A Daughter of Maryland.

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1124, 20 October 1904, Page 4

A Daughter of Maryland.

OHAFTEII IV-Continncil. Tho hoi'so soon becamo mote quiet, though it was noticed that ho bud ohangod his position. After this nothing broko tho terrible monotony of tbo warring dementi until Aurian judgod it must bo near midnight, She was sure tho storm was abating now, though there was 110 such encouraging change with the river. Everything combastiblo that could bo found hud been put upon tho fire, which was dying away, leaving thorn in blinding gloom, Uncle Frost was groaning and moaning in anguish, whilo Debby could do littlo moro than wring hor hands and bemoan their Had fate, A stouter heart than Aurian's must havo failed, "Wo must not let the livo go out. Per* haps I can find something that will burn outside. I am going to look anyway, aunty," "I wouldn't do yit, honey; 'deed I wouldn't, Yo'll loso yo'sol' in da darkness an' git washed 'way," But Aurian was already leaving the . houso, though she lmd not taken a second stop before she was startled by a wild snort from Maze, lud slio heard tho liorso making a moro frantic strugglo than over. " What is tho trouble, poor fellow ? Mercy I help, Aunty Dcbby, the ground is all falli.ig away!" Though it was too dark for her to seo hor liorso sho knew tho animal was strugglo to free itself from tho watery pit which had opened all about tho doomed place. " The river is almost upon ' aunty. Tho houso must go in a—oh, dear! what is—" Her words worn cui short by a terrific crash, swiftly following the sound of breaking wood, and the ground beneath her foot shook and tremblod as if falling away I Tho awful disturbanco brought a wort of fierco alarm from hir horse, which broke from . its tether and nearly hurled hor to tho "oarth in its wild plunge. With a cry of terror she retroated to tho door.

"Fo' do lord! is do yearth gono ?" gasped Aunt Debby. "It was the old pine, aunty, Luckily it fell tbo other way or wo would have boon orushed 10 death be—" "We s'all go nex', honey, Do you hear dat, Frostus I De oF pino 'jab gonoauah." Tho firo had burned so low that Aurian could barely discern tho burly figure of her companion, From thq inner apartmont Undo Frost's moans and groans mado more wild and weii'd tho torriblo situation. Mies Lander did not lack for courage, but she (ell thoy wero hopelessly lost, "Wo must ltoop a liro Aunty, at all hazards, If there is nothing elso to bo burned, we must tear down a portion of tho house, This darkness is worso than ovorything olso. " Dar is no hopo fo' us, honoy, now do ol' pino is gone, Dat ol' treo dut's sheltered me an' po' Frostus from de suus an' I do storms of so many years." , ' Hoeing that her overwrought companion was in no condition to tissipt her, Aurian lost no further time in seeking material to replenish tho lire in a now direction of search, In this sho was moro fortunate than she had anticipated, and from the half ruined walla ol' a sort of lean-to built at the back of the main structure sho obtained a suffioieut number of boards to mako a roaring fire. Aunt Debby was still by tho couch of poor old Uncle Frost; whose frail hold upon life was weakening fast. Through the open door the tiro shone out upon the scene in front of tho dwelling, showing plainly tho drenched lorn of Maze. It may have been tho sight of the lire which caused tho intelligent oreaturo to suddenly lift its hoad and give a whinny of delight. That singlo, uiitraiipable intorance gave Aurian a thrill of pleasure. " Noble folly n I You aro not discouraged. Let ino hug you for that. Throwing on the firo tho remnant of tho boards left, she started to gut a now supply. Less fortunate in finding material for fuel than at first, sho had finally succoeded in collecting as much as sho could carry, when she was startled by a loud scream from Aunt Debby: " 'Fore do Lord do house is all on firo I Missus Orry I Como hyur quick, fo' wo's gono dis time suah I"

CHAPTER V STANDING ON A VOLCANO Lotting the wood fall from hot holding Aurian hurried back to tho kitchen as fast as soon as possible, finding tho room lit to more than midday brilliancy by tho iiro, which had caught upon the wall and was spreading rapidly right and left. Sho saw this at a glance, bat the next moment hor gazo was turned toward tho door by tho Bound of footßtops and the sudden appoaranco of a man's figure upon the eceno. It \v&B ISston Eoruers, drenched by tho storm, but looking hopeful. At sight of him Aurian uttered a low cry of joy, oxclaiming: " I never was so glad to see any one in my lite, Esten I Wo aro in a sorry plight." Slio did not ask him how ho had reached the place; in fact, sho did not liavo tho timo boforo ho was lighting tho Homes, When ho had succeoded in subduing the fire at the cost of some sovero burns, ho said: "I kuew you wore in fenrful danger if not lost, and I catno as soon as I could. Tho rain come on so quickly aftor you left mo this afternoon that I wos forced to soek tho shelter of rock overhanging tho dofilo just back from the road. But I was soon drivon from my retroat by tho Hood that suddonly camo rushing down the yalloy. I was not long in learning that Wind liiver was ruunmg wild, and all at oiico tho peril of your situation llosliod upon ray mind. But when I got in this vicinity I found it impossible for ony ono to cross tho river, and aftor trying in vain to find a placo whore I could roach this bank, 1 was obliged to return to a placo nearly opposito hero, whoro I have remained over since. I shouted to you until 1 was boarso, in tho vain liopo you might hear mo. I know I could not summon aid to got hero boforo morning, and that I feared would be too iatc. It has proved fortunato that I kopt at my post, for tho falling of that big pino lias made a bridge over tho stroam, and I liavo reached j on. You havo not sulked anv harm, Aurian ?" Boforo slm could reply a newcomer apgoarcd on the scene. Liko Eaton Bornors ho won drenched willt the storm. Ho lookod about tho age of tlio overseer's son, but his hair and moustache woro of a darker hue than tho other's; and though lacking fully an inch of tho height of tho first, ho had a larger framo and must have beon several pounds tho heavier of tho two. If Esten Pernors had ever met him boforo, ho did not signify it/mid tho cmbarrasin" siliKO was broken by the stranger, saying as ho advanced with outstretched hand. "I expect this is Miss Aurian Lnncier, though it hardly seoms possiblo my little pluyunito has g own into womanhood so soon, Have you forgotten Carroll Houthard Unablo to comprehend the she speaker's words, Amiiui hesitated in hor rnply; but Amu Debby allowc-d no such restraint to hold her back, aud throwing up hor fat arms she fell upon his shoulders, oxolalm* iog between her outbnrsta of joy:

By J, Waldo Brown

"Ob, MassaCall MassaCftl,dodesool' eyes make fools ob dis po' ol' woman of am dis yo' inllcsh an' blood?" "It is I, Aunt Debby, most assuredly; and lam heartily glad to seo you. flow is Undo Frost?'' " Oh, Frostus I Froßtus!" slio cried, regarnless of the quostion, •' ho hab como auah!' " Who dat ?" called out Undo Frost, " Massa Cal, suah, Frostus; but grow* ed to such a big, monstrocs man yo' nober " " Massa Cal I" oxclaimod tho sufferer, suddenly rallying and beginning to loavo his couch, "I'se oomin' right out dar I De berry sight ob him am wuff a hundred y'ars ob libiu'l" "Njl" soroamed Aunty Debby, Boizing the nowcomcr .villi a firmer hold and actually pulling him into tho adjoining room, 11 Hero he come I Hain't he a tubly boy?" Whilo this strango and domonstrativo meeting was in process, Estern Darners was urging jiurian to loavo tho place at onco, " Let us cross ovor • tho troeway whilo wo may. It cannot remain there a long time. The storm has clouted away, and if we go at ouco wo can do it with littlo difficulty," But Aurian could not think of deserting Aunt Debby Bnd Undo Frost. "We must savo thorn. What a handaorno man Carrol Southard has becomol" she added, Esten Berners Bhtnggcd his shoulders without replying. " I wonder how he happened to bo here at this time," added Aurian. If pleased to meet his old friends, Carrol Southard was not forgetful of their situation, and as soon as ho could free himself from them he said: " Every momont is of prioeless value to us if wo would sayo our lives. Como, aunt, you must go with us across the river, and as suon as wo bayo seen you and Miss Lanoior ovor in safety wo will return for Undo Frost." But Aunt Debby would not think of leaving her hor now-found friend had promised to remain with him during tho interval of waiting, To be continued