The Secret Shot; Or, The Rivals Of Misty Mount — page 21: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE PLOT MISCARRIES. and in spite of her slight resistance, he made her take his arm, and almost carried her toward the road. There, placing her on. his steed, he held her on with one hand, and, taking the bridle with the other, led the way up to Misty Mount, without a word; for the lady was still too agitated to speak much, and Colonel Cleaveland was too well-bred to annoy her with questions—only too happy at having been the instrument of her de livery from peril, whatsoever it might have been. But a few minutes were required to reach the mansion, and the’ gallant colonel put his lovely charge in the care of black Jenny, not, however, without receiving murmured thanks from the lady herself. In a brief time her equanimity was per- fectly restored. Of course it was impossi- le to keep from her father the name of her mad lover, and the colonel soon be- came aware of it also. The old man was in a towering rage. He vowed vengeance, if it took his last dollar to bring Heartstead to justice. But, Ida, fearing the conse- quences, and, now that she was safe at home, controlled by her forgiving nature, was disposed to alleviate the rage of her sire. Besides, she really did believe that Heartstead had been actuated by temporary insanity, and urged her plea for forgiveness like an angel of mercy. “Help me, colonel—help me to soothe this grim protector of mine,” she said, turn- ing to Cleaveland. “Certainly; as far as you are yourself concerned in this affair, Miss, I shall do so,” he replied; “but I am sorry to say that it is my duty to take this man in. custody for another reason.” “ Wherefore ?” “Because he is an enemy and a traitor to my Government, Miss.” “ But, my dear sir, it appears very coin- cidental—this sudden prompting of your duty happening at the same time with this Provoking affair of mine.” “Miss Gwin may, nevertheless, perceive that the coincidence was a mere freak of chance,” replied the officer, taking a paper from his breast and presenting it to her. “Here,” he continued, “isan order I received this morning from General Gates, directing the arrest of a certain Heartstead and a certain Charles Gleason, notorious Tories, and openly in arms for King George, who are supposed to be concealed at their 19 father’s residence, in the vicinity of Valley: ton.” “Tt is, indeed, so; and I have nothing further to urge,” said Ida. “ But, alas! one of thése young men you can not arrest. Charles Gleason is no more. His brother mentioned the fact of his death; and I have but just learned from Jenny that the young man was slain about two weeks ago, by an American officer, just where the North Road strikes the mountains.” “Great Heavens! can it be?’ exclaimed Cleaveland ; “TI greatly fear, then, that it was my band that did the deed.” He briefly narrated the adventure with the party in ambush, much the same as we have heard it related by Heartstead Gleason to his father. By this time Cleaveland’s escort, who were to aid in the contemplated arrest, came galloping up to the porch, and he led them to Gleason’s house with the utmost dispatch and seerecy. ‘ | But, if they had been “shod with felt,’ and possessed of the fleetness of birds, their mission must have failed; for the keen eye of the watching Wandalo saw their arrival from his hiding-place, and guessing their object, had fled with his information to Judith. And now, to return to the unhappy Judith, and the atmosphere ef wickedness which hung so darkly around the dismal mansion of Jacob Gleason. Night was drawing on, and the quadroon was expectantly sitting in front of the little arbor at the foot of the lawn, when she heard the low, shrill note of Wandalo’s whistle, and the next instant he was at her side. “What bring you?” “Ts not my brow dark with the evil news I bear?” said the wretched Indian. “How!” cried Judith, with impatient emphasis. “Did you not perform my bid- ding? Did you not lead the girl into Heartstead’s hands? Did he not carry her off in the canoe ?” , “The Thunder-Mocker obeyed the Passion- Flower.” t pom “Ds “And she escaped ?” “ “ Ay—the Lily of the Valley is happy still.” er He briefly related the reseue by Cleave- land and the flight of Heartstead ; together With the fact -that the latter was in danger of arrest. : . “The plot is not broken—only delayed,” (€(0) AA eloo Ss (E(0) im 0 SSEESSSSSS'S'S =