The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-11-07

mountains under such circumstances
to ignore his existence, so she kept on
her way, with her sunbonnet turned
so as to hide her face from him.
Presently she heard the sharp re-
port of a rife, and, looking, she saw
Abe throw up his arms and tumble
from his horse to the ground, where
he lay as if dead. A thin puff of smoke
among the trees at the roadside
showed from whence the deadly bull
let had come. The form of man came
from behind the smoke, and she saw
Sam Williams emerge and move to-
ward the body of his fallen enemy.
Suddenly the apparently dead How
ardsprang to his feet. Like the Leopard
Knight in Scott's "Talisman," he had
pretended to be dead in order to draw
his enemy within his reach. He was
apparently unarmed, but he did not
hesitate to rush on his enemy.
Sam presented his rifle, but it was
seized by the muzzle, jerked from his
hand, and broken against tree. Sam
turned and fled. Howard sprang on
his horse and followed, fiourishing the
remains of the rife.
Mandy shrank to one side of the
road, and her lover, his face livid with
terror, darted by without seeing her.
She determined to aid him to escape,
and sprang into the road in front of
his pursuer, shouting and waving her
arms. Howard checked his horse and
brought him TO n Standstill
please let him go, Abe, he's so
scared" pleaded Mandy.
''Sartin, if you ask it, Mandy" and
he grinned and threw away the broken
gun.
She looked up and saw a stalwart
form clad in homespun shirt and
trousers, a straw hat, and one yarn
suspender. His brown eyes had a
merry twinkle in them, and his sun
burned face was far from forbidding.
81 never knew he was so handsome"
thought Mandy. and he's got lots of
sand, sure"
While she was looking at him he was
admiring her.
shes as purity as Kentuck fly"
he said to himself, as he noticed her
magnificent form, covered by a calico
dress. Her mass of brown hair had
tumbled down, and as she took off her
sunbonnet to knot it up she disclosed
the full beauty of her gray eyes and
red checks.
where you going, Mandy?" he
asked.
"0ver to see Aunt Nancy Styles"
"Can L give you a lift?'
She hesitated, and before she could
make up her mind whether to refuse
or accept his invitation she found her.
self lifted behind him.
They had a very pleasant ride, but
Sam Williams was not mentioned. He
told her of his farm, the new cabin he
had just built, and mentioned the good
qualities of another horse he had at
home.
She told him of her chickens and
how much butter she had made from
Bloss, her COW, her very own, for
Uncle George gave it to her when it
was a calf She also mentioned the
new dress she was making, which was
for Sunday only, and so the time was
taken up till they reached her aunt's.
He waited till she was ready to start
home, and insisted on being her COM
pany for the trip.
1t was nearly time for supper when
old John Scott saw Abe Howard riding
up the pathway to his cabin, and to his
surprise his daughter was riding be-
hind him.
What on EARTH" said the old man,
looking to see that his gun was handy.
Uncle john" said Abe, as he rode
up, Il come to ask you for Mandy"
For Mandy?"
Eyes, daddy, we've fixed it up" said
his daughter, as she slid to the ground
Then she related the incident of the
afternoon.
The old man grinned approvingly
and remarked:
That's something like it. Light,
Abe, put up your boss and come in and
have some supper"