Year: 1868

Or James ana bis men looked Wit
pity on the poor creature before them
and Sir James said:


"Poor idiot! his brain is turned hi
sween-heart is dead or has been murder
ed; let rs leave him."


And they rode away leaving the mar
standing under she tree. As soon a
they disappeared, he galloped of in ih'
direction of Dame Harkey's cottage, and
in few moments stood rapping at the
door of the little log house.


Grace opened the door, and started
back as she saw the strangely habilet
stranger before her but he bad dropped
the idiolic expression of countsnancer
and bis. handsome face glowed with ad
miraiion as be looked upon the hand
some form and face of the maiden before
him.


"Are you alouel" he inquired, gal.
lantly raising his bat.


II am, and would be pleased to know
why am thus intruded upon"


II hope am not an intruder ] come
with a message from your brother, 10
whose regiment have the honor 10 serve.
He handed her scrap of paper. on which
was traced, in a bold, irregular hand,
some writing. "YOu no doubt wonder
at my strange attire. have assumed
the charter of lunatic, that might be
free from danger. and better accomplish
the mission on which have been sent. "


He bowed again, and ere Grace could
collect her scattered senses, was riding
down the road. The paper he left her
was q note from her brother, requesting
her to bring as much ammunition as she
could carry TO the regiment, telling her
where it might be found; and thus it
was that Grace HaTkey was treadIng
carefully along the rode with basket
filled with powder and shot.


When Grace started for the woods
with her basket to get the ammunition,
she had thrust the note from her brother
in her bosom, and as she scattered the
dry leaves over the place, it had fallen
unperceived by her TO the ground and
there it lay among the leaves; while
Grace, with her by no means light load,
lrudged on-hoping to aid her brother
and the brave man with him their efforts
to establish liberty and independence.


The maniac horseman, as be was call
ed, after finding that his movements
were no longer watched, was enabled to
procure a larger amount of ammunition
belonging to the British, he filled his
saddle bags, and with the booty returned
to camp; but after reaching his regI.
ment an undisguised fear for the brave
young girl who had started on so peril
Gus an adventure seized him, and, obtain
ing permission TO 60 and meet her, be
prepared himself for the journey. He
assumed a dress still more fanciful-a
hideous looking disguise-and Putting
spurs to his horse. took the road In the
direction of the little log cabin.


Grace had made considerable progress
on her journey, when the followers of
Sir James discovered the paper she had
dropped, and after a dihgent search
brought to light the hidden box of am.
munItion. no lime was to be lost; they
at once repaired 10 the Grovenor house
to report to higher authority what they
had discovered and ere another hour
passed by, a carriage containing four
men drove away from the Grovenor
house in search of Grace Harkey, who
they swore should be hung as a spy.


Grace Irudged hopefully on; she deem
ed all danger passed, and was Picturing
TO herself her brothers. Joy when he
should find that she had so successfully
fulfilled bis commands; when she was
started by the sound of carriage wheels,
and before she had time TO conceal her
basket, she was rudely seized by two
men.


"Ah, we have you now, and ere an
other day you shall hang high on the
branches of the tree beneath which you
dropped the paper, in sight Of the ruins
of your own house. for ere this your cot
tage is laid in ashes. Make no resist
ance. but core with Us" and the man
dragged the nearly fainting gIrl towards
the carriage, where the other two sal
waiting for them. But suddenly ter
1ble shrek greeted their ears, and look
ing up they saw some frightful looking
object on horseback, tearing towards them
and deep voice said:


MAKE room, make room, for am
the avenger %


So terrified were the men, that they
loosened the hold on the girl, sprang In
to the carriage and were driven away
with lightning speed, leaving Grace
standing by the roadside almost ready tC
faint with terror.


'.Do not be afraid, Grace Harkey,
am friend" said stranger looking In
divIdual and Grace at once recognized
the bearer of her bro,her's note.


With as hitle delay as possible the
basket Of ammunition was recovered
aud Grace mounted on the horse behin'
It's hideOus rider, and in q few hours the,
rode into camp.


Thus was Sir James again frustra:e,
in his plans.


Grace Harkey did not attempt 70 re
turn, for there was much need Of q wo
mans help in the hospital, where man,
a brave fellow lay 10 the agonIes Of fev
eF. And by the couch of pain and suf
, fering Grace took her stand, and man
a prayer went up from patriot hearts 70
the noble girl who night and day minis
tered TO the wants Of the suffering.
The maniac hOrseman, on account 0
: his skill and bravery, soon won q prom
otion, and ere many weeks passed by
J was united b patriot minister Of d