The Tragedy of Wild River Valley

nt in Prairieville and for miles up and down Wild River V

honest living by the sweat of their brows; and if they met at night while others slept, to hatch their schemes of villainy, it was always in some lonely and unfrequented spot-the depths of a forest, a cave among the hills, or by the river-side, fa

fter night-now here, now there, at places miles apart; now near Prairieville, now five, ten, or fifteen miles away, either up or down the valley; and anon, the villains,

became evident to all that the valley was

again and again to fix suspicion upon Barney Nolan as one of the gang, but without success, a

inest dwelling-houses in the town. He had it very handsomely fu

e, who was so unfortunate as to have no other home, and the maid of all work; the last named, however,

as best known to himself; so that there was probably more to tempt burglars in that house than in any other private dwelling of the town, and it stood upon the outskirts, apparently more unprotected than most; yet, str

the scoundrels more loudly and indignantly than Bangs-or the colonel, as he prefe

led with delight by Ronald and the little ones; the grandmother invariably welcomed him with a smile and cordial grasp of the hand; and though Miriam's greeting was somewhat more f

its were barely tolerated. The children shunned him, and Miri

nd filled him with a dogged determination to win the girl by fair means or by foul; she should mar

he forthwith set his wits to work t

e place; still more to that crippled brother and the little ones, and would sooner sacrifice herself than see them come to want. Yes, that

hat Bangs held this conversation with himself. He had that day engaged a man to attend t

O'Rourke, and give her a good feed of oats whe

of pain, fright and entreaty in a shrill female voice, "Oh, Aunt

oring with a rattan a thin, pale, under-grown girl of fourteen, who, held fast in the strong grasp of her tormentor, was vainly st

e me! she's killing m

etween her set teeth, and turning on him a pair of light blue eyes, glittering wit

Dora; and I don't see that she's a whit the better for it. Come, come; what

e girl, who threw herself, tre

sly; then turning to his sister, "Were you going out?

church; where, by the way, y

er to keep up; never made any pretensions in that line; one saint in t

ashing with anger; "but I shall do my duty by Mary, neverthel

exhibition of temper had she given to entitle her to so thorough a flogging?-a puni

her gloves (she had laid them on the table in the parlor instead of carrying them up to her room and puttin

e home from church, I'd feel called upon to exercise some patience with the faults and follies of youth.

d in the large, leather-cushioned arm-chair, which usually held hi

de, are you not? and esteemed there as a

think me that or not?" she asked

o the best of y

ith our own affairs and church work. They know I'm always active in those things; a

h, Dora?" he supple

to my own part of the house," she said, rising with dignity,

he pushed her back into her seat-not roughly. "Stay and hear me out. I think you'll fi

ungraciously and w

and the small encouragement he had to hope she w

ed. "Why do you seek her, then?" she asked

hty air. "Miriam Heath is an uncommonly fine girl in both looks and character. Where, let me ask, could y

; you are much better off as you are,"

. I tell you, I am determined to make Miriam Heath my

ow you can for

ortunity offered to worm out of Mrs. Heath the desired information. "Remember, she is the one," he said in conclusion; "the girl and Ronald would be too sharp to give it; the childre

o she said; but the truth of the matter was that she did not want him to marry;

ould get the desired hold upon Miriam, and she refuse in spite of

with ill-concealed eagerness. "It's a lovely place. I have always thought the Heaths very fortu

t me caution you not to broach the subject too soon, lest th

ay my cards skilfully,"

grow under your feet? Lo

be no unnecessary delay. Lend me Phelim and the horse and buggy to

ce whenever wanted for that

k November day, and as she alighted at the gate Phelim growled out

ply. "You can fasten the horse, and pace back an

ald, reclining in a large arm-chair, was reading aloud to his grandmother, who sat placidly kn

ile Bertie set a chair for her, then returned to his play-h

onplace remarks on the weather and the crops, then condoled with the lad on his protracted sufferings

bringing up of an orphan niece. It is a great responsibility. I feel that she ca

g. "But, indeed, I cannot rate so highly my poor services to my son's children, and shall feel amply recompensed if they grow

mate upon your good deeds!" remarked

y worth the name," she retur

, even though her dear brother Avery was one of them), and she would try to do a little toward cancelling her own share of the obligation to Ronald by sending over some little delicacy now and then to tempt his sickly appetite;

t have her put herself to so much trouble; his appetite was no

for his partiality to those who were so very near and dear. Yet, as it was often desirable and beneficial to vary the diet, she would v

he returned, his tone slightly sarcastic, "and y

evidently with an effort. "You are a reader, I see," she added, glancing at th

grandmother, answering for

he pleasure of bringing him some good books, of which I keep a supply consta

him, and with a parting nod and smile, and an injunction to him to take care

Christian! always at the prayer-meeting, she tells me; always engaged heart and soul in some good work. I wish I w

d, with warmth; "you would not be h

you say it?" she ask

t whom the Lord commendeth? And why does that woman put on such airs of condescension to