The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-05-24

Ankerul0e uluuSlOH II Bll SIOOu Will
n thick wrap across her shoulders.
CHANGING to right and left with slight
SILVER and hcsitatIng on the threshold.
you're confoundcdly anxious. mad
am," snarled her fathers voice behind
her. 81 opine an ardent lovers Journey
will not be accelerated by your tramp
ing about In the cold"
Miss Ankerdlne made no reply. but
dalntily collecting with one small hand
n mass Of skirt that would have puz-
zled man to grasp in two large ones,
threaded way around flower beds and
bushes to another part Of the garden
where former owner had constructed
n small and deep artificial pond now
skinned thinly over and rejecting the
stars like mirror. 1t was spanned by
rustic bridge, fragile and worm bitten.
From 1t on q fine day miles Of open
country could be scanned across the
fields and dingles to where the Solent
smiled, blue perpendicular simmer
against the duller background Of the
Wight. The highroad was just dis
cernible in patches, where no hedge
trammeled its boundary, but only Mt
rare intervals before it plunged into a
dip and disappeared.
Two years away and his ship paid on
todayI 1t would not be many hours be-
fore her lovers horse pounded along its
famous course.
For famous it was. Trafalgar was
yet to be fought, and few days closed
without a detachment OF soldiers
swinging past, coaches flashing by
crowded in and out with men whose
trade was war, returned marines with
a cargo of prize money and lntoxicants
pursuing their jovial way or success
full press gang hurrying to the sea.
Mile Ankerdine's eyes danced as she
leaned over the bridge In an eager as
pect of listening. There was quick
tearing, slight thud, an arrested cry,
and broken fragments of ice and wood
work floated upon the dark water over
her head.
''What the devils all this noise
aboutT muttered Mr.. Ankerdine tes-
tily as an unaccustomed clamor pene-
trated to his study and attracted him
forth to seek its import.
Before the great hall fire, the once
breezy drapery of dinner dress oozing
dark pools and steaming lazlly, lay his
daughter. a stranger, rllls Of moisture
trickIIng from each fold Of his cloth
ing, was chatting her hands and yoeit-
Grating for assistance. He ceased sud
denly as her father appeared, with
servants Mt his heels, and stood back
beyond the play Of the freight MI.
Ankerdine knelt down beside her as
she showed signs Of recovery.
al have to thank you for rescuing my
daughter, suppose. sir" be said TO the
stranger. "The best kind of gratitude
is the practical. You must be made
comfortable first, and can din you
with words after"
The man had no time to answer. A
post chalse dashed up to the porch with
a grooming Of leather and jIngling OF
harness, a broad shouldered young fell
low completely enveloped in huge
wrap precIpItated himself rather than
got out of the vehicle and grlpped the
old man by both hands, exclalming:
'How's the govt, sir? And where IS
MIllle-not here TO welcome mer
"At the bottom of the pond but Tor
this gentleman" said Mr.. Ankerdlne.
81 must Introduce you when L Hello"
he gasped in a species of stupefaction,
for the gallant stranger had slipped out
into the night, and Lieutenant Rigden'
his daughters prospective husband,
had started in pursuit.
The first man, stimulated by the slow
diffusion of warmth as his limbs
coursed with blood again, held his own
Mt first, but was soon captured.
''You must come back with me, NJ. de
FrontIgnac," said the young sailor. 1T
Is the fortune of war"
again the fortune of war;" replied
the Frenchman. "a cold fortune at
present, mon ami" He fell into step
beside his companion without resist
"siIllle has asked for you" Mr.. An
kerdine observed dryly as the pair
reached the house. "She appeared sur
prised that you should prefer securing
the country at midnight to greeting her.
However, each TO his taste"
The sailor deferred apologies and leo
the way to the drawing room Mt once
locking the door and placing the Key IN
his pocket-a maneuver which did not
escape the young Iady's notice and add
ed a spice Of alarm to the shy affection
with whic4. she returned her lovers
caress. ,.,.
"Why did you do that, E!ward" she
whispered nnxiously In his ear rs
there danger outside, or is that bad
man? l fell into the pond. and he
Bumped in, too, on this freezing night
and saved my life, denr!'
'oThank God It was saved. little girl
he replied. "But that this gentleman
should have been the agent rather COM
plIcates matters. We must at any rate
thank him, Mile. So 6rst let me intro
tuce in form the Count de Frontignac'
raptain in the navy Of republican
g.ance. Monsieur, have the honor to
present my fiancee."
The Frenchman now advanced and
bent over the slim fingers extended.
.Afy good luck has not been entirely
dead. then, that could render even 50
small service to SO gracious demoi'
selle," he said.
''why, you are soaking, sir! exclalm,
- a. .-trI tsEYovy wicked you nrel