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Vol. "VIII. New XMoom field, 1'n., Tuesday, Febriuiry lO, TVo. O.
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For the Dloomf.eld Times.
THE MYSTERIOUS FRIEND.
A Story of Old Virginia
CHAPTER VIII."
A DARK PLOT BIlOCanT TO LIGHT.
riUOUGII tlio old hunter took a rapid
i pace on his return to tlio cottago in
the woods, it was after sun-rise before lie
reached it.
As he npproachod, ho cast a searching
glance around to see if he could observe
anything stirring; but nothing unusual
met his gaze, and lie had almost begun to
think that Gilman's companions had also
gone, when the piteous whinings and bowl
ings of the hounds fell upon bis ear, and
upon hastening tip to the spot he found
that they had been shut up within their
kennel. With a powerful pull at the door
he tore it open, and tlio hounds, finding
themselves thus released, sprang out with
a bound, and seeming at onco to recognize
their deliverer, they crouched wistfully at
his feet.
Chiron was just in the act of putting ono
of the dogs upon the brad when a sharp,
agonizing cry struck upon bis ear, and, as
though a knifo had been driven to his
heart, did he start around and spring to
wards the house. He darted for the front
door, and throwing it quickly open he en
tered the front, room. The sight that met
his gaze seemed for the instant to freeze
him to the spot. Poor Morgiana Chester
was upon her knees the tears were
streaming almost in torrents down her
pale cheeks, and with clasped hands she
was begging of the man who stood above
her not to drag her from her home. There
was no anger, no rage upon her features ;
but from out her upturned eyes there
gleamed a look of prayerful, imploring
misery that might have melted the heart
of a stone.
The man who was thus driving the poor
woman to distraction was the villain Col
ton, and near bim, but seeming to take no
active part in the scene, stood a man whom
Chiron had never before seen, but who,
fiom his garb, appeared to be a physician.
"Como.up, I say," exclaimed Colton,
as he grasped the woman's arm. ' Give
us no moro of your prating. 1 don't know
your husband, and I don't know as you
ever had one ; but we'll take you to a bet
ter place than this."
Chiron hesitated only a moment at the
door, and then be stepped quickly forward,
and struck a powerful blow, at the head of
the rascal.. . Colton dodged as his eye
caught the movement of the old hunter,
and the blow which had been intended for
bis bead full upon bis bare neck 1
The unfeeling, villain sank upon the
floor like a flimsy bag, and in another mo
ment the crimson tide burst forth from his
mouth and nostrils. He moved not, nor
did he utter a groan,for the coward's spark
of life had gone out !
Morgiana Chester started to her feet, and
even her shattered mind seemed to com
prehend that she was once more free. She
gazed up into the face of Chiron, and as he
instinctively opened his arms she full fur
ward upou his bosom. The stout man
dropped a silent tear upon her head, and,
influenced by a powor which he could not
control, he imprinted upon her brow, a
kiss.
" Look up, Morglaoa," he murmured,
he placed his band upon her head.
" Look up, for yon are safe,"
" Safu," repeated the poor woman, gaz
ing up into Chiron's fuutures with a vacant
flook. "Surely no ono would harm me;
and yet, but even now, that bad niau said
lie would take ujO hence that be would
take me from my home ; but he did not
mean it, for I have lived many years, and
no one ever found it in his heart to harm
me. Yet, methinks bis voice sounded
harsh, and he grasped me by the arm till
my poor flesh was sorely pained. Ho must
have had a bad heart. Where is be?"
Tho excitement of the scenes through
which bIio had just passed had proved too
much for the shattered mind of Morgiana
Chester, and with a deep groan she sank
heavily upon the arm of the huntor. Old
Elpsey had been a silent, though dcoply
interested, spectator of the scene, and as
she saw her mistress faint she sprang eag
erly forward.
"Take her to her bed, Elpsey," said
Chiron, ns he resigned Morgiana's inani
mate form into the hands of tho faithful
servant, "and bathe her brow with cool
water. She will soon recover."
Tho old woman lifted her mistress in her
arms and easily deposited her burden upon
tho bod within tho small sleeping-room,
and as soon as Chiron had seen Morgiana
thus cared for, he turned towards the
stranger, who had been standing near the
window.
"Now, sir," said tho old hunter, looking
with anything but a joy-inspiring counten
ance upon the objact of bis question,
" wherefore are you here ?" .
The stranger quailed before the glance
of Chiron, and an ashy pallor overspread
his features.
"Don't kill me! For God's sake,
don't 1" lie uttered in tones of fear.
" Answer my question, sir," thundered
the giant hunter, advancing a step and
raising bis finger.
" Spare me, and I will," tremblingly re
turned the stranger.
" Then speak, and at onco. Why come
ye here?"
" I came to help remove a crazy woman."
"And who are you? What are you?"
" A physician, sir."
" And, after what you bad seen of that
poor woman's state of mind, did you still
think of removing bor? After you had
seen her upon her bended knees, with her
bands clasped in agony, her checks flowing
with tears, did you then think of removing
her of dragging her from her home?"
The physiciau trembled in silence.
" Speak, sir, and answer mo I"
" I I sir, was not the principal in this
matter. He who lies there bad tho lead.
I only came professionally," '
" Professionally !" repeated Chiron, in
a tone of tbo utmost irony. " And pray,
sir, to what end was your Profeuion en
listed ?"
" I was sent, sir, to sc-o if the woman
was actually crazy."
" And what was your decision ?"
The physician Bhrank from tho question
with a dread that was manifest in every
feature of his countenance, but Elpsey,
who was at that moment passing through
the room with a pan of water, helped him.
"Massa Chiron," she said, "dat man
say dat my missus was stark, statin' mad,
ad' doy must take her off. Dat's what he
say."
"Look you, tbou creeping, lyiug, miser
able Esculapian, do you see that form at
my feet ?" asked the hunter.
" Yes sir, replied the physician, quaking
with fear, as be gazed upon tbo body of
Colton.
"Then mark me," said Chiron, sudden
ly changing his tone to a low, deep wlmper,
which seemed like the premonitory rumb
ling of an earthquake, " if you do not
answer such questions as I ask, and that,
too, without prevarication, you shall sleep
by the side of your villainous companion iu
guilt." .
" Now sir 1 Wore you in the boat with
Oilman and Coltou, when the shot was
tired at mo, while near Sir Oliver's resi
dence ?"
"Yes, sir."'
" And you kn ew that shot was intended
forme?"
"Yes, sir."
" And did you have any other instruc
tions given you, when you left the settle
ment, except to take away this poor
woman ?"
" We we did."
" And now see that you answer me truly.
What were thoso instructions?"
" It was to kill you, sir !"
"So I thought," said the hunter, while
a dark srnile flitted across bis features.
" And now, sir, who sent you three on
this errand?"
Tlio man hesitated. Chiron pointed
significantly dowu to tho corpse
" It was Mr. Berkley."
" So I thought again. And ho paid you
well for your part of the job."
" Yes sir."
"And made you pledge your honor that
you would keep the mission a secret."
"Yes sir."
A scornful laugh broke from the lips of
the old huntor, and the word "honor"
dwelt upon his tongue.
"Well, well," uttered Chiron, after he
bad gazed upon tho cowering physician for
a momont or two, " though 'twere not safe
to trust much upon the pledge of such a
security, yet I wot that Roswell Berkley
little dreamed of the test fire to which your
honor would be put. But auswer me one
more question. What was to have been
done with this woman, bad you succeeded
in dragging her hence?"
" I don't know, sir. Mr. Berkley said
he would manage that if we would make
out to bring her to him."
"O, the double-dyed villain," murmured
Chiron, ns he clinched his fists tightly to
gether. " But never mind, his punishment
is even now hanging over bis head; and.'tis
one too, of which he little dreams." Then
turning to tho physician, he asked: "What
path did you take in coming hero this
morning ?"
, " We came up from the Chickahominy."
" And can you find your way back by
the same path ?"
" Yes, I think I can."
" Then go. There is the door, sir ; and
if ever you cross its threshold again it will
be as the gate of your tomb. Begone, sir!"
" But Gilman where "
"Begone, I say," thundered Chiron,
" but before you go let me advise you not
to see Mr. Berkley for the present, for it
might lead to something unpleasant."
The physician crept tremblingly to the
door, turned to take one more look at the
body of his fallen companion, and then,
with a quick, nervous strip, he started off.
"He goes not by the river path, and so
he will not release Gilman. 'Tis well,"
muttered Chiron to himself, as the form of
the departing villain disappeared in the
thick wood ; and then turning to where lay
tho form of tho fallen man, he murmured :
"So, so, Master Colton, you've paid
heavily for your sins, though I meant not
that it should havo been thus. However,
tho world is better off without you, I shall
not waste grief for what I have done."
When Chiron returned to the house,
after having disposed of Colton's body, he
found that Mrs. Chester had recovered from
her swoon, and that she seemed to have but
little recollection of what bad passed. She
spoke of having been dragged from her
home, and of the man she had seen dead
on the floor, but her mind dwelt upon the
scene rather as the memory of a dream
than as reality, and Chiron felt glad that it
was so, for otherwise sho might bavo suf
fered exceedingly. Now, however, she
was calm and tranquil, and while the futal
affair of the morning seemed to pass en
tirely from her mind she dwelt with a pe
culiar sadness upon the absence of her son;
but the old hunter assured her be would
soon bring Orlando back to her, and then
taking one more long and earnest gaze
upon Morgiana's beautiful features, bo
beckoned for Elpsey to follow him and,
quitted the apartment. ,
"Did you ever fire a rifle?" asked
Chiron, as soon as he got into the kitchen.
"O, yes, I fire Massa Rolando's."
Chiron went to tho beckets above the
fire-place, where one of the young man's
rifles bung, and having found that it was
loaded, ho poured in fresh priming, and
banding it to Elpsey, he said :
" There, keep that ride handy, and if
you are again assailed before I return do,
not fail to uso it. Call the hounds into the
house, aud keep them here, for they can
help you much. "But," ha continued, as
ho noticed the old woman's countenance
was beginning to lengthen with new fear,
"you need not bo under any apprehen
sions, for thoro is iu all probability no one
left to barm you. The villain who has set
those minions on will dare not eome him
self, nor will be dare to trust many more
with bis dark secret ; and besides, I think
he will not learn of the failure of this at
tempt until I have him safely within the
hands of Justice. I go now to seek Orlando,
and pel bnps by to-morrow be will be bore.
You need not fear, but still 'tis safe enough
to be prepared."
Elpsey seemed somewhat relieved by the
assuranoo of Chiron, and she promised that
she would bo on ber guard, and in a few
moments more the old hunter passed
through the front door and started for the
river. His step was easy, and hit ooun
tenace was molded iu a cast of deep satis
faction, for he believed that he had now
crushed the power of Berkley, and that the
way was clear for the release of Orlando.
Tho villain whom he had left leashed in the
woods be intendod to take with bim to
Jamestown, and through the influence of
Sir Oliver have him at onco lodged in jail.
With such thoughts passing through his
his mind, and occasionally murmuring, in
broken, hurried sentences, to himself, the
hunter hurried on. As ho approached the
spot where ho had left Oilman he stopped a
moment to hear if the villain was yet curs
ing, but all was quiet, oven to a deathly
stillness, and with tho sudden thought
that his prisoner had escaped, Chiron darted
quickly forward.
As the old hunter approached the tree
the sight that met his gaze made him start.
There lay the stiff, extended form of Gil
man, his face all black and swollen, his
eyes protruding from their sockets, aud his
bead bent forward upon his breast. The
villain had attempted to escape by working
his body downward so as to clear tho thong
that bound him to the tree. He bad set
tled his way down until tho thong had
slipped over his breast, but here his feet
appeared to have slipped out from under
him, thus bringing the wholo of his weight,
upon the relentless "thong, directly across
his neck I The ground was gently sloping
from the tree, and thougli the green, mossy
turf showed marks of a fierco struggle for
the regaining of his former position, yet
tho doomed man appeared not to have gain
ed a Bingle inch of vantage.
For several minutes Chiron gazed in si
lence upou the fearful scene before bim,
for it seemed to be the work of a power
higher than his own.
"Master Gilman," murmured the hunter
to himself, " the hand of an outraged
God has settled upon you. I meant not
that you should have died yet, for I had
use for you, and I was willing that your
iusultcd country should have had the hang
ing of you. But it's done, for you've hung
yourself, and my soul is washed from your
blood."
As Chiron spoke he drew his kuifo from
its sheath and cut the thong. The body
rolled heavily down the slope, and as it
settled at the hunter's foot bo grasped it by
the collar of the frock aud dragged it with
in tho bushes, and having covered it over
with leaves, ho started once more on
his way. The more Chiron thought of the
strange manuer in which Gilman and
Colton had come to their deaths, the moro
he was satisfied with the result, and by the
time he had reached the Bpot where hiB
canoe bad been secured he thanked bis
fortune that he was thus rid of the two vil
lions. With powerful strokes the hunter pro
pelled his frail bark down tbo river, and
upon reaching the residence of Sir Oliver
be urged his canoe lit Bhore and leaped
upon the sand. He found the baronet in
bis study, together with his wife and
daughter.
"Ah, Sir Oliver," exclaimed Chiron, as
he had answered the compliments with
which he was welcomed, " the work goes
nobly on. I have the villain fast, aud to
morrow I may need your assistance. This
day sir, has been the scene of strange occur
rences, and to-morrow, with your assist
ance, we will have young Chester released
from his prison."
" Released ! to-morrow I" uttered Sir
Oliver. , - '
" Yes, and why not ?"
" Why not ? Did you not release bira
last night?"
"Who?"
" Orlando Chestor." .
"O, no j when I spoke about releasing
him, I meant not to do it as soon as that,
for I bhall need your assistance."
" And do you mean to say that you have
not released bim ?" said the baronet, in an
earnest, meaning tone.
"Of course I have not," returned Chiron
In surprise. " Bitice I saw you lust I havo
not been bolow here. But what mean
you?"
" Orlando Choster has escaped from the
Jail, that is certain," answered Sir Oliver.
" No, no I That wore impossible !" ex
claimed the old hunter, as a sudden shade
of anguish passed over his features. " You
must have been misinformed."
" 'Tis true," iteratod the baronet, with
a troubled look, "for couriers have already
bcon dispatchod iu search of him. This
morning bis cull was found empty and the
bars or his window had been forocd from
their sockets."
" But be could not have escaped unaid
ed," said Chiron, in a tone that bore a slight
shade of hope that he bad done so.
" No. There were marks of a ladder
below his window, nud also tho footprints
of two beside himself, bo he must have had
plenty of assistance." .
"Then," uttered Chiron, while a fearful
convulsion shook his frame, " 'tis the work
of an enemy. Orlando has fallen into an
adroitly laid snare. The black-hearted
villain who has persecuted him knew that
he could not sustain his charge, and he has
adopted some new plan for tho youth's
ruiu. Listeu, sir, and I will toll you what
has happened this morning, and then you
may judge for yourself."
Thereupon Chiron rotated to the baronet
all that had transpired ; and as he closed
bis story, Sir Oliver seemed too deeply
struck with indignation and wonder to
make any reply ; but Ada sprang forward
and grasping the hunter by the arm, she
cried, in a tone of touching agony :
"O, save him I save him 1 Bring him.
back to me, and I will bless you ever."
Chiron gazed with mingled anguish and.
pity into tho fair features that beamed
upon him, and laying his hand on Ada's
brow, he said :
" If the earth holds the youth I will find
him, or I will lay down my lifo in ' the.
search. I love him too."
" O, bless you, bless you 1" murmured
the grief-stricken girl, and theu bursting
into tears, she full upon her knees and pil
lowed her head in her mother's lap.
By this time Sir Oliver had recovered
his composure, aud after gazing a moment
upon the bending form of his child,ho said:
"Seek him out, Chiron, and if I can
render assistance you may command me."
"I thank you, sir," returned Chiron.
" But toll me were thoro no traces to tell
the way the prisoner took ?"
" They were traced only to the river,"
answered tbo baronet.
For sometime the hunter remained in
deep thought, but at length be started
himself from his reverie, and taking his
cap in his hand, he said :
" When I came here I thought my work
was almost done, but now, alas I I fear
me that new obstacles are iu the way. I'll
surmount them, thougli, and you, Sir Ol
iver, shall bo advised of my success." Then
turning to Ada, he continued :
" Cheer up, lady, for all is not yet so
dark but that some light gleams for you,
you will yet bo astonished. I must go now,
but I will return to-morrow morning and
give you the result of my investigation."
As the old hunter ceased speaking be
took his loavo and withdrew, and soon as
he was once more in his canoe, he plied
himself with all his might. Ho bad not
expressed in the presence of the baronet's
family all tho -fears be felt. His own life
bad been openly and boldly aimed at, and
why might not tho same evil hand be aim
ed at the life of young Chester ? It was the
first time Chiron had given the thought a
home in bis bosom, but now that he had
conceived it, it grew stronger and stronger,
until it became almost a belief.
The hunter landed at the jail, and ere
long ho had a full confirmation of the
youth's abduction from his cell. He exam
ined the footprints iu the jail-yard, then
traced them to the river ; but from the
officers of tho prison he could learn nothing
new, and with his heart tortured with a
thousand fearful emotions, bo started for
the town. Could Chiron have been as
sured at that moment that Orlando lived,
he would have been happy, and scarcely
have held a fear ; but in his heart he felt a
sad forboding that such was not the case.
Continued next week.
lUTOneof tho counties of the State of
Connecticut boasts of a judge, who, though
poorly informed in regard to those little
rofiuctneuts usually met with in polished
society, is an energetic, shrewd man, and a
promising lawyer. A neighbor of . his re
ceutly, was about to give away bis daugh
ter in marriage, and having a deop-rooted
disliks to the cleiical profession, and being
determined as be said ' to have no infernal,
parson iu bis bouse,' he sent for hi friend,
the judge, to perform the ceremony. The
judge came, and the candidates for the
connubial yoke taking their plaoes before
bim, he thus addressed the bride ; , , ,
" You swear you will marry this man ?"
"Yes, sir," was the reply, ,
"And you," (to the bridegroom), "jwear
you will marry this woman ?' ,
" Well, I do," said the groom.
"Then"' said the judge, " t uar you'r
married "
tW At Abington, Mass., recontly a
young hidy was making her tollot, pre
paratory to bor wedding, which was to
have taken place on the same evening,
whon she was takec suddenly 111, and re
mained in an unoonvoious state until she
(lied, two days afterwards.