Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-07-08
CHAPTER x.
ALL's WELL THAT ENDS WELL.

swOon, for Farmer Price had flown in
TO towering rage on recognizing her
former lover. He had learned of his
escape from Jail. accompanied by Joe
WestbroOk's pretty daughter, and had
heard it darkly limited that they had
taken refuge with the Tories in the
mountains, and now he jumped at
the conclusion that Robin had led the
Tories hither for the purpose of carry
ing off his daughter 1t would be an
-efectual way Of wreaking his revenge,
he argued, and at the same time pro-
curing plumber for his comrades
lyon internal desperado" be bawl-
ed loudly. $50 you thought to run Off
with Zadie, after all Oh, never fear,
gwen not kill you. for it would be a
hame to rob the gallows Of its preyl
ko, you thieving varletl Wen put you
Rback IN prison and keep you there until
the hangmsB calls for you. That what
wen do. "
Robin glared at his prosecutor def
=sntly and replied
Whatever l may be. old man, am
not perjurerl l never kept a man in
Jail on a false charge And, as for wish
ing to steal your daughter, have risk
ed my life to protect her.
Eyes, indeed. q" broke in Zadie who
aiad at last found voice to interpose.
this man has defended me bravely
without letting me know who ne was.
Then, turning to Robin, she continued
An a sorrowful tone of voice: $50 it
was you. Edward. who so bravely de-
tended me from the Tories Strange
that / did not guess it beforei"
While she was speaking her father
zyazed at her in bewilderment for her
words had a cooling effect upon his
rage
You say that this man defended
you, ZadieS % he stammered ont at last.
Yes father, - she answered eagerly.
<'He fought the whole band for my
sake
''But he came here with the Tories.
He was one of them. returned Farmer
Price obviously.
Il can explain all that broke in a
tsweet voice from the direction of the
staircase.
And moment afterward Polly came
dripping into the attic.
She carried a lantern in her hand.
and her countenance was illumined by
ats light 1t could be seen that her
cheeks We're flushed with excitement
and that an expression Of triumph gilt
Sered in her eyes.
Come. she said gayly. reckoning
20 the group surrounding Robin. ''Fol-
low me into the kitchen. and win tell
'the story Of this nights doings Tho
: Tories have fed TO the mountains and
NJ 4
But my Caleb-has he
ESCAPED unframed - asked Zadie in a
tone of voice which suggested the sus-
picion that negative answer would
not have broken her heart
Mr.. Shurker has been brutally NAL
treated. answered Polly. ''but he will
.osoon be himself again will tell you
all about him when we reach the kitch-
en-"
Thank you. returned Zadie faint
iy. with just a trace of disappointment
! IN her tone.
So they all followed Polly into the
Kitchen, where the remainder of the
1rescuing party were already gathered.
resting from the fatigues of the battle
and administering to the needs of Caleb
\ sShurker. For. as Polly had said. this
unfortunate man had been very rough
1ty treated by the bandits and was much
& nearer dead than alive.
While passing down the stairs from
the attic into the lower part of the
house they stumbled over the bodies OF
several Tories who had been thrown
lnto such a panic by the sudden onrush
of the rescuers that they had scarcely
raised hand in defense of their lives.
Evidences were nowhere wanting that
j the surprise had been complete. On
reaching the kitchen Polly babe the
others be seated. while Zadie, like du-
fiful wife. went over TO soothe and con.
sol her moaning husband. Farmer
Price, who was familiar with the do
znestic arrangements of the household
brought great jug of cider from the
scellar and also n store of more substan
Hi9l refreshments These he placed OF
the table, saying:
-'Fall to. my lads, and eat and drinl
your fill Yen find that cider most ex
.uceIlent and the corn bread and baco1
very Strengthening
The frontiersmen did not wait for
second invitation, but fell to with
will. and while they were disposing o
the eatables Polly told the story of he
pride.
Thank you. kind friends. " she be
gan, ''for the service you have rendere,
me this night. Perhaps you are no
aware of the great obligations you Law
placed me under. Well. listen. and
will tell you'll
This man." pointing proudly a
Edward Robin. twas a captive wit
me in the mountains Ihad helped hin
ITO escape from the Jail in which he wa
'wrongfully confined. and we had fe
together to get married and begin lif
over again In another part of the world
But unfortunately we were induced t
accept the protection of Claudiu
Smith He promised to see that W
were married and offered us a retrea