silence. At
it's head was youthful fellow with
some dim yellow stripes upon his arm.
In his right hand he held his carbine
slanting upward, with the stock resting
upon his knee. He was absorbed in
scrutiny Of the country before him. At
the head Of the sergeant the rest Of the
squad rode in thin column with creak Of
leather and tinkle Of steel and tin. The
troopers glanced for moment like cas-
nal tourists and then returned to their
study of the region in front The heavy
thudding of the hoofs became small
noise. The dust hanging in sheets slow.
ly sank.
The sobs of the woman on the bed
took form in words which, while strong
In their note Of calamity, yet expressed
querulous mental reaching for some
near thing to blame. "And it'll be
lucky for us if we amt both butchered
in our sleep-plundering and running
off horses-old Santos gone-you see
If he ain't-plundering"-
"But, ma" said the girl, perplexed
and terrified in the same moment,
"they've gone y
"Oh, but they'll come backP' cried
the mother without pausing her wall
They'll come baok-trust them fof
that-runniLY off horses - She sudden.
~ lifted herself and sat rigid, staring
Et her daughter. Mary she said in
tragic whisper, 1.-THE kitchen door isn't
locked" Already she was bent for
ward to listen, her mouth agape, her
eyes fixed upon her daughter.
Mother faltered the girl.
Her mother again whispered, "The
kitchen door isn't locked" Motionless
and mute, they stared into each others
eyes.
At last the girl quavered, 1--WE better
we better go and lock it. 4" The moth
er nodded. Hanging arm in arm, they
stole across the floor toward the head Of
the stairs. a board Of the floor creaked.
They halted and exchanged look of
dumb agony.
At last they reached the head Of the
stairs, From the kitchen came the bass
humming Of the kettle and frequent
sputterings and cracklings from the
fire. These sounds were sinister. The
mother and the girl stood incapable Of |
movement. There's somebody down
there, 7" whispered the older woman.
Finally the girl made gesture Of |
resolution. She twisted her arm from |
her mothers hands and went two steps |
downward She addressed the kitchen,
"Who's theres" Her tone was intended |
to be dauntless. Itrang 20 dramatically |
In the silence that sudden uSw panlu |
seized them, as I The suspected p9ssncs