The Tragedy of Wild River Valley

ds farther from the track, Miriam Heath, seated in a buggy, had reined in her horse and was quietly waiting. At the first sound of

ue, and Phelim O'Rourke, hurrying from Bangs's stable to join the

on as he sees what it is," Miriam answered shortly

paces and regarded her

ight, and her horse stood quiet as a lamb, while the engine puffed, snorted, and blew

face, in decent farmer dress, and carrying a sa

d, hurrying toward her. "I'm no ill pleased to forego the pleasur

reins to him as he took the seat by her side, having already bestowed hi

ne. "Along wi' ye! lively now, Robin!" to the horse, who

t eagerness, and as the buggy whirled away up the road his

, again speaking in a low key, as if fearful of being overheard, said: "It's gude news I bring ye, Miss Miriam; by the blessing o' Pr

sly. "But I wish it were safe in the bank.

one, Miss Miriam. But we'll try to tak' care o't

e interest on the mortgage and half the principal; and another such year will

ges; her true and trusted friend as well, knowing her affairs almost as intimately as she did

bles, and the fruits will bring in, to keep the pot boilin' till anither harvest," he remarked, reflectively. "Ye'll

and warmth in its cosey sitting-room, whither Miriam carried the sa

the little ones quiet with a story; but on Miriam's entran

d you've come home! We we

id, stooping to ca

dark," said her grandmother, filling the teapot and se

dmother," and putting an arm round the old lady's neck, she whispered in he

be able to pay the interest on the mortgage and half the principal," she said, in a low,

ontinue to prosper so, we'll have the place clear in another year; also, I trust I may be

to resign my sceptre," she answered, gayly, as she threw off

e party. No one gave it utterance till the little ones were quiet in their nest; then, with every door locked and bolted, every shutter closed a

ands, "and marked with some one's initials. Well, if the burglar

se ither anes for their use in the same way? Here's four one-hundre

d Ronald. "Mirry, plea

disposition to be made of the money for the night, when a loud knocking at the kitchen door startled them and set the hearts of th

han suffer yourself to be roughly handled. Sandy,

man, as he left the room, carefu

lent, straining t

t was withdrawn, and the tones of a female voice, speaki

ed Miriam, in a

an enemy, as we feare

ra's honesty and good will; sc

of danger," said Ronald, in

of that. But Sandy was us

r jist home from the city, an' maybe suspected o' bringin' money wid him, an' the bank closed so he couldn't put it there for safe kapin'. An' Barney"-she drew nearer, glanced cautiously around, and lowered her voice to a loud whisper-"he says, says he, 'Nora, I'm onaisy about Miss Miriam an' the rest, for I see

urglars?" asked Mir

mither moighty comfortable in a nice little house in the town, that he's bought an' paid fer, an' nobody knows where the money

s," said Ronald; "but what is

make yees anny aisier in yer moinds, Barney'll come an' help guard the house ti

ould become of you and the children if the bu

poor bit of a hut?" laughed Nora. "There ain't n

ecting McAllister's proffered services as escort, hastened awa

g of the money for the night. Ronald would have had it lai

ison with his life? That should not be risked by

ining all our lives," Ronald answered, quietly; "but s

he larger ones, they will probably think that is all and look no farther; so none

y a place, lest they should come to our bedrooms in search of them, and if we happen

t a light, fearing that even a slight gleam might furnish a clew to a lurking foe,

two children slept upstairs; but Ronald's bedroom was on the ground f

reed that each should take his turn in watching while the other slept, and that upon any sound of approaching footste

ck he roused Barney, shaking him somewhat roughly, and saying in an undertone, "Come, me mo

while the latter, weary with a hard day's work, and heavy with sleep, yawned in his chair, shook himself, sat erect, and stretched

gue presently sent him back to his chair; half unconsciously his head dropped upon t

mained deaf to the sound. The hands moved steadily on and pointed to ten

noise-where? in the parlor? Yes; as of so

blow to rouse him, seized a pistol, threw open the d

ws, which was open, as Barney at once perceived by the glimm

igure and grasped it about the w

felled Nolan to the floor, the burglar freed himself, and

hot pursuit, crying at the top of h

in the race, echoing the cry with all the strength of his lu

pursuit; and uncertain which direction he had taken, and bethinking themselves of the defenceless state of those

he ladies awake and in

opened with a skeleton key and the money taken. Its loss was a great blow to the famil

accomplices," remarked McAllister, when a

that question when daylight comes to

noo, and they'll be all covered up b

r them at once," Miriam said, sp

he smartest o' the lot o' us all!" cried Barney, seiz

n an excited tone, as t

sir; the mon came his

turning from one to another of the little group in strong excitement. "I cudn't see his face that plain, to be sure,

riam. "Nora spoke of him, but I don't

hores wanted in the fam'ly. An' it's mesilf that niver loiked the look o' him, let alone that he didn't git the best

hat you have just said befor

an' fer what

ger Bangs, as O'Rour

, with a scornful laugh, "barrin' the thrifle o' plisure it