Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-09-20
CHAPTER XVIII.

He lay for q while with shut eyes before
he spoke "Aunt Lizzie, you needn
bother to stay here. I'm all right"
1T is my pleasure, Hugh" she answer
ed brightly. when you were a little
boy you had measles, and I nursed you,
and when any one asked you how you
were, you invariably answered, All
right You were such a tiny boy, and
those were almost the only words you
could say"
Hugh put out his hand, and the old
lady clasped it in her slender one.
can old woman like me has sharp
eyes," she went on. You have acted
hard part this summer, and | am proud
of you-proud that you could do 1t so
well; proud that you have taken no I'M
fair advantage Of your position; proud
that to-day, in spite of your suffering,
you can answer, as you did as child
that you are all right. For I see many
things, Hugh, that perhaps no one else
suspects"
81 think I shall go away" Darlington
said, after few minutes. Il should like
to try soldering. l was bred for the
army"
do whatever you think BEST" she an
a brave one, and your grandfather, be-
fore him. Let us Southerners show that
all bitterness is over, and that our swords
are to-day at the service of this now unit
ed country. My husband once thought
disuniOn was right, but / never felt sure
of it. To-day | am sure it would have
been an evil, and, l fear, disastrous
one"
No door On5 Ia
cob poled in his bald and grizzled pate.
"Whar's Mr.. jim Miss Lizzie Overseer
want him.? He says haWgs arootln' n
the medder" Jacobs manner had the
assurance of 2n important member of
Fhe family. Jqmes could not be found,
and Hugh was vaguely worried. He got
up, in spite of the circumstances of his
aunt and the rain in his side, and after
Hinner went out to the stable yard.
sarge creek swept around one side of the
plantation and from the rise on which
the stables stood the meadow fell away
gently to its banks. Beyond, the land
rose again. To the east, some miles
AWAY lay the "hat-wOOds," and be-
tween them and the meadow was the big
pasture, separated from it by the only
good fence on the plantation. The flat
woods pike from EastoVer made a wide
Letour through the poor country behind.
Ut crossed the creek by a bridge, and con-
tinued until il met the river road.
Captain Bob had promised to have
WORD sent to Maude of Hugh's accident,
and the Englishman must now be on his
way to Cartersbrook Hugh scanned the
neighboring hills for a horse and rider.
None appeared. 1t was the stillest of
afternoons. Save for some negro chill
dren playing in the yard and few negro
women gjssiping over a fence, there were
no signs Of life anywhere. The sky was
intensely blue and cIoudless. The whole
plantation, dozed in the sunshine.
Hugh sat down on log, and two re-
trievers presently found him and squirm-
ed around him delightedly. They were
Miss Tazawelrs, and had been his COM
panons ell summer. He called to a
passing bay to fetch him shotgun, deter
mined to get shot at a lowering hawk.
h'hc boy brought the gun, and went back
TO his play. The sun moved its steady
course in the cloudless sky, and the west
ern fence began to throw its shadow.
Hugh got up after a while, as he felt his
side stitching. The negro woman and Il
barefootaA boy had climbed a shed roof,
and were talking and gesticulating. One
of the w&men called to him.
'rhey'xe after him, Mr.. Hugh" she
said, pointing across the creek to the
top of the next hill.
Hugh looked in the direction in which
she pointed, and saw several horsemen
galloping backward and forward on the
side of the hill. Some had dismounted
and were poking about in the briar
patches. There were dogs, too, aud now
and then came a howl, with a chorus of
howls in answer. More horsemen came
into view from the woods behind
Suddenly one in the lead turned in his
saddle and swung his hat. He headed
his horse for the creek, and came down
the rough hill at a full gallop The rest
yelled, and spurred and whipped their
horses after him. \ few of the more
level-heGded kept along the side of the
hill towards the bridge. Two horses fell
on the down-hill gallop and rolled over
and over, but their riders got up. limping,
and followed on foot, the horses tearing
after the riders ahead. 1t was a long run
10 the geek and before the first horseman
was within a hundred yards of it drip
ping man appeared on the bank nearest
ed back, and then up and down the creek.
harrington, forgetting his wound, scram-
!bled oaer the stable yard fence, gun in
hand. The negro saw him, and made
straight for him, running with great, la
bored strides. AS he came nearer Hugh
recognized the negro whom he had detect
cd stealing corn, and whom Maude had
punished.
HAIR he cried, half raising his gun.
But the negro had seen him long before
Gasping for breath, the black figure pros
trated itself before him.
Save me, Mr.. Caingtonr' he cried,
with 3 terrified look behind him, save
mei''
"WhS should 1 save you?" Hugh asked,
coolly.
Il done saved Miss Mans life once,
when she war little gyurl. She'll tell