The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-05-02

excitement over, I became aware that Lii
lie had dropped the reins and was leaning
heavily against me. | seized the reins
with my left hand and supported her with
my right. thought she had tainted from
the shock
Il found the horse was beyond all con-
troll. But had, as you may imagine, no
wish to check his pace Instead of turn
ing southwark, the way we had come,
kept the animal head toward the east.
knew we were leaving no trail, and |
thought it almost certain that if the In
dians should catch their horses and start in
pursuit they would make in the direction
of our home
Lille head dropped forward on her
breast. l longed to stop, but I did not
dare to do so, even if I could have pulled
in the terrified gray. 1t would have been
madness to have paused then. I spoke to
my darling again and again, but she made
no answer.
II looked continually behind me. No
sign of pursuers could be SEEN When we
had traversed what I think must have been
about five miles, the horse suddenly began
to show symptoms of distress The noun
tains had grown misty in the distance
Reaching piece of rising ground, on the
other side of which lay a narrow valley
overgrown with bush, paused and scanned
closely every portion of the country we
had passed through Having assured my
self that we were not pursued, l guided
the animal few yards into the bush and
stopped.
Gently lifted my darling from the
horse She was dead-dead, | say. She
gave her life for mine. The Indians
bullet had entered her neck aud lodged in
the spine Had it not struck her should
have been killed.
II laid her on the ground and tore her
dress apart-and | cried 10 God to give me
back my darling, even though knew she
was dead--dead This locket-I have
worn it ever since-was soaked with her
/ blood-her blood-Lillie-''
With trembling fingers the old man was
fumbling at his ragged shirt As ne ut
tered the last word he flung himself for
ward with his arms and head on the table.
Hinton sprang to his feet His face
was very white. He came and touched
| the old man shoulder.
"Your name is We're VancOurt, he
said, slowly. "You are my uncle-my
mother brother.
Badd and |, as you may imagine, were
not little astonished at the words had
never heard of Hinton mother having
more than two brothers, both of whom
knew slightly.
The old man did not move.
Faith IL believe he's had another
attack, said Badd.
Badd raised the old man from the table.
We felt his pulse and heart He was
! dead
We took the locket from his neck. it
contained a miniature-the portrait of
handsome young officer in uniform Hin
ton gazed at it long and in silence
My mother, he said at length, has
another miniature of him which must have
been painted at just about the same age.
She was only young girl at the time of
his sentence
"Was the story of his life all true-as
he told it p | asked.
True in every detail, Hinton an
swered. He was innocent The real
forger made death bed confession about
six months after my uncle left England
Ny grandfather's later years were filed
with remorse. He advertised in different
papers in all parts of the world, but with.
out effect. After my grandfather's death
my other uncle, the present Earl, also
made every effort and spared no expense
to discover the whereabouts Of the brother
( L L. -
THE ways of fate are strange ways, -
said Badd
And | thought so, too.