A Daughter of Maryland.

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1137, 4 November 1904, Page 4

A Daughter of Maryland.

CHAPTERXI (Continued). Aurian lendiug hoc assistnnco towrtds preparing for tbo funoral,'found liltlo spare time at her command, Shi> hoard nothing during the day concerning Carroll Southard nor>did sho meet Esten Berners, \vh 0 had not been soon at his homo since curly morning. Undo Frost had been homo to his last resting place and Aurian had gone for a walk down to tho guardian beeches #t the gate, when tho shullling step of bposen Jonca arrested her attention. Seesawing hia body ho approached with apparent reluctance, saying; "I's hear missus is drefful cut up 'bout do doin's of dis po' nigger, but I hope yo'll forgib him fo' whut he couldn't hel'," " What do you mean, S'posen Jones'! What has happened now?" " Luddy! is'i possible she has cl'an forgit by dis time," ho said aside. " Wharfo' didn't I know jess erbout 'nougli to hoi' my brack mouf?' Thou, to Aurian, he continued):" I hopo to die, Missus Orry, if I o'u'd hel yit. He jess made me load datdarhoas right off from do wilderness, una bo never lot him nor uio res' all de night, till I git him 'way ober in do free Statos, _ Ho seems borrv much glad don, an' I jobs rid like do win fo' Sylvany Yo berry mad, missus ?" "I should think 1 had reason (o be," ropliod Aurian, knowing it would not do for her to let the negro understand that ihe was nearly overjoyed with her success, " But I won't say any more about it on condition that you never speak of il sgain to me or to any ono else,' " Can't I tell dat ha'nt story ennynio' ?" h& Aflkfid, with acrcslfallcn countennncD, "I don't oarehowmuoh jou toll that, only look out and tell it tho smo ovory time," 1 Golly 1 hoin 11 tol' yit do sauig ovcry Bingle time P How I pull do wool ovor dem nigs' oyes, Golly I I'so jess for oh sum'fin' same's I hain't tol' yit, I'so goin' to gib yit to dem brack coons afore I fergits T'ank yo' missus, I'so gono'suah," and with his usual shullling and dunking ho rtnihbled towards ;ho smokehouso, the words coming back to her as ho departed, "Oißjkyl I'se reckon bis darky's cutonoss jess pulled do wool ober her eyes," Aunt Debby m hor lonelinoss felt a fltrong deßire to pay !t visit to her former home, and bring away such things of hers, prized on account of thoir associations rather than thuir real value, as could be found after the disastrous advonturo of that stormy night. Aurian was nothipg loath th arrango a trip to the deserted hoinostoad, promising to aocompany the party herself, Aunt Debby waa accordingly rendered immeasurably lmppy, scrambling about to get everything in readihOfs with a celerity qnito amusing to tho beholder. As it was to far for her to wall;, a cart waa selected for the service, and tlio first, Aurian know, tbo negress was loading it with such a display of cakes, nuts, hams, eggs and othor edibles as would have warranted aiy one in believing that a camping party was about starting 0 n a month's outing, •' Why, aunty, what in tho world are you doing with so much food?"

■' Ob, Missus Orrv.yit am such a big way, an' wo s'all be gone so long I fot yit w'uld ; bo dreffal fine to ImD a lunch dar, Don yit wVd seem so homelike to hab one mo' meal in do ol' home. I hopes I hain't milled enny 'fenso, hpnoj, "None whatever, auoty; carry just as much and whatever yon wish," replied Aurian, who could not think of refusing her so simple (t request, Tho sun had passed tho meridian an hour or moro bofore the little party, with all tho bustle of getting in readiness to Btatt, was finally moving wodoratoly down the Graymout road, which «vonnd a zigzag courso through the mountainous district lying to the south oast of Sylvania. It was necossary to tako this way, though it came out upon tho Wind liivcr route a mile past their destination and mado an extra drive of at leost throe miles, for the reason that tho bridge across the aforomontioned stream had not as yet been replaced by a now one. However, tho day was ploasant snd this louger routo would add to rather than detract from the pleasure of the expedition, In the cart with Aunt Debby rode Furah and two others whom the first had invited on this " mem'ablo" trip. A hulking negro called New Orl'ins drovo tho team, which consisted of a pair of work-horses. In advance, as a sort of vanguard, Aurian rode on tho ne? favourhorse Moze, attended by S'posen Jones. At leas] sho was supposed to bo favoured with his attenuance, but between his desire to be near his sweetheart and his pretence to duty, as his mistress was not willing to gn at tho elow paco of tho team, it was never certain to count upon him at either particular place, but more likely to find him somcjvhero between those objec* tive points, with a decided nearness to the last.

But this fact gave Aurian no concern, 111 truth it afforded hor greater pleasuro to bB alono in her existing stato of mind, Tho clear, crisp air g ftV o new vigor to her thoughts, as she rode along tho unpeopled road, often loading for long distances through arcades of the forest, with thfc tall, straight trunks of tho pines forming tho columns and dark green foliage tho arches of tho primeval galleries. The dismal croaking of a crow perched on a crag in tlio distanco foil with a softened cadence on the stillness of tho autumn day, while a gay songster in »neighbouring oak thrilled all nature with his melody. Looking up from tlwodim aisles through tho raggod rents in tho (roc tops, thß September sky neemod to liavo taken ou tho hues of the wild wood, tlio alternating shades of given of the pines the russet nnd brown of oak, nmph and leech, while farther mvay towards tho ffflPtoring sun lay m bright'burs tho silver of tho birch and popl.ir. Though called tho Graymont road, this way really left that notable cslnio half a Diilo off to the right in going towards the south, tho old building looming up on tho summit of nn eminonco of land that coinmanded a wido view of the surrounding country liko sonio castle in ancient story. Evon at that distanco it showed it,i neglect and long desertion. Aurian resolved to rido up to tho old homestead on her return home, as sho had not been nearer than she was ther to tho buildings for a long limo. At tho forks of tho Graymjiit and Wind River roads stood another relic of hotter days, tho dosortcd house of an a"cd couple who had died several years sineo. leaving no hoir to inherit their humble homo. Finding that sho had quite ridout of sight of her compiinr:-., Aumn stopped forlliem to com* alonj;.' when tlio patty Jtopt on together to that spot hallowed with the most sncreil rccolloctious of Aunt Dobby'a years of freedom, though she was wont to say "datdo happies' oh me hfo wuz wiv Massa Southard at Graymont." Tho old placo looked desolato enough Dow, and as Aurian saw tho awful work°of that stormv night, and realised as sho had not been able to before how near theyfchad boon to being washed away, sho couid not ropross a shudder. Tho things had not been disturbed in tho honso, but good old Aunt Debby didn't feel liko spreading the board ai she had expected, and as she

By J, Waldo Brown

looked about (ho hallowed accuo she could do tut little savo to sob oud cry like a child.

"Yit'll nebbor bo a'gin whut yit wuz alorc. All dem bright days is gone. Pur's whar Frostus—po' ol' soul-used to set an' smoko till yit seemed ho'd smoke do las' brolT ob lilo away. Now ho's gone. Yo' mils' s'cuso an' ol' woman's tears, lionoy, I'll hel' right erway to pile de t'ings inter do cart. Mebbo wo's bestes' lot do lunch bo till wo git homo, fo' wo shall bo propor hungry den, chil'un," Aunt Dobby'j word was law that day, and evon S'posen Jonca obeyed her orders to tho vory letter, Some time beforo sunsot everything was packed into tho cart, end thoy wero ready to start on their homoward jouvnoy, Aurian remombering her determination to ride up to Graymont, when sho had soon that everything was in proper shapo for tho return, told tho others to como along as fast as they could, while alio would be waiting for them at tho Grayuiont crossroad,

Liko all horses. Maze felt encouraged to find himself headed towards home and he fairly (low up tho gradnal ascent reaching to the desertod house already mentioned, Merely glancing in that direotion, as she dashou past, Aurian nevertheless thought sho caught sight of a faoo at ono of tho broken windows, whou sho checked hor horso's gait long enough to get a clearer view of tho place, Tho countonance had disappeared, but sho was so certain that sho had hoard sorno ono move, she guided Mazo up to the doorway, From hor elovatnd position plio could caa'ly look into tho window, when a sharp cry left her hps at (ho sight of him who aho beheld, "Why, Carroll Southard,cau this be you ?"

Ho aroso to his foot with great difficulty, and cawo to tho door, loaning heavily the while against the wall. "Itis I, Aurian; hut I did not droam of seeing you horo,"

" You aro ill," sho criod, noticing the pallor of his countenance, and the sharp linos drawn about his mouth liko ono who is suffering groat agony, " What has happened ?"

"It is the same old trouble; thoy aro hunting mo down like a dog for giving aid to that poor slave, I have boot: drivon from Gnymont, but I havo baon woundod and can go no !urther, But you aro run* ning groat risk in remaining in this locality. If thoy should find you hero with mo it might faro ill with you, Rido on while you may unharmed,

" But I at» not so devoid of humanity as to dosert a friend in need of my aid." " And it would only jeopardise your own safety without roally helping me. I would surrender, for I do not believo I havo committed any wrong, but in their excited state I could not hopo for othor than tho most doaporato treatment. Nothing short of doath would satisfy them. I can but s.-ll my lifo as dearly as possible." "'.Tlmt must not bo; you must pet away —somohnw

"I liavo gono na far as I can, My wound will not lot—look yonder I unless my oyes decoive me tliero ilioy come.' Floe, Adrian! llec, ero it is too lato, I appreciate your sympathy and it Rives me courage 10 die. Don't risk your precious life needlessly,'' Aurian saw plainly a body of horsemen coming over thejerest of tho bill, and from tho Hying paeo they wero pursuing she knew thoy must soon reach them. In htr heart she did not believo tho hunted iuun merited such treatment us ho was suro to rseeivo at tho hands of that wild mob, But what could alio do to save him. His only hope lay in flight, and #itb this idea in hnr mind came the thought of Maze, On his back might ho not escape P No eoonor had shocomo to this conclusion than she sprang to tho ground, crying: " Tftko Jiy horse and lice for your life I He is frosh and fleot; with him you may yet escape."

"But think of tjio consequence to you I No—no I 1 could not accept lifo on 'such conditions. Again I implore of you to fleo—"

Sho stopped him with a wavo of her hnnd, Tlio pursuing horEemen had disappeared from tlio distant summit, but tho clatter of tlieir horaos' hoofß could bo heard with a startling distinctness, '• Quick, Mr Southard! into tho saddle, Maze is tho fleetest horso in this vicinity, except father s Ojlc. Do not sparo him, and I bclievo you will yet escape. Novor foor fonuo; I will look out for myself," It was r critical moment in tho life of Carroll Southard. , He knew to refuso Aurian Lincior's proffered assistance mount dbftth to him, and liko a drowning man clutching ota straw he hobbled to the side of tho waiting Maze, With hor help ho gained tho saddle. : "I wish it was different," sho said, " But you must make it do, God grant that you will escape. Ridol do not delay longer," and with hor own hand sho dealt Mazoa ringing'blow, whon tho faithful steed loapod forward at a swift gait, " May heaven reward you, the noblest of women, if I never can," wore his last words, 'l'ho next moment, as ho disap poured around a turn in tho road on tlje way to tlio south, his pursuers gallop?!] into sight in tho opposito direction. {To I)e continued,)