A Daughter of Maryland.

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1128, 25 October 1904, Page 4

A Daughter of Maryland.

CHAPTER VII. THE MYSTEhY OK THE OLD MILL ON TIIH RASH, As she rode past the home of tho Berners, Auvian saw Esten coming towards the road, At sight of her ho dolled his hat, and half raised his hand, as if he would signal for her to slop, But not caring to be delayed in her trip, feoling alio had scanty time to accomplish its purpose, she returned his greeting without checking her speed, Glancing back after alio gono some distanco, she was slightly vexed to find that ho was still watching her. Knowing that tho stream culled The Lash crossed the main road about a wiln below the Sentinel's Gateway, sho said nothing in regarn to hor destination, unt'l sh6 suddenly reined up Maze in a nanow valley hemmed in on ilueo sides by rugged hills.

Tho loneliness ol this spot was enlivened by tho inerty rippling of rushing water 'darting round sharp angles of rock, imo dark nooks, or ation down oxposod rapids reflecting the silver of the sunlight, onward liko soiiio fugitivo doomed to flee forover, with a sigh on its lips and a song in its heart, The Lash was notod for its intricate turns and twists, hence it's namo, " Tho way to the old mill must bo near to this place,'' said Aunan, " but I have forgotton just where it leaves tho road, the bushoß have mado such advances. Can it be that grassgrown pathway just ahead S'posen f Tho nogro'a teeth begun to chatter, and he shook visibly in bis seat. " I feel dat pain comin'i missus. I dreflul sorry. Missus Orry. I speo'a I'so goin' to bo a drefful sick niggor—" "You will bo a sick niggor, S'posen Jones I'' cried his mistress, beginning to lose her pat'ence, "if you don't Bit up in your saddle and answer my question, I will euro your >ui' quicker than I diil before, but in a different way, Show me the road that leads to the old uranary without further loss of tune." S'posen Jones kuew that he had tried his mistress as far as it would do so ho pretended to look for tho desired pathway as the road once leading 'o the old mill had becomo invisible through long disuse. He know the narrow opening winding away through tho growth marked tho course for them to follow, be also knew that a hundred rods bolow on tho other side of tho rivor was another pathway almost identioal with this. Why couldn't ho pretend that the other was the rightono and thus lead his mistress on a naistakon course until it was too late to find tho old ruined mill ? Ho was trying to get a practical plan |of this kind through his dull intellect, when Auriun exolainiod: •' Why is it, S'posen, you aro so loth to go to the old mill ? Do you suppose there is anjono about tho old place to harm you ?" " Yi'/s a berry bad place to go, missus, an* I'so drefful afcercdtohabyo' bressed self go dar," "So it is mo you are so foarful for, and not your precious self?" " Surtin, missus, I rido dar liko de win' I But dem ha'nt nro do barry debbil arter pnrty folks, an' I heerd dat dem witches ride dem off liko dey wuz broomhandles, 'Pears liko wo hab got jess 'bout de right time to got home." "And seo the old Granary, Jf you say this is the way, 1 will go ahead. Surely you aro not afraid to follow whero I lead," Without stopping for his roply. Aurian guided Maze along the overgrown roadway distinguished from tlio unbroken earth by its carpet of greon grass and slightly nised surface, Walled in by dense woods, tlio abandoned road grew fainter and darker as they advanced, until Aurian had to stop occasionally to part the intruding growth with hor 1 whip, to escape the attacks of the interlooking branches, Onco tho sharp hies from a near-by olump of hazels warned the riders of the oloso proximity of a venomouß loptile, and immediately after a gray, Binuouß form wriggled itself around an anthill and disappeared among the leaves bo.vond. The ruined mill stood about a mile from the main road, and Aurian wiib beginning to think they had talton tho wrong courao aftur all, when sho caught sight of skelo-ton-like structure through tlio troos ahoad. "Wo are almost there, B'poson I" she said. "I am quite sure I can soo tho old Granaty," " i s'pecs' dat am so," replied hor companion, " but i wanter tell yo' no good am comin' ob dis herum-darum bizness. Dem ha'nts hain't pussons to be meddled wiv, Buab, Hull 1 1 fot I hcerd dom den. Dar I dar dey go auah! Do good Lord forgib dis po 1 darky le' follerin' his—" "Stop your noise, you silly scarecrow," warned Aurian, listening intently for a repetition of the faint sound borno to thoir ears. She hadn't long to wait beforo it como loudor and plainer than before, tho unmistakable cry of a person in great agony. S'posen nearly foil from his seat, whila his dusky foature grow yellow under the spoil of his fright and a cold porspiratian of horror broko out in lingo boads all over his ebony countenance. " Oh, de good Lord I how's I goin' to git 'way from dis drelliil place wiy dat fool gal— Aurian checked his cry of torror with a Etroko of her whip just as n third moan reached their oars, hoeing tlint it would bo difficult to ride nearer the place, she prepared to dismount, saying to S'posen: Hold Mazo's bridle until I ggt back, Kemember yon aro not to leave this place Wader any consideration." "Don s pecs I'll be able in a ininut or to. llyl dar's dat ha'dt ng'in -JJe boys don' tolo me do berry debbil lib down byur." Without stopping to hear tho words of hor frightened attendenf, Aurian pushed 1 ( het way through ihotftnelcd undergrowth, ' until sho reached a small opening in front of tlio -Jesorted building upon which sun and storm, tlioso grim executors 1 of Father Time, bad long since foro- ' closed tho mortgage, _ Tho mill had been a structure of considerable size, and a portion of it two stories in height. The southern linlf had boon built on etono piers rising from the rivor, which had a deop bod with rocky, ,

By J, Waldo Brown

'perpendicular banltß. Tlio bare, gau>v timbers alone of this part remained to speak of its former proportions, The northern end, though nearly roofless, was in a far brttorsiate of preservation, As its name would seom to indioate the old Granary had been intended for a grisi mill, though had been sawed hare at sorno time, as witneasod by the rnsteaten saw lying on the carriage. But Aurinn saw very little of nil this, i» alio paused to listen for the Bounds that bad attracted her attention, She did nnt havo long to wait before the cry was Again neard, though fainter than before. Satisfying herself that it enmo from the further sido of the ruin?, she ran in that direction, soon reaching one of the windows, when she looked within tlio glootuy place. l'o bo continiitid

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