Evening star., 1899-03-11

pleaded, with an earnest little laugh that
was half fright.
Amy patiently and steadily refused his en-
treaties, he suddenly broke forth in admira-
ticn. Miss Amy, accept the homage of an
Old soldier," he exclaimed, with a tender
voice. He took her hand bowed pompously
over it and pressed his lips to the white
surface THAT'S the homage of an old
man to heroine he continued, and added
with twinkle, 'but don't let that rascally
Rod of mine pay you any such tribute
Amy blushed. He behaves better than
his father, 1 think" she protested, with
averted eyes.
He ought to. He's had betteh training
than l ever had. Hal Here is the boy
now" he exclaimed as Roderick entered.
Get right back into youah buggy. boy.
stohm rsh heah. Where did you tie youah
hOss, hoy?' and the old gentleman, as If
intensely interested in the whereabouts of
| the horse, hustled out, secretly cOngratu-
latlng himself on the Sublety of his exit.
Are you?" asked Roderck, with some
surprise.
Il must, Roderick," she answered, firmly,
rising from the table and facing him They
will hardly dare do anything" she contin-
| ued, apologetically. They know what the
| penalty will be-
The young man looked at her steadily for
moment and said nothing. He possessed
| none Of the fire of his father, but perhaps
| his face expressed even more determination
| than the colonefs.
fdlHer IS excltaDle, SAID he slowly. Il
| don't think myself there is much danger
| If / did, / should not leave the matter in
| your hands at all
| She glanced quickly UP, the liveliest kind
| of emotion playing in her eyes, and her
| hand made a little impuIsive move toward
| him. Then, suddenly abashed, her lips
| dropped in pretty confusion before Rods
steady gray. eyes. faint, pleased smile
| swept over his placid features.
You may stay said he, conclusively,
/ and perhaps she felt little womanly dis
appointment at his ready acquiescence. II
| so, his next words effaced it But if any
| thing happens, 1 shall never forgive my
| self
His solemn demeanor did more to shake
| her fortitude than all the old gentleman 8
| lurid representations, but she answered
father have been very good. don't depre-
| ciate that, if do the danger"
AS he took her hand to say goodbye, he
| looked at her with such quiet. suppressed
| longing that she felt her cheeks burn.
You won't go?" he asked, in finalty
| No" she murmured, quickly, biting her
| lip to hide its quivering. And Roderick had
| hardly closed the door before she burst into
tears.
Until nearly midnight she sat at her win
| dow, watching the figures that constantly
| darkened the bright doorway of Diggoryf S
| store, in the back part of which there was
| sold for drink as vile a compound as ever
| witches brewed-a so-called whisky that set
! their brains on fire, dissipated reason.
l IL,
| and transformed them into brutes almost
| as savage and ruthless as their cannbalis-
! tic ancestors. Back and forth, back and
| forth, the dusky procession marched STUN
| bled and reeled, hootug, cursing, threaten
| ing A similar scene was being enacted
across the track at BlackwelPs where the
| miserable proprietor-leaving avarice out of
| the count-dared not close. To look for help
| from either of these wretches in case of
trouble, Amy knew would be wildly futile.
| About II the crowds around the stores
| began to melt away, and half hour later
| not soul was in sight from Alny's win
| dow. 1t would have been less suspicious
| had few loiterers been left. But, hoping
| for the best, the plucky little agent, tired
and worn, lay down upon her bed without
/ removing her clothes. Her head had
| scarcely touched the pillow when a stone
crashed through the window. With heart
throbbing painfully, she sprang up and
| slant all was quiet; then there came a rap
| at the door that seemed to turn her heart
| to lead.
| ''Who Is it?" she called; and in that mo-
| ment, when she believed that she faced
| death or something almost as bad, she
| grew suddenly calm.
| TITS me, mssy!" came frightened voice
! She recognized 1t as that Of Moss, the
baggage boy. and opened the door Just far
| enough for him to squeeze through His
| eyes were round with terror and his teeth
| chattering.
Missy, Use afeared to stay in de bag
| gage room. They done surroun' u.s." he
whfmpered. ''They all crazy drunk, an'-O
Gawd-they gwine bun usI''
! The sight OF this abject terror nerveA