Year: 1873


You unharmed.'


"Here, take the rife if you will, but
I'm going with YOU. You are a good
slot, and it may be that you will have a
chance to use it. Don't worry, Ruth; !;
keep snug to the cabin, ard we'll soon
h,iag Hester back. l wouldn't wonder
If we met her before we've gone hum
,dred yards"


His heart misgave him as he spoke ;he
knew that be had in reaity no such cx-
pectatioEs. He only said this to cheer
the heart of his wife, though he knew
we'll that he should not succeed in doing
so.


She would have gone with them, bu.
this they would not hear to SO she must
content herself to stay behind, and wait,
prey TO hope and fear, until they shonld
return.


The young man had started from Che
spot before Reuben had said these words
Of attempted comfort to his wife, and was
already rods in advance. Bat the settler
soon came up with him, and tegether
they hurried down the valley toward the
spot where The branch came out from the
dark and narrow ravine among the
mountains and mingled its waters with
those of the river.


The moon, which was at its full, now
showed its face above the mountains to
the eastward, sending down hood OF
silver light to make their way plain be,
fore them.


Great boulders, that hat fallen from
the cliffs on either hand, lay in their way
and blocked up their path, while the for
est trees formed so thick a canopy above
their heads that hardly ray of moon
light could penetrate it,


Wilder snd wilder grew the way as
they advanced. The valle,,- narrowed,
while the cliffs on either hand rose high
er and higher and all the moonlight they
could see rested upon their SUBMITS


The orb of night had not yet risen
high enough to throw its silver rays
down to the bed Of the branch.


Both Sam and Reuben shuddered as
| they thought what haunt this would be
for wild beasts, and each moment they
half expected a bear or panther to
spring up at them


They tried TO put such fearful thoughts
from them, but all in vain. They felt
that something had happened to Hester,
and each moment they knew not but
that they should come upon some object
that would gill them with horror and de
spair, and confirm all their worst fears.


Onward they pressed, and at last theil
place of destination was close before
them, and it wss here they must tin0
some trace OF her they sought,


The cliffs fell back from the banks OF
the branch, forming small circular val
lev several acres in extent. Among
the loose rocks and houldegs the berries
grew thick and large.


Both shuddered as they entered upoI
this spot, which was to confirm or dispe
their fears.


Neither of them uttered sound. ThI
great fear in their hearts kept :hem 81
lent.


Slowly they advanced into the open
space where the moonlight fell brightly,
aud looked eagerly about them for he
whom they sought.


Every inch of the ground where the
moonlight fell was plainly revealed, bu
they saw nothing. Suddenly Sam utter
ed cry


What is it?" demanded Reuben in :
startled tone.


Look yonder.'


The young man pointed to where thu
moonlight fell brightly on a low cliff up
on one side of the little valley.
There upon the summit Reuben behelt
4 sight that sent thrill of dread am
fear through his frame.


Crouched there, as though ready for
spring, was huge panther; his tail wa
gently swaying to aud fro, and hi
cleaning eyes were fixed upon some oh
ject below.


1t was fearful leap even for a pan
ther to make, yet it seemed that he wa
about to take it


at is Hester!' cried Reuben. "Look
see her kneeling under the cliff! In tn
name of Heaven, Sam, take good ain
and quickly If you miss, she will die


Sam Kingman did not need this warn
ing from his companion. His quick ey
| had taken in the situation at glance
Quickly he brought the rifle to his shoul
der and took deliberate aim. The mex
instant his finger touched the trigger, ,an'
the bullet sped on its errand.


Right we'll it performed its mission
With cry, the beast sprang high in th
air, and then came topping down owe
the face of the cliff


Another moment and Hester, save,
from fearful fate, was casped in tn
arms of her lover While with a hear
filled with Joy her father stood owe
them.


In few words Hester told them how
before sundown, she had seen the pan
ther watching her from the cliffs. and hoy
when, in alarms she had started Tor home
he had followed her around, ana sh
knew that in passing out of the vale,
he could only spring upon her,th rock
were so low there SO she had stage;
where she was, in terrible fear, waitin
for the succor which had come at last


The next morning Sam flyed The pan
ther, and The stuffed skin was kept as a
heir-loom for years in the cabin whic
was bis and HeStel's home


A Southern editor SAYS of rivG
editor, that ''he il inclined to deny tn
crime of heinz red headed. Well, Yo