Year: 1875

why! But then, 1t WIS simply an I'M
possibility. For is she not alone
against Gaylord and Pelton-Lwo of
the greatest villains in Amcrica-aud
she so pure, SO hearted, unsus-
pectng and guileless? She uhdoubt-
edly made as firm stand as she could
have done under the circumstances
and was overruIed, persuaded, or
forced into compliance to their wishes.
But something must be done. and
done speedily too. Hhc poor child
must have aid. And from Wnom is
aid due more than from myself. |
ought, really to reprimand myself tor
not thinking Of this before now. Yes,
| will this m2ment proceed to her as,
sistancc. For myself / seek nothing;
| could live and suffer. even if it be
denied us the consummation of our
hopes here; but dear Nellie ust ney-
er be allowed the fate that must needs
bplall her, should she be forced to
marry that black hearted knave and
rascal. She must be rescued from the
horrors Of a living grave. Upon ma
it devolvps to give her Succor and re
lief. | can certainly do not less than
to make the best effort that in me lies.
to that end. And with this resolution
the young man left his Office aud re
paired to the stable. The reader will
doubtless smile at his seeming impetu


osity ; but Bayard Rood was OF the
temperament that, with his mind once


made up, he could not brook dela,.


Ardent, impulsivc, and Jealous, moth
ing could turn him aside from pursu-
ing an Object when he had once re-
solved No danger, however immin
ent, could appaIl him from his purpose


And in the case in question he had cs-
pecial grounds for apprehension Of de-
lay. lie knew sufficiently Of the
workings of Charles Gaylord's m nd
to enable him to divine that, when
once Nellie Pelton had been persuaded
to submit, he would not long defer the
ceremony which should make it OF no
avail for her TO repent and retreat.
When Bayard left his Office it was
quite late in the day, and by mishap
which occurred while he was in the
act of saddlng his horse. be was de-
hyed fully an hour. so that it was
quite dark by the time he was in the
saddle. The distance to Peltou's resi-
dence - situated in the outskirts OF the
thriving town of Forence-was three
miles: u portion Of the way lying
through dense patch of woods He
was riding at full speed, his mind now
tor the first fime employed IN matur-
ing some plan by which Ee might hope
to rescue the maiden from her fathers
house, which he readily perceived to
be a very hazardous. not TO say a well
nigh hopeless job, when his steed
came to a su iden stop: 50 sudden as
to have wcil-nigh resulted in throwing
the rider over his head. Bayard en-
deayored TO urge the horse along lie
would not 90 Finally, aroused by
Suspicion that something was wrong,
he allighted from the saddle and pro-
ceedei 20 examine the road, when,
horror upon horrors he discovered
that they were by the bridge that
spanned a deep chasm, and that sever
al of the planks which formed the
flooring ha been removed, evidently
by design. And Bayard mentally ac-
knowledsed that. had not the eye Of
the noble stped been keener than his
own, both of hem would undoubtedly
have been dashad to death. To repair
the bridge by replacing the planks re-
quired considerable time, but at length
it was accomplished. and Bayard was
about to spring into his saddle, when
his foot touched upon something that
rustled. He picked it up and found it
to be a piece of note paper. Think
ing probably that it was some vrit-
ING that had fallen from his pocket, he
thrust it into the latter. and having re-
mounted, once more applied the spurs
to his steed. He had nearly gained
the opening of the woods which was
about half a mile from his desti"ation
when the sharp crack of ride was
heard, and Il bullet whistled paN.
Bayard looked around, but saw no
one, although he heard the sound of
footsteps, as of some one rapidly re-
treating.


(IO be continued.)


Mark what procures Others es-
teen, and in this respect initiate them;