Middletown transcript., 1902-11-15
Sweet Peas z
BIZ NARY r. r HATeH

| winter fur unfeared OF them, partridges
tdrummed ON the hollow logs and beavers
slid down from their dams into the water
as the pung approached. but It was only
to watch the strange occupants with their
bright. gIancing eyes. Once, far away
in the woods, Priscilla spied deer with
two lawns. but its experience with hu-
manity had doubtless not been Of the
reassuring order, Tor it sped away with
the fsetnessof the wind. Sometimes the
spruce boughs swept 50 low that Priscilla
and Jock had to stoop as they passed
underneath, and then shower Of snow
swept over them, but they did not mind
1t much, and once Pr:scilla's clear, musi-
cal laugh, floating backward, reached the
ears of the young men, who we're follow
ling little closer now that dusk was set
ting in. and TO one of them it seemed
sweet music. Presently Priscilla looked
back and noted the two horsemen.
"Jock," she whispered, Ftwe are being
followed. thought so once before and
| I know it now -
"sFore de Lawd, is it me, missy, dey
| is after?''
''Tfear me it is, JOCK, but do not worry
yst."
"Who be dey, missy?"
| Jocks voice was trembling with ap-
prehension, and Priscilla,s was not much
steadier
Zone is Lieutenant Digby, I think, and
the other I do not know. It was they
that I saw at the Parker stand" !" she
answered.
"Mars Digby is vile lad, but / didn't
think he'd try to take ole Jock back to
de Doctor to be killed. Sartain sure he'll
kill Jock if he ketches him, missy"
Perhaps they only happen to come
our way; they may have other business.
We will keep on and they may turn
back"
Although Prisailla had been intending
to stop at an inn near by when it was
reached, she hurried by, alike unmindful
of her horses disinclination to 20 farther
and the call Of Lieutenant Digby to stop.
HE wants to ketch poor Joel" /" said
the negro, with chattering teeth.
"He shall not have you If / can help
it." But for all her brave words, the
futility Of sluding Jocks pursuers, as she
supposed them to be, struck her with
cruel force. Still, with whip and rein
she spurred her horse forward, and be-
hind her came the two horsemsn.
"There is no use, my friend; she is
bound to 60 on" said Lieutenant Digby,
''and in those woods yonder lumberman
and his team were eaten by wolves not a
month ago. wonder why she did not
stop when shouted"
"She thinks, doubtless, that We are
after the negro"
"Right you are. / never thought of /
that. l laid it to my not getting on well
with the staid people at home. Mistress
Priscilla does not quite approve of me.
and has tried to turn her friend, Portia /
Palfrey, to her way Of thinking, but thus
far she has not succeeded" And the
lieutenant's careless, handsome face grew
thoughtful for moment. mot that l
blame her or should blame Portia If she
needed her. l would not, if were
maiden, listen to such as /. It would be
men like you, Reginald-may | call you
that?-but" he swore mild oath
at the. thought sweet Portia Palfrey1
would marry me l would promise her to
quit my wild ways, ay, and not only that,
but keep my promise, too. You should
zee her, Reginald, with her beautiful face
and her naughty ways, but which she
sometimes drops with me-"
"Is she as beautiful as Mistress Pris-
cilIa?".
"As beautiful? Ten times handsomer, L
man. Why, there is naught to compare
between them. would you could see
the two together"
But Reginald had his doubts about the
greater beauty of the Governors niece,
and it put his mind at ease to hear the
ieutenant's enthusiastic praise, for, be. {
iore this he had feared that he might be /
unduly in Priscilla Brown. In {
he intervals of their conversation, the |
wo young men rode slowly, and thus
Illowed the team to gain upon them. c
They had been travelling an open stretch | (
# ground, but now they entered the ]
Ieep woods, which grew more dense each q
moment, for the sun had gone down, and Z
hey were alarmed to see no sight or
ound Of Priscilla. What did it mean7 h
rue, they had ridden slowly; but If tie .
eam had followed the road they could 8
lot have got out Of sight so quickly.
"They must have lost the track, it is so .
ark; if SO, they may be foundering in a
be woods at this moment" exclaimed n
he lieutenant. h
"Harkl what is that?' exclaimed Regi- 4
aid. Il hear dogs yelping." Lii
"My God! it is not dogs, but wolves
on hear. 1t is to the right over youder. .
let US go over that way. though it may v
q our last ride. But who cares? Not Il
Tild Nahum Digby. What say you2n
II will go with you, though it may be n
~ last ride Also" He spoke quietly,
ut his eyes cleaned with bright, steady d
ght, full of suppressed excitement that
bowed he felt and understood full well Il
neir peril. In
Striking their spurs into their horses,
hey sped OH without exchanging another Il
ord until they came to spot where the e,
eutenant's keen gaze saw that the pune h
ad been veered from the main track, a,
nd plunged into the dense woods, led m
hereto by smaller track made by some a,
lmber team.
II can see them just ahead. They are n,
uck in the deep snow and cannot turn n.
'onnd, and-Godl-yes-do you ethose sr
rcling lights on the edge of that little ii,
sep,
ttWill-o' -the-wisps?" -