Year: 1876

the streets Of the city, out on to the
country roao, raising cloud of dust tina
half hid both ria or and horse. Full MANY !
mile had they u ride, and the prize was
worth almost life End death, and as each
pressed forward there was no thought but
OF the fair young girl in the farm house on
the hillside, who to-day might be lost OF
won.


Stopping not to rest moment In the
cool shade by any wsyside inn, never psus-
ing to tell the news to the waiting group at
the tavern, hurryiDg by the disappointed
men who would run TO meet them TO catch
the tid.ngs, they rode steadily on, the
cousins side. by side, with Clinton in sd-
vance Once or twice they gained on him,
but bis horse was the heetest, and it was
an easy matter for him TO distance them.
try, under the tall trees, along the mossy
side of the creeks now running low on the
smooth stones, down the hillside. over the
uneven rocks, or again on the hot road,
they rode steadily on. The strong gray
horses of the cousins were surely gaining
on the beautiful black pony that
Clinton rode, and st last passed him
and left him behind, and now the race
between the two began. They rode we'll
and carefully, saving the strength of their
horses as much as possible for the last few





them hard. The afternoon was passing,
and even now the heat was dying away
and the shadows were long and the woods
were growing darker. Robert was ahead
in the race, occasionally looking over bis
shoulder to see how lar behind was his
cousin and Clinton, yet riding without a
moments lettering, when, in attempting co
leap fallen tree, his horse iell and threw
him heavily against the rough trunk, COM
pletely fastening him down. In a moment
or two, John was at his side trying to raise
him to bis feet, but he was in so much
agony that it was impossible. "Clinton,
help as moment; Rob has broken his arm
ana leg end i can not raise bim; give him
9 lift and / can get him in the saddle, and
will lead his horse home. Hurry. or
he'll faint" mo, thank you, gentlemen, i
believe / will not be caught by such ruse
as this" SIT is no ruse, Clinton; tor
heavens sake stop. You might know /
would not descend to anything so low as
that. Rob is nearly dead, and can do
nothing alone; please help US. The
chances are all in your favor now,
for / shall have to take care Of him.
no matter who gains Miss Leech's favor.
would rather lose her than let my ri
val die alone in this way" "D0 as you
please; but I'll show you tory is al
ways the victor. When / see Miss Leech
I'll tell her her brave knights are sitting
by their fallen steeds nursing bruised
arms and battered sbins. II Robis really
hurt you had better wait until some OF
the neighbors pass with their wagons, aud
they will pick him up and take him
home" "You well know nobody takes
this road with a wagon, and he may lie
here a week before help comes. Help me
to get him on his horse, and than you can
go on as fast as you please" But the
pleading words were lost as the horse and
rider disappeared through the gathering
gloom.


By dint of much lifting and pulling
with a vast deal of Strength and patience,
John at last got his cousin in the saddle
and started homeward, plodding along,
holding him as best he could With one
hand, while with the other he held the
bride, and thus the night came down
upon them.


1t was after midnight when Johns low
rap at the door awakened Col. Leech, and
he came out, shading .he light with his
hand, peering into the darkness until he
recognized til 9 face and voice. "Wbat news,
John? You are the frs to reach me-"
" Where is Clinton, colonel? He left us
down in the woods three hours ago, and
should have been here long ago. Rob is
pretty badly hurt, and is unconscious. He
tainted moment ago." In moment all





quietly in bed, resting his bruised and
mangled body, was there any time for
aught but his welfare. Rob deserves to
tell it, sir. He was ahead of me when this
o ccurred. Rob, can you speak, old fellow?
1t is your right to tell it." The long lashes
were suddenly lifted from the lustrous
black eyes, and, as consciousness for mo-
ment returned, he said feebly, "Indep md
ence is declared" and then, after a pause,
20 fhnnl nj hnnnr
and bravery, and of the baseness of the
man who would not even stop to give
him helping hand, and he added: while
| love Martha, God only knows how
dearly, by ali justice to John belongs her
hand as bis reward mo, by Jove; I
promised her to you, for you
Iold me first. Martha, give
man raised il to mis- lips q moment and
then laying t. softly in his cousins. said:
az would not claim an unwilling bride,
aud surely her love is yours, John. can
see how she turned TO you at first, and
will treasure her friendship the more that
/ did not try to compel her love. / am so
weary; let me rest"


In the morning as John walked the
porch, bending To catch every low sp * IN
word of love from the beautiful girl at bis
side, they saw Clinton riding by, his
clothes soiled, and his face showing the
effsct of intOxicstieD. Supposing an easy
victory, he had stopped a. tavern TO get a
glass of rum, and had never stopped
drinking until he had fallen asleep on the
settee. He never presumed to visit the
colonel again, knowing the scorn ne would
meet for his treatment of Rob Sherman.
Martha nursed the sick man until be was
able to leave the farm house, and her kind
ness and sympathy TOR him but drew John
closer to her, and when he was killed in
battle no tears were more sincere than
those of the girl whom, loving too well to
ever marry another, he had yet been too
to mary. Aftsr the war was
over Capt. and Mrs. Sherman left the old
nome snd went to Pniladelphis, ard
in no family was the Fourth OF July more
welcome than theirs, and even to-day
around their pictures are wresthed fresh