CHAPTER XXXVI.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 148, 3 April 1886, Page 6

CHAPTER XXXVI.

A TitMACIIEROUS DEED. Miss Starkey's startled and horrified ejaculation had been called foith by a piercing shriok, followed instantly by a flash and a sharp report. Almost simultaneously who had seen Annie throw uj; her arms, as if in mortal agdny, and^cast herself upon the bosom of her lover. Then thero were frightened cries and shouts, and'a general rushing of the crowd .toward the spof where that trio had co recently been standing, whilo tho wildest excitoment prevailed, When Miss S turkey reached the scene, and she was not many seconds in getting over the ground, she found Rich sitting upon a mo^s-covered rock, with an absolutely colourless face, holding his betrothed in his arms,, and calling upon her in the most hoarr-rending terms to speak to him, to look at him ' to breathe ! to live ! "Oh < what has happened?" the frightened woman demanded, an expression almost cf despair upon her pale face. " Somebody has fired a shot at her from yonder thicket and killed her," replied the youth with whom, but a moment or two before, she had been chatting so socially. "JVo, don't tell me that!" cried the woman in a voico rendered sharp with pain, while she reeled as if soiuo one had struck her a heavy blow. Then she rallied instantly, and said in a voice of stern decision : " Give her to mo, and then somebody go find Geoige Washington, quick." But Rich would not relinquish her ; ho gathered her closor in his arms and seemed like one bereft ot reaeon. They collected shawls and cushions, making a ludo couch, and then provailed upon him to lay her down so that they might try to discover how seriously she was injured. He himself bore her to it, and laid her gently down, though lie staggered like a drunken man under his light buiden, and then sank weakly upon the ground beside the unconscious girl, "It is of no use— she is dead ! somebody has killed her," he said in a hollow voice that smote everybody with a feeling of pity. " She ain't dead, neither," retorted Miss Slarkey, shortly, though the shook like a leaf aB she bent over Annie and put her ear to her breast; "her heart's beating, and the good Lord won't take her from us, now —I hope," but those last two words ended in a sob. "Somebody get off this leather belt," she commanded, her practical common sense assorting itself, and she began to work vigorously toward Annio'i restoration. Grace Campbell, knowing just how the belt was fastened, knelt down, leached around the slight waist and unclaspsd and removed it. Her eye fell upon that quaint strong clasp as &ho did so, and she uttered a cry of terrified astonishment. " See !'' she cried, holding it up to view ; and behold ! there was a marked depression in it, as if a bullet had hit it, and then glanced off. "By thunder! who's done this tarnal thing V I'll find out, or my name aiu t Josh Brown," energetically exclaimed the young man who had been honoured bv r Annie's latest attention ; and he darted av\ ny from tho crowd and sped toward the thicket before mentioned, and whence the flash and report had seemed to proceed. _ Rich eagerly seized the belt in his trembling hands, and examined the clasp critically. Then his face cleared, and his chest heaved with a mighty throe of relief. " I do not believe she is injured at all," ho said ; " there has been a shot fired, jbut it hit this clasp and glanced off, and, Ttrust, has done no serious injury." But tho leaction caused by this discovery was so great that he came near becoming as helpless as Annie herself. It was only for a moment, however. He braced himself against the weakness and lent all his will and aid toward the re covery of the unconscious girl. Water had been brought, vinegar too, from tho table, while Mr? Campbell never went anywhere without her aromatic spirits of ammonia, so that everything possible was done for her. Success attended their efforts, and it was not very long before Annie began lo revive, though it seemed an age to the anxious ones watching her. At last the white lids unclosed, and she glanced around upon those frightened people, an expression of horror on her pallid face. "Rich i" she called, faintly. "Hero, my darling!" and he bent over her in an agony of suspense. "Oh, I am so glad' That dreadful man !" she murmured incoherently, while she grasped her lover's hand and clung to it with spasmodic force, shuddering from head to foot. " Did you see him ? Who was it ?" Rich cried ; but she did not hear him ; she had fainted again, ami they werG alarmed lest that ball, in glancing from the clasp, had penetrated her body. But Misß Starkey did not relax her efforts, and the fair girl soon revived again. "Annie, tell me, are you injured?" Rich questioned anxiously, as her eyes sought his face again with a troubled expression. "No; 1 do not think 1 am wounded, though I am sure something hit me and gave me a dreadful shock I am only frightened -so frightened ! Don't leave me. Rich," she pleaded, as he changed his position after a little; "he may 'fire at you again." "Fire at me !" he cried, astonished. " Who fired at me ?" " That man -Crouch." Rich started violently, and appeared greatly disturbed at this unlooked-foi intelligonce. "Are you sure? Did you see him?" he cried. "Yes. I had been watching someone among those bushes— a man, I thought he acted strangely, creeping out a little way and looking towards us, then diawing back again, as if fearful of being discovered. Then I saw him l^ffc something to his eye and point it at you. I knew him then, but there was no time to tell you, so I threw myself in front of you to save you. I felt a shock, and that was all I knew." 1 he whole company were thrilled by her words, while Kich felt every bit of strength forsake him again. She had ignored self entirely—had risked her own precious life to save his ; and that

blessed clasp, which had proved such an annoyance in the past, had saved them both. | It was a frightful story, and as that eager crowd listened to it, their faces grew grave and pale, while a feeling of awe took possession of every heart as they realised how near their delightful merry-making had com© to ending in a horrible tragedy. They were all becoming a little more composed, when they were suddenly startled again by a shout. " Holloa, there ! We've got him ! we've got him !" called a voice ; and, turning toward the sound, they saw the youth who had darted away in search of the mischiefmaker returning, accompanied by a finelooking man, and leading their captive between them. Annie shivered and covered her face with her hands to shut out the sight of man, Rich recognised at once his old enemy, the carpenter. A bitter oath burst from the man's lips as he was led forward and was confronted by the handsome young architect, who, he saw at a glance, was uninjured. " Gosh !" burst out George Washington Starkey as the man's voice fell upon his ears, and thoso nearoefc him fairly jumped aa the startling explosive broke from him. "It's the very same scamp who chioro formed her !" The excitement now was even greater than before, and everybody crowded around to hear the particulars of the capture The youth, who called himself Josh Brown, explained that he had noticed a man running away immediately after the report of the pistol, and as soon as he could collect his wits he had started in pursuit. Upon reaching the top of the knoll, where the man had been skulking among the alder bushes, ho espied him just disappearing in the woods beyond. ■\t the same moment he saw a gentleman — evidentiy a sportsman, for he had a gun and game bag in hand— roming from that direction and only a short distance from the fugitive. '■ Head him oft i Head him off '" shouted the pursuer, gesticulating wildly. " Don't let him get away ' He's just shot a girl !" At these startling words, the gentleman seemed to take inthesicuation instantly, and casting aside both gun and game-bag, he joined heartily in the chase. He was swift of foot, and had the advantage of coming from the opposite direction ; so, although Crouch dodged and changed hi.s course, his case was hopeless from ~the first, and it was the work of only a tew moments for his pursuers to overtake and capture him. This might not have been so easily accomplished but for the fact that m hen the would-be-murderer fouud that the avenging powers were after him, he hastily pulled ofl hia coat, and threw it away to make his progress easier, and hi& revolver being in one of his pockets, he had nothing with which to defend himself when brought to bay. When he was led into camp, the look of hatred and malignity he directed at Rich loft little doubt as tor whom his shot had been intended, A dozen pairs of hands were ready to assist in binding him, and they were not remarkably tender in the operation, either ; after which he was conveyed and secured in a waggon, and a guard set over him to make sure that ho did not escape. When this had been accomplished, Rich sought the gentleman who had rendered such timely assistance in the arreat. Ho was a noble-looking man of perhaps forty-three or four years, and llich was instantly impressed that he had seen him before. *' Pray tell me, sir, to whom we are so indebted," he said, holding out his hand in cordial greeting "Mynamo is Halstead," was the reply, "and I was hunting in the woods yonder when I heard the report of a revolveer from thfs direction. Thinking I might find a companion in my sport, I followed the sound, and — the rest you already know." While he was speaking Rich had been observing him closely. " I think I have met you before, Mr Halstead," he said, when the gentleman had concluded hia explanation. "Do you remember a lad whom you encountered, one day several years ago, among the hills of Vermont, and who came n9arcau«inga 6oi ious accident to your wife by arousing a huge snake that frightened your horse?" " I remember a brave boy" returned Mr Halstead, heartilly shaking the hand he was holding, and smiling with undisguised pleasure. " who doubtless saved Mrs Halstead a serious fright, if not from a fatal injury, by his courage and presence of mind I am very glad to meet you again, Mr Waldemar." Rich was surprised that he should have remembered his name, while he noticed that an expresssion of sadness and an unwonted pallor had swept over his face upon learning who ho was. He presented him to Mra Campbell and Grace ; then excusing himself, returned to Annie, whose anxious eyes followed him everywhere, as if she could not feel sure that he was safe even now, It was thought best to return home immediately, for, of course, there could be no enjoyment after what had occurred. A comfortable couch was arranged for Annie in Mrs Campbells roomy carriage, and a whole seat given up to her, Gr<*ce graciously askiug permission to ride with one of the farmer's daughters, and as soon as they could harness their horses they set out upon their homeward ride. "I hope we shall see you again," Rich had said to Mr Halstead at parting. "Wo are spending a little time at Mr Starkey's farm, in Lynnell, and when we are a little more calm it will give us pleasure to become better acquainted with you. Are you stopping in this vicinity ?" " los ; I have been in Maine all summer ; I am at Sherman, about five miles from you, I believe," responded Mr Halstead, then adding, with some embarrassment : "May I inquire- is Mis 3 Waldemar with you?" " Yes : my aunt has been here more than a month. She did not accompany us today, however, as her strength is not sufficient for such excursion," Rich returned. 11 Ah !" said the gentleman, with a slight start, Sf is she not well ?" " Not as well as we could wish ; but im. proving, I believe, on this delightful country air and diet, "said the young man. Mr Halstead sighed as he bowed and turned away, and, a" he had not responded to Rich's expressed desire that they might meet Inter on, he feared that he should not see him again, while it suddenly flashed upon him that he had not inquired for the i pale, beautiful woman whom he had so admired that lovely summer day, and whose ring ho still wore upon the little finger of his left hand. It was rather a solemn parly that returned from the excursion that had promised so much in the morning. Anni<i> appectred much refreshed by tho Jo:ng quiet drive, though sho was still greatly shaken, and her sweet face was very grave as sue was borne \nXo the dear old farm-house which, she had yrown to love so fondly. T^he wretch, who had come so near being a murderer was taken to the county town and lodged in gaol to await his examina-

tion ; and it may as well be s-tated here that, upon being tried and hia previous offences brought up against him, he was found guilty and sentenced to twenty years' hard labour in a State prison. But before that time expired he was called before a greater Judge to settle his final account. Miss Waldemar was greatly shocked upon being informed of the startling event of the day, and seemed scarcely less agitated upon hearing who had rendered such efficient assistance in arresting the I criminal. She was even more unnerved and ill than Annie during the next few days, and the ''two charming invalids," as Grace playfully termed them, were waited upon and tended with the fondest care by every one in the house. The second day after the picnic Mr Halstead rode over from Sherman to inquire regarding the recovery of the young lady who had sustained such a fearful shock The Campbells and Rich roceived him and spent a delightful hour with him, though they all noticed that his eyes frequently wandered to the door, and hia attention seemed somewhat diverted by every step in the hall. After a while he inquired especially for Miss Waldemar, a flush mounting to his brow as he did so. _ Rich replied that she was not able to see visitors that day, for she had been prostrated by the narrow escape of Miss Noble. He arose soon after this and took his leave, appearing preoccupied' and sad as he rode away. No one, save Grace Campbell, suspected why Miss Waldemar was so depressed and listless after this visit, or why they so often found her with tear 3 in her eyes She, knowing something of the story of Miss Waldemar's life, though she had never learned the name of the man whom she had loved &o fondly in her youth, felt sure she had discoveied the sequel to all the past. Her own heart had bean in sympathy with her, and her quick eye 9 were quick to read both her face and that of Arthur Halstead, when the name of either was apoken in the presence of the othei, and she was not long in arriving at the right conclusion regarding their relations to each other. ( To be Continued. )