The Tragedy of Wild River Valley

is erect carriage bespoke him one accustomed to military drill, while the knapsack swung over his shoulder and the blu

of a bold, bad man on the alert to better his own fortunes without regard to the rights of others; and as he pressed o

in front of a rude cabin standing in a potato patch, enclosed by a rough, zigzag rail-fence. An o

w it from her as the traveller opened the gate, and with a wild cry, "It's me son! me bye Phalim co

her own, filial affection so softening his countena

ilf, lad!" he cried. "Thank the blessed Vargin an' all the howly saints that ye've c

into the shade before the door, and with a pipe apiece and a bottle of whiskey the three made themselves comfortable, while

lad?" queried his mother, regarding him w

t laugh; "but," pulling out a handful of gold and silver

eflected the covetous gleam in his. "Ye'll share wi

intil a line av business that'll pay; an' I'll have yees soon livin' in betther

ges, me lad," remarked the

"It's been a dangerous business, but, faith, a payin' wan, too; an' a smart cha

neglict his chances; was ye,

ghty rich man wan o' these days. Me gurrul, Belinda, shall roide intil her co

m her mouth and shook her head ruefully, "What's wrong?" he demanded, the color paling on his sunbur

ve; she was faithless; she had been married for a year to an old farmer living some miles away.

ched his fists and swore with horrible oaths that he would be revenged upon them both. He

' yer neck intil a halter for the loikes av thim, the warthl

e growled; "there's niver a b

ed, in surprise. "An' what fur wadn't they be for

law," he answ

near about as bad as swingi

cantly; "hope o' breakin' jail or being pardoned out; an' it's m

Phalim," was his mother's comment as she r

le couch to him than the softest of beds, and taught him that he could breathe more freely under the open sky than beneath any roof.

of a brook near at hand and the rustle of the night w

ad yesterday turned aside to gain his father's dwelling. It was long past midnight, but darkness still brooded over the land, and few were abroad save those bent upon evil deeds. To that c

e asked in an undertone a

uppressed voice, in as r

nd contents of its lower rooms. "We'll git in aisy," he said; "wan o' thim kitchin doors ain't got no bolt at all-nothin' but a common lock; an' a wire'll turn the kay an' let us in as aisy as the masther hissil

pe it much longer," pu

o't the noight, if that's yer wull, c

raable. What's yer wull,

we petter makes hast

t once, walking rapidly in a direction opposite

es, and carried with them a dark lant

bles had disappeared from spring-house and pantry; also all the silver ware from the dining-room; and that the secret