Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-04-18

ly. "You think your old father ought
to run the world. Why, I am absolutely
helpless. If telegraphed the governor
to order out the state militia, they
couldn't get here in time, and if they
could these determined mountain men
would make it hot for them. Twenty
lives would be lost instead of one"
Just then breakfast was announced.
The colonel CALAMITY offered his arm
to Mrs. Lancaster, and as she took it
she started to draw Evelyn along with
her. But the girl drew back.
81 don't care to go in now" she fall
tered. 81 had cup of coffee in my
room. Oh, 1 am SO afraid they will
hang him!"
well, 1 shall come out to you soon,
DEAR" said the widow, tenderly. swat
for me.'
Seated at window in the drawing
room-she felt too nervous to remain on
the veranda alone-Evelyn had good
view of the road running along the
edge of the swamp. She could see the
ever-strengthening chain of men, their
guns and pistols cleaning in the sun
light. To her the sight was more aw
full than had it been an army in bat
tie array. Presently she saw figure
on white horse moving along the line
of men, pausing now and then as if
in argument. She decided that the
horse was Ronald Fanshaw's-thath he
was the rider. Something told her that
he was feeling as she felt and that he
was trying to influence his neighbors
to refrain from illegal conduct. She
watched the rider SO closely that the
strain on her eyes produced blur in
her vision. He was almost out of sight
now, and she went out on the veranda
to get more extended view of the
road bending round the swamp. She
saw black lobe, one of her fathers
servants, coming up the avenue from
the road just traversed by Ronald.
lobe had been to the post office and
was bringing back bag of letters and
papers. AS he handed her the bag she
observed half-frightened look in his
eyes.
"Tobe,' she asked almost afraid to
trust her voice to calm expression,
"who is the man on the white horse?"
"De oldest Fanshaw young man,
missile" was the answer.
What is he doing?" she asked, with
bated breath.
He's powerfully upset, young miss.
He is dom his level best to try ter git
UNI all to let de sheriff tex i'm fur u
far trial. My Lawd! wish you could
a-heer dat young man talk; he sho is
bright"
Are they paying any attention to
him, Tobe?"
Not one speck, young miss; dey DIES
laugh in his face en- tell him dey will
hang him eff he fools wild 'em."
AS lobe went round the house to-
wards the negro quarter, Evelyn stood
holding the bag absent-mindedly Her
heart was in the throat.
How different he is from the rest
of men!" she thought. "Ah, he is my
hero! He is my hero! God bless him."
She opened the bag and spread the
letters out on the hall table, their adj
dresses upwards. There were five or
six for Capt. Wrinkle, all dainty pink,
white or blue scented envelopes, I'D
dressed in girlish handwritings. For
barely an instant slight sneer fitted
over her troubled face, and then she
turned back into the drawing-room.
She went again to the window. She
could see the white horse and its rider
coming back along the line Of men.
She could see Ronald gesticulating.
Sometimes he took off his hat and
wiped his brow as if he were fatigued.
Evelyn felt a soft hand steal round
her waist and, knowing to whom it be-
longed, she simply pointed towards the
horseman.