Year: 1878

Despite her exertions he came nearer
and nearer. She could hear his NUT
tered curses and hard-drawn breath as
she struggled on, still many rods distant
from the cottage gate. Oh, better die
than be caught and be at the mercy OF
that ruffian


Itwas just then that she became aware
of another sound, sharp and distinct,
ringing through the night silence-the
tramp of a horse on one of the cross
roads. 1t was surely approaching. With
her last reserves of breath she uttered
wild scream for help that brought
volley of oaths from the miscreant, who
had seemed to be almost overtaking
her.


The tramp changed to a gallop. Fast
er and faster it came on, and presently a
rider dashed around the corner. Bertha
recognized the tall form bending forward
in the saddle, the eager gray eyes and
martial bearing. "Colonel Dudley
she cried, and the next moment only
saved herself from falling by grasping
the fence. Her deliverer was off his
horse in moment, uttering an exclama-
tion of wonder


"Miss Morris Miss Bertha What
does this mean?"


It was not so easy to tell. Her pur'
suer had dashed into the woods at the
first sight of the colonel, and she was
near fainting; nevertheless, she man.
aged to make the situation understood,
The colonel wasted no words. He SIM
ply took her in his arms and carried her
to the cottage door, around which his
sturdy knocks soon brought the entire
family.


"Mr. Johnson, get your gun, and
saddle your horse, and follow me as soon
as possible to our neighbor Morris.
There are robbers in his house. Bring
your sons with you, or let them come on
foot. Meanwhile your wife must take
care of this young LADY," and before any
one had recovered from their astonish-
ment the colonel was off, riding at a
great pace down the road.


Bertha was too much exhausted to be
wildly conscious of anything during the
hour that followed. She let the women
take care of her, but did not attempt to
answer questions or to move until one
of the sons of the family came riding
back in hase.


It's all right" reported this mes
senger; leastways the robbers is gone
and nobody's hurt. But the young lady
was found tainted out under the trees,
and the silver's all taken. The feller in
the house didn't have time to take no
more. I'm to ride to town and get the
village out to hunt him and the feller
that run after you.


To use the conventional phrase,
Bertha woke the next morning and
found herself famous. The whole vii
lage was agog, and the greatest efforts
were being made to capture the robbers.
The carriage and horses were at the
door waiting to take her home. There
everything was in confusion. Lucy was
in bed, and Mr.. Morris, in state of
wild excitement, was actually dressed
and down stairs. 1t appeared that
Colonel Dudley had found back win
dow open and the robbers gone, and
that Mr.. Morris, aroused and mistaking
the colonel himself for burglar, had
actually crawled to the head of the
stairs and shot at him, fortunately with
out effect.


Bertha had hard work to restore the
distracted household TO order. Late
that evening, when Colonel Dudley rode
over to announce the capture OF the
burglars and the regaining of most of
the silver, the elder Miss Morris was
still occupied with her father, whose ef.
forts had brought on an agonizipg attack
of rheumatism. From Lucy's lips. how
ever, the colonel heard the whole story
of Bertha's adventure, and it is needless
to say that he was greatly amused and
amazed.


$50 you dared not go into the cellar,
Miss Lucy ?" he said, rather quizzical-
ly, "Were you not even tempted by
the possible sight of your true love?"


"To tell the truth, I had been too
unsuccessful with the lead. Bertha,
suppose, was curious to see if fortune
would smile upon her again"


"What was your sisters fortune 2
Colonel Dudley asked, little too eager
ly. "What shape did the lead take fol
her ?"


"The shape of a soldiers cap and
musket," was the demure reply.


When the nine days wonder of the at
tempted robbery had been talked over,
the little village had another sensation
which was matrimonial engagement
between the two principal actors in thai
nights drama-Colonel Dudley an6
Miss Bertha Morris. And the first pres
ent which the bride-expectant received
from her 6ance was two little golt
charms for watch chain-one a Tiny
musket, the other an old fashioned
three.cornered soldiers cap. -Harper|
BazGr.