A Daughter of Maryland.

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1135, 2 November 1904, Page 4

A Daughter of Maryland.

CHAPTER X.—Continued. " They are crossing Lash bridgo ," said Berners, unheeding tho Intter's words. "It is Blandon's party, and Blandon is tho worst slave hunter within a hundrod miles. I should adviso you to bo seeking a plnco of safety." Tho approaching horsemen had slackened their gait to a walk, but they must shortly reaoh tho place whoro tho two wcro standing. "It would be useless for mo to sanlt conoonltnent, for you have an ndvantago—" "John Evans is tho most inhuman slaveholder in Virginia and Blannon the most cold-blooded hunter," broko in his companion. I am going down to meet them, as if I had novor soon you." Without stopping for a reply Estorn Corners started down the road at a rapid gait, loaving Carroll Southard to look out for himself. "He is a strange man," thought tho latter; "But his hoart is in tho right place." At that moment tho horsemen stopped and he judged thoy woro spoaking to young Berners. If thatwi.s so they must have had an oxtendod conversation, (or it .was fifteen minuteß later before they rode leisurely pastes place of concealment and disappeared in the dwtoiico, With ft feeling of relief he soon after left his oovort, to hasten on his way to Grapmont,, which ho reached without farther adventure, It was'nearly midnight when hoenmo in sight of his old home, which loomed up so lonely and gloomy in tho starlight that he could scarcely suppress n shudder as he continued to approach, The woathorbeaten walls wore fast showing tho ravages of time, whilo the oxlonsivo grounds were choked with coarso weeds and bushes, thai struck at him aud whipped him as if to beat back an unwolcome invader into their domain, In front of tho old mansion an English poplar with stark, scrawny branches rnd while trunk stood like a skeleton sentinel keeping watch and ward over tho deserted homestead. This presentment was made moro roal by a gust of wind lifting the' dead branches and smiting them against each other so that an tin canny rattling'sound broko the sulouin silence. "A nice night's repose exclaimed tho fugitiveinvohmtaiily. "But I felt it would be my last chanco to bid farowell to the scenes that arc dear to mo in spite of their Bad associations. Ah, how brief are the works of man, It seems only yesterday tho old spot with life and beauty where now not a happv foaturo remains." Continuing to advance as he spoke, ho reached tho threshold of the main en. trance, where as he swung ajar the heavy door it creaked and groanod dismally on its hinges. This was tho signal for sharp ories, and a hurrying and scurrying within of numerous anirar.l denizens, Unmindful of these, aifd loaviug tho door open so as to be better enabled to seo his way, Carroll Southard slowly threaded room after room, calling upon himself an attack from a mob of aroused bats at almost every turn,

Finally reaching a rcojii in tho south part of tho main building, ho ailvanooil to one of the windows, whon loaning on tho dusty sill ha |{azod (or a long timo out upon tho starlit landscape By daylight his position commanded a wido view of tho surrounding country, it boing possible for the boholdcr to look beyond the valley of the Potomao upon tho mountains of Virginia, The sky was clear enough for him to follow tho road quite ilistiuctly, and as ho maintained his solitary and aimless vigil he suddenly discovered the figure of a horseman coming slowly up the highway. Wondering who could bo abroad at that hour,he watched tho ridor, until to his surprise the latter turned his horse into the grounds of Graymont heading the animal directly toward the old mansion. By this timo Carroll Southord began to regret that he had left tho door open, but bb ' it was too lato now to remedy the mistake he could only remain as silently as possible where he was, while he wondered what had brought this solitary horseman to! that place then. Ac inkling of ilio truth oaino into his mind as ho recognised tho man as Blandon I Dismounting near tho old poplar, tho Blave hunter secured his horse, afcor which he boldly entered tho ruins, showing very little caution if ho expected on enemy there, The fugitive heerd the other pass from room to room, and realised that soon his own room would bo visitod by tho sleuth* like Blandon. Accordingly he silently crossed the floor and olosing the door secured it as host he could fcy crowding the blado of his pocketknife in over' the latch, Ho had barely accomplished this before the heavy steps of Blandon sounded on the creaking stairs, A moment later tbo slave hunter wis trying to open the door, The sound of hoof-strokes in front of the mansion caused Southard to glance out of the window in that drection, when he was dieujayod at the sight of half a dozen riders. It looks as if they had got mo pretty Hell cornered," he thought. At that moment Blandon tried the door. Unarmed, and not wishing to tnko life If it could be avoided, he began to think of some way of escape. His only chanco was by tho window, whioh ho hastily openod as tho slave hunter began to pound furiously upon tho door. " Opon!'' bo criod loudly. "Wo havo hunted you down, and you might as well sunonder without further trouble. It will be better for you." Before he had finished spooking Carroll Southard was loworiug himself from tho window, which was on theopfosito sido of tho mansion to thai approaolicd by his enemies. Tho next momont ho dropped to the ground. At tho sauio instant Ulandon Bent the door Hying from its hinges, Finding tho room ompty and tho window open, the lattor rushed to thoplaco of exit, shouting to his men, who had alroady entered the houso, to cut oil tho fugitive's flight. Though considerably shaken up by his descent to tho earth, Carroll Southard quiokly regained his foot, to Ik along in ' the shadow of the building, But ho was I not quick onongh lo escape the lynx oyes > of his foe, and a pistol-shot was swiftly < followed by a sharp twingo of pain in his I left limb, Unheeding tho wound in his J exoitement, tho hunted man succeedod in 1 gaining an old woll at tho roar of tho I mansion, whoro ho so effectually stcrotod i himself that oven Blandon failed to find t him. Fuming over his disappointment, I the latter at last gave up, though he him* ' self, with threo others, remained on tho ' promises until morning, i Knowing that it would not do for him to ' le&vo his concealment, Carroll sulTerod < great pain from his wound, Tho cold, ' damp atmosphoro of tho place chilled hii ( whole fromo, while ho felt that' his limb ( Was swollen to a painful extent, Soon nftor ■ sunrise he dared to venture from his ro« ' treat, though ho knew tho watcher* were ' still about the promises. Slowly and cnu- ' tiously he crawled way through the rank, ■ tall grass and weeds, until ho had gainod the woods to tho wcat of tho mansion. But ho was so nearly helpless that ho ad yanced only with great pain and slowness, i With the grim determination of his nature, i

ss* By J. Waldo Brown

howavor, he kopt ou'nnd by mid-afternoon ho came out upon the Wind Eiver road near its junction with tho Grayiuont highway. At this corner stood an old negro hut, long dince abandoned, and managing to reach this ho dropped upon the floor with a groan, Ho had not lain there vory long before tho hoof-strokes oi ft horso foil on hit ears, " Lot it be friend or enemy, I can go no further!" ho exclaimed, (To be continued.)