Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-28
AND THEN READ THIS

AND THEN READ THIS
THEY bolted, and on their heels he
i swung his new mount and caught
up the girl. She clung to him, and, as
he started away, he initiated the shrill
call with which the gaunt man had
apostrophized the hounds. He had
given their owner his mans pledge.
He did not forget the dogs! His own
horse was cantering beside him,
whickering plaintive assurance OF 10y.
atty.
"My darling" ne gasped. Hold
tight! We're safe" But at that mo-
ment he felt the thud of a bullet
against flesh and bone of the horse
between his knees. The crack of
,rife came to his ears an instant later
Some one had fired from the house
In spite Of his desperate effort TO save
the fall, he and his burden rolled
upon the turf of the yard when the
horse went down. But that whickcr
of loyal pledge had meant something
l. When Aldrich came to his feet his
own horse had halted. The girl was
on her knees now. His temples crack.
ing with the effort, he tossed her into
the saddle.
Once more he unslung his rife. That
bullet had declared their code OF con
flict.
Go on! Hurry on" he commanded
the girl. "Cling to his name. For
Gods sake hold tight! Go on"
Then he began to fire.
He did not take aim. He clutched
his rifle and pumped the lever, ours
.Oing them. threatening them. He did
not know whether they fred again.
He could not hear. The hounds went
= racing past and he turned and ran
after them. When he overlook the
horse, he grasped the saddle and
forced the animal into trot by slaps
and adjurations. He did not dare to
task the horse by mounting. rne
palpitating fianks under his palm
showed that the brute was laboring
But no man on foot could overtake
them, for Aldrich. clinging to the
saddle, was dragged along at a nimble
pace. When he could run no longer
when his heart seemed bursting and
his eyes were dim and his throat was
CONSTRUCTED as though an iron band
were set about it, he drew the loose
rein.
Then he realized that a sound he
had been hearing was Evangeline's
voice. She was imploring. protest
ing, beseeching.
II will not ride longer, Norman. Ny
lover, my sweetheart, I will not ride.
You are suffering. I am strong. /
will run beside you
But when she struggled and desired
= to slide from the saddle he prevented
her. He had taken her hands in his
own. and now he walked beside the
horse, holding them, pressing them
trying to tell her his joy and his love
in that fashion, for he had yet no
, breath for words.
The tumult at the foot OF the hill
either had called in the picket or had
sent him scurrying away in fight. He
did not molest the little party which
was making its retreat from the
battlefield.
At last Aldrich pulled his hors,
TO a standstill. He listened. There
was no sound behind them. TIL,
painting of the hounds at his feet, tn,
rustling Of the night breeze in tn,
trees above their heads. faint shrillin,
Of insects In the wayside grasses
there was no more ominous SCUM
than these.
He babbled 10 her incoherently a
he marched on, and she answeret
Through sobs of thankful happiness.
Now and then he hurried the hors
ond ran until fatigue mastered him
fpr he feared mischief might com
suddenly from that silence behin
~
- they went on through the NIGH
\ bonk toward Attegat.
when the horse walked, Evangelin
caressed her lovers face with tren
bling palm, and dared once to lean an
x kiss his forehead, And once he stoI
) ped the horse and pulled her dow
upon his breast and put into an en-
brace all the passionate longing Q
IN his love and all the delirious thanks
giving Of his soul.
III "oh, my father. My father" sh
& nourned, at last. II went out to hii
with love in my heart, Norman. fo
no told me that he had come to |
my good father--he asked me to 8
with him to Pere Leclair's. where
could confess his sins and make h
oledge. Oh. Holy Mother. have pit
a on : poor girl whose father has b
oorAs her worst enemy"
rhs told him the pitiful story Of no
- hod been carried away, h'
& m>herr hand smothering her cries
1>nr <c1o 90 of At1egst
81 = s1 n k(hsd her ss best he couit
& r. ~ r}ress Of grief he realize