A Daughter of Maryland

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1138, 5 November 1904, Page 4

A Daughter of Maryland

CHAPTER XII, BETWEEN TWO I'KHILS, Fortunately lor Aurian sho had the prosenoo of mind to rotroat into tlio old house boforo tho approaching horsemen had seen hor, and she saw them dash past ftt breakneck speed, The leader shouted out some command, which she failed to catch, though she frit certa'ii by his gestures that he had discovered tlio fugitive ahead. "I pray he may oscape," sho oxclaimed involuntarily, a? she saw thorn disappear where a minutt before Carroll Southard's white faoo had vanished from hor gaze. Maze can outdistance them all I am suro if nothing happens to provern his flight. But hore comes Aunt Debby and hor companions. Now I wonder how I shall explain tho loss of my horeo to thorn? I don't like this quibbling, bu: I have got to make somo satisfactory explanation without letting them know wluu I liavo done, I wonder how this wiil end ? Aunt Debby, lamina pretty plight. Maze has left me!"

" 'Fore do Lord, Missus Orry, wluit hab happened ? Air vo' hurtcd, lionoy ?" " Noi a bit, Aunty. But I thought I would stop a momont at this old house, »nd I loft Mazo iu tho yard. When 1 oaine out he was gone. I snpposo ho Would naturally go directly home, though I never knew him to run away from me." Tho surprise of the negroes was unbounded, but all agreed with their mistross that tho runaway horso had gono home, and that it would bo useless to look elsewhere for him. Accordingly she rodo in Iho cart with Aunt Debby, looking anxiously forward to her *rriyal at home. Of course Mazo had not put in an appearance thero, and the account of his mystorious disappearance was tho wonder of tho hour. In order to keep up the show of anxiety sho should naturally have, Aurian caused S'posen Jones and the othor two negroes to searoh. for tbo missing horse. She sought the seolusion of her room as soon ai possible, where she tried to anticipate tbo most reasonable outcome of the affair, Would Carroll Southard succeed in elud>

ing the enemies ? Had alio dono right in assistingbim ? What would lior father < say if he should in any way loam the truth ? These questions wore as far from an answer inhor mind as over, when her parent returned from a taharpsburg visit, Kobert earne in from one of his fox hunts, and b'poson Jones and his companions reappeared upon the scene, announcing in their boisterous mannor thoir inability to find Maze. This was Major Lander's first intimation of what had occurred, and ho impatiently called Aurian to explain what it nil meant, when she retold her story subsiuntmlly as Bhe had given it at first. Without scorning to dream of any deception, tiio major exclaimed: " Well, I don't see any need of all this fuss and feathers ; I supposed by nil this outory that you had been thrown and half killed, aslhavo no doubt you will be aome day,"

It was evident that Major Lancior was in one of his worst moods. Politics had not gone lo his liking that day, and if there is anything in this lifo to unseat a man's peace of mind it is that troublesome factor, Aurian was thankful for once that ho was not >n a framo of mind to pureiio the sabject farther, though sho did not fail to notice that llobort, who was presont, boro a look upon his countenance sho could not understand, Ho offerod no comment then, but when ho had tlio opportunity to speak to her alone, ho said: " Boware, sis; you aro on dangerous ground," " What do you moan ?" " Nothing to yoar harm, sis. You did that well, but j would warn you against

" Robert, will you ple»so explain ?" she asked, trembling with excitement, "I am sorry that I spoke; but now that I have I might as well make a clean showing. I know what has beeorao of Maze, and Carroll Southard may thank lucky stars for what you did. But I should never havo dreamed it of yo:i," Her wholo form quivered with emotion, Catching him bj tho arm she demanded; ")Do you intend to betray me Robert ?" " Not I, my dear Auriau. I hope the affair will give you no further trouble, I wish it had been some other man than Carroll Southard, I havo no friendship for him, but for your sako I hope he will got away. It might go hard with you if ho should be captured with Mazo and tho horso recognised as belonging to you. But wa won't look on tho dark sido, Whon I saw him he was riding for all the horse was worth," " I don't know as I did rigM, Robert; but he wa3 wounded and tlioy would havo killed him if they had got him. Do you ihink ho will escape ?" " Doubtful, Aurian. But don't let that troublo you. I havo an idea ho would go through Weymouth, and 1 think I will ride ovor that way to-morrow, and seo if I oan hear anything of him," "Youmight run across Ulaze, and if you did you could bring him baok." Tho next morning Mori was as good as his word, but tho foronoon passed without eoeing his return or bringing any tidings of Mazo. Her father bog ui lo flhow concern in regard to tho missing horse, and in tho middlo of the afternoon he rodo away toward Sharashurg. Ho had not been gono mors lhan three-fourths of an hour beforo a riderless horso was booh ooming up the road at a wide gallop, " Its Maze I' crioil ilrs. iialston, while Aurian started wildly toward tlia gate. Butasshocameinsightof the road tho opproaching animal rushed botwoon tho beeches and into tho yard, it-: sides decked with dußt and foam, its lioad and tail in tho air, while it snorted as onlyaninuway (loos

Aurian saw at a glanco that it was not Mazo, and a cry of anguish left lior Hps as flho roelcl backward crying: "It is Oak! What has linpponed to falhar?"

Iho horso had gono directly to tho stable. while ovoryono in tho manor rushed out in wild pxcitotiuuu.

" I'ut tho suddlo on Maze, S'poson—no Maze isn't here, suddlo Brownie as quick as evor you can, and 1 will ride and wo what has befallen fjther,"

" Robert took iirownin, missus," replied Sposon, " cass he's lout his boss. And Blackbird is lanae, and Riugfoot hnb no shoo on do oil foro foot, fa'uah'i; yo' I'o'n, Missus Orry, dar ain't a lions in do stahlo fit to trabble, 'less yo' tako Brack Gyp," " I want you to como with mo on him, If thore is no other horao put tho eadu'lo on Oak,"

Upon hearing this ordar her hearers held up their hands in horror. 11 Rido wild Oak, Orry I" exclaimed Mrs Rakton. Your father fs the only person who has ever dared to ride liini, not excepting Robert. Ho will kill you and thon—"

"Slop, Mrs. Ralston I Every moment may uitnn lifo or death to poor father, lam not afraid to rido Oak. I will risk hut I can manage him, Get my old saddle—quick, S'pDson," Muttering ovor something the rest could not hoar, tho negro ducked his hca and shamblod after tho saddlo, T h

By J. Waldo Brown

nroused horse, with a torrilic snort, flungcd furiously around the grounk

"boo him!" cried tlio Irigh'cned housekeeper. "Don't go near him I Ho will kill somebody I Stop, Oiry I" and iho terrified woman buried her face in bet hands, unablo to look upon her young mistress who was boldly advancing toward tlio maddened horse, To bo continued