The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-08
na ihe tuo wnmen sat silent. each occu.


 and the two women sat silent, each occu- pied with her own thoughts.
 And Bridalbin stood wondering at the freak of chance or circumstance that had enabled him to hear two persons unknown to him discussing the depend ence of his daughter Dependent, was the word that grated on his ear. He never thought of Providence-how lew of us dol--he never dreamed that his presence at that particular place at that particular moment was to be the means of providing a sure remedy for the most serious trouble, short of bereavement, that his daughter would ever be called on to face
 Bridalbln walked slowly in the direc- tion of the Lumsden Place, which hav- ing fewer trees around it could be dim ly seen in the starlight. Before he emerged from the denser shadows he heard the door open and close, and then Gabriel came down the steps whistling. But, instead of going toward town, he turned and went toward the fields. Fol lowing the road for hundred yards or more he soon came to the bars, which formed a sort of gateway to the rich pastures of Bermuda and, vaulting lightly over these, he was soon lost to view, though the stars were shining as brightly as they could. He was making his way toward his favorite Bermuda
 
 hill.
 Now, Bridalbin knew that the path or roadway, leading from the bars across the Bermuda fields, was a short cut to one of the highways that led from town past the door of Mahlon Butts. He paus- ed a moment, and then, more sedate than Gabriel, climbed the bars and fol- lowed the path across the field. He walk ed rapidly, for he was anxious to dis cover what course Gabriel had taken. He crossed the fields and saw -no one; he reached the highway, and followed 1t for quarter of a mile or more, but he could see no sign of Gabriel
 And for a very good reason. That young man had followed the feld-path only short distance. He had turned sharply to the right, making for the Bermuda hill, where he flung himself at full length on the veIvety grass, and gulped down great draughts of the cool, sweet air. He heard the sound of Bri- dalbin's footsteps as that worthy went rapidly along the path, and he had boys mischievous impulse to hall the passer-by But he was so fond of the hill. and so zealous of his possession of the silence. the night, the remote stars that he suppressed the impulse. and Bridalbin went on his way, firm in the | belief that Gabriel had crossed the field to the public highway. and was now gong m the ulTectlon or MdhlOn Butts s home. He believed it. and continued to believe it to his dying day, though the only evidence he had was the hint con yeyed In the surmises of Hotchkiss
 Bridalbin finally abandoned his wild goose chase, and returned to the neigh borbood of Gabriers home. where he waited and watched until his engage ment with Hotchkiss compelled him to abandon his post The business of the Union League was not very pressing that night, or it had been dispatched with unusual celerity. for when Bridalbin reached the old schoohouse. the Rev. Jeremiah. who had taken upon himself the duties of janitor. was in the act of closing the doors.
 "I been waitin' fer you, MT. Borin'." said the Rev. Jeremiah, after he had responded to Bridalbin's saiutaton. De Honerbul Mr. Hotchkiss tor me ter tell you, in case l seed you, dat he gwine on homel an he say pintedly dat deys no need for ter worry bout him. kaze ev'y- things all right Ez he gun 1t ter me, so gin 1t ter you" ttf "Pmb very sorry he didn't wait for me- said Bridalbin.
 ] As for Gabriel. he lay out on the Ber-