Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-01-06
CuArrER lu.

the tive preceding chapters. two girls
were ont, III spite of the fierce wind and
gathering darkness. in II little gig that
accommodated only Two. They drove II
very sober cob, who Went ut his leisure.
picking his way. seeing rutS in spite of the
darkness.
These girls were Barbara and Eve .Jor-
dan. They had been out on II visit 10
soiin nci.itorS who lived ut IL distance
of live miles. and were divided from Nor
well by :. range Of dcsola,c moor. They
had spol. Nc day will. their friends. and
were rc'U.n.ng home later than they had
intended.
Il do ,t, hn"w what father would say
20 orr hong abroad so late. and in the
dark, ulattcnded.' said Eve. "wcrc he at
hone. " is we'll liz is away"
"iie Mnrld rchukc me, not you.'' said
Barbara.
"tlf rcur>" he would; yon are the elder.
am! responsible"
Put ] welded 10 your pcr>uasion."
"yfS. J iikn to enjoy myself when j
may. IL y vastly dull at Morwcll. Tell
mc. BAL, did / look we'll i'm my figured
drcsyy'
"ChnfminI, darling: you always are
that"
you IN l. sweet sister," said Eve. and
she put t,cr arm round Barbara. who was
driving.
Mr.. jnr:an. their father. was tenant
Of the Iwin Of Bedford. The Jordans
were THO Oldest tenants on the estate.
They held Morwcll on long leases of nine
LYNNE years. regularly renewed when the
leases lapsc,i. They regarded Morwell
House almost as their freehold: it was
1-,...I -. AL -it ,l,a:. ,,.1.
and associations.
Suddenly the two girls heard Il call. then
the trump Of horses feet. Barbara even
was for the moment startled. and drew
the gig aside. off the road upon the COM
mon. n black cloud had i ,llcd over the
sickle Of mo moon and obscured its feeble
light.
In another moment dark figures of men
and horses were visible. advancing at full
gallop along the road. The dull cob the
sisters were driving plunged. backed and
was filled with panic. Then the moon
shone out. and a faint, CHASTITY light fell
on tfN road, and they could see the black
figures sweeping along. There were W.
horses, enc some way ahead of the other,
and two riders, the first with slouched
hat. But what was that crouched on the
crnpper, ciinging to the fast rider:
AS he swept past. Eve distinguished
the imp-like form of a boy. That wholly
unncrvcd her. She uttered a piercing
SHREK, md clasped her hands over her
eyes.
Tho first horse had passed. the second
was abreast of the girls when that cry
rang out The horse plunged, and in a
moment horse and rider crashed down,
and appeared to dissolve into the ground.
Some moment elapsed before Barbara
recovered her surprise, then she spoke n
word of encouragement to Eve, who was
in an ecstasy of terror, n tried to olsen
gage herself from her arms, and master
the frightened horse sufficiently to allow
her TO descend. She helped her sister out
of the vehicle.
DO not be alarmed. Eve. There is
nothing here supernatural to dismay you.
only q pair of farmers who have been
drinking. and ono has tumbled of, his
horse"
In the meantime they could see that the
first rider had refined i'll his horse and
turned.
Jasper" he called. what is the mat
teri"
No answer came. He rode back to the
spot where tho second horse had fallen
and dismonntcd.
What has happcncd:' screamed the
boy.
Barbara advanced into the road.
Who are you:" asked the horseman.
Only a girl. Can ! help? Is the man
hnrti'
Hurt. Of course. He hasn't fallen into
a feather bed, or--by good luck-into Il
furze brake"
Then the man went to his fallen COM
rade. Give the boy the bride, and come
here, girl. Is there water ncar!'
None: We are at the highest point of
the moor"
"%Jasper!" shouted the man who was
unhurt. "for heavens sake. wake up. You
know l can't remain here all night"
No response.
1.-The blood is flowing from his head"
said Barbara; "it is cut. He has fallen
on a stone"
What is to be done? I cannot stay"
Sir" said Barbara, "of course You stay
by your comrade. DO you think to leave
him half dead at night to the custody of
two girls, strangers. on n moor:'
you don't understand" answered the
man; ~ cannot and will not stay He
put his hand to his head. GLOW far to
your home:"
Half an hour"
GOOD heavens! Watt! always a fool:'
He turned sharply toward the lad who
was seated on a stone. The boy had I'M
slung a violin from his back, taken it from
its case. had placed it under his chin, and
drawn the bow across the strings.
The boy swung his bow in the moon
light, and above the raging of the wind
rang out the squeal of the instrument.
Eve looked Mt him, scared. He seemed
some goblin perched Oh the stone, trying
with his magic fiddle to work a spell on
all who heard its tones. The boy salts
fed himself that his violin was in order,
and then put it once more in its case,
and cast it over his back.
How is Jasper?' he shouted; but the
man gave him no answer.
Half an hour! Half an eternity to
me-" growled the man. However, one
ia doomed tn sacrifice self for Others I