The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1904-01-20

shining eyes. A slender obstacle, only
! girlish form, yet the fearlessness of
1 her manner, the eloquence OF her
Chancellor her lips were silent-kept
them back for the instant.
But fercer passions were at work
among them, the desire for retaliation
and bitter hatred of the PATRON, which
speedily dissipated any feeling of com
junction or any tendency to waver.
Kill him before his ladylovew cried
a piercing voice from behind. did
they not murder my husband before
me? Kill him If you are men,
And, pressing irresistbly to the front,
appeared the woman whose husband
had been shot by the deputies. Her
features, once soft and matronly,
famed with uncomfortable passions.
Gently the soldier, now partly recov-
ering his strength, thrust the young
girl behind him as, pushing to the fore
ground, the woman regarded him
vengefully. But in her eyes the hatred
and bitter aversion faded slowly, to be
replaced by perplexity, which in turn
gave way to wonder, while the uplift-
ed arm, raised threateningly against
him, fell passively to her side. At first,
astonished, doubling. she did not speak,
then her lips moved mechanically.
THAT is not the land baron" she
cried, staring at him in disappoint-
ment that knew no language.
At this unexpected announcement
imprecations and murmurs Of incredul-
ity were heard on all sides.
Woman, would you shield your hus-
bands murderer exclaimed an over
Jealous barn burner.
Shield him. she retorted as If
aroused from a trance. mo, no! I'm
not here for that! But this is not the
PATRON. His every feature is burned
into my heart! l tell you it is not he.
Yet he should be here. Did / not see
him driving toward the manorT And
she gazed wildly around.
For a moment following this impas-
stoned outburst their rough glances
sought one another, and the soldier
quickly took advantage Of this cessa-
ton OF hostllities.
mo; am not the land baron" he in
terposed.
You AREN'T" growled the disap-
pointed leaseholder. Then who are
your An antirenter?" he added sus-
piciously.
IL am no friend of his" continued
the soldier in a nrm voice. you had
one purpose in seeking him; another
He carried of this lady. was follow
ing him when | met you in the grove"
Then how came you herein this
room?
by the way OF tree, the branch of
which reaches to the window"
The land baron was in this room a
moment ago. Where is he now?"
For answer Saint-Prosper pointed to
the window.
Then you let him
We're wasting time" impatiently
shouted the barn burner who had dis
claimed the soldiers identity TO the pa
troon. Gomez - with an oath do
you want to lose him after all? He
can't be far away. And this one isn't
our man.
For a second the crowd wavered,
then with a vengeful shout they shot |
from the room, disappearing as quickly |
as they had come. Led by Little Thur
der, who being a man OF peace, had |
remained without, they had |
reached the gate in their headlong pur- |
suit when they were met by a body of |
horsemen about to turn into the yard |
rs the antirenters were hurrying out.
At the sight OF this formidable band |
he leaseholders Immediately scattered
Taken equally by surprise, the others
made little effort to intercept them, and
soon they had vanished over field and
Town dell. Then the horsemen turned,
ode through the avenue of trees and
lrew up noisily before the portico.
From their window the soldier and
his companion observed the abrupt en-
counter at the entrance OF the manor
grounds and the dispersion of the
easeholders like leaves before the au-
-umn gusts. Constance, who had
watched the fight of the
,rstwhile assailants, felt her doubts
as the horsemen drew up
before the door.
Are they coming backT" she asked.
nvoluntarily clasping the arm of her
She who had been so courageous and
self controlled throughout that long,
rying day on a sudden felt strangely
weak and dependent. He leaned from
he narrow easement to command the
rev below, striving to pierce the
gloom, and she, following his example,
yazed over his shoulder. Either a gust
If air had extinguished the light in the
on the mantel or the tallow
lip had burnt itself out, for the room
vas now in total darkness, so that they
,ould dimly see without being seen.
These men are not the ones who
lust fed" he replied.
"Then who are they?" she half whis-
lered, drawing unconsciously closer in
hat moment of jeopardy, her face dis
ant but a curtis length.
Below the men were dismounting, ty
ng their horses among the trees. Like