Year: 1875

her feet, her hand stained with blood,
for from his side small stream welled
up slowly.


'He is dead, and has been murder
ed


NO.


1t was almost a whisper, and the
heavy lids raised from the eyes--eyes
filled with anguish, but yet strangely
dark and fascinating.


Thank God, there is yet hope, be
quiet sir, 1 emplore you, and will aid
you all in my power, exclaimed Leone,
and drawing her habit around her, she
ran rapidly few PAGES down the road
to where it was crossed by a small
stream, and saturating her handkerchief
returned, and without hesitation drew
aside the clothing and placed it upon
the wound-a small bullet wound in
the left side over the heart.


you must keep perfectly quiet, and l
will soon return, she said softly, hardly
knowing whether she was heard or not,
and then in an instant she was in her
saddle, dashing at her utmost speed to-
ward the nearest farmhouse.


Dashing like the wind up to the door
and startling quiet Farmer Jossop and
and his family nearly out of their wits,
Leone cried;


'Mr. Jossop, let your son ride at once
to DR.. Wells and tell him q gentleman
lies dangerously wounded on the road
near Hillside Spring, tell him to come
there at once, and you, Mr.. Jessop,
please come on with your carriage, and
bring all that you think necessary


Every one in the country knew and
loved Leone Lightfoot, and rapidly her
orders were obeyed, which observing,
she wheeled her foa ming horse, and a.
gain sped away upon her return to the
wounded stranger.


There he lay just as she had left him,
but groanirg slightly, and each instant
dampeuing the blood-stained handker-
chief, the girl awaited the coming Of
the surgeon.


Would they ever come? she thought,
but at length, when it seemed hours in.
stead of minutes, the sound of wheels
broke upon her ear, and the next in
slant the surgeon drove up at a rapid
pace.


You are a noble woman, Miss.
LightfoOt, and if this man lives, he
owes his live to you, said the good ply
sician, as he approached and knelt be-
side the PROSTATE form.


But will he live, DOctor?'


For some moments no reply was CIV
en- by the man Of science, who carefully
probed and examined the wound, but
then he said slowly:


1T is serious injury-ah! here 1
have the ball, yes, I hope he will livei'
and DR.. Wells took from the wound Il
small bullet, while he continued:


Now he needs the most careful nur-
sing


HE shall have it. Thank God, here
comes Mr., Jossop, and Immediately af-
ter the carriage drove up, and telling
the doctor to come on with the wounded
stranger to her brothers house, Leone
again mounted her horse aud rode on to
have all in readiness for his arrival.


1t was a week before the stranger
was sufficiently recovered to tell his
story regarding the wound that had so
nearly proved fatal to him, and then by
careful nursing, he informed Leone,
who had been untiring in her devoted
care of him that his name was Clarence
Ainslie-was an Englishman, who
nearly a year before, had come to Am
erica, and purchasing few acres of
land in the West, made it his home.


He also stated that business had call
ed him to New York, and that while en-
Dying horse back ride he had been
suddenly fired upon, was thrown to the
ground, ana had an indistinct remem-
berance that some one was robbing him
for his watch, pocket book, and all the
yaluables he had about him were gone.


That Clarence Ainsile was no ordl'
nary man Leone Lightfoot knew when
she first sawihim lying by the roadside,
but that.he would ever possess the pow
er to control her life she had not be-
lieved.


But so it was, for each day had prov
ed to her that she had met her beau
ideal; and yet was he for her? Might he
not already be married?


The thought chilled her very heart;
and yet, when she saw the dark, fasci-
mating eyes turned upon her with ad-