The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

WWWoWWM CHAPTER “ILâ€"(Continued). I “Knock him down! Brain him! but don't hurt the woman," shouted some one in the crowd. And some other one, armed with a heavy iron poker. dealt him a crushing blow upon the bare head. And Sybil’s brave defender re- laxed his protecting hold upon her form, fell broken, bleeding, perhaps dying at her feet. .A piercing scream broke from her lips. She stooped to raise her husband. but was at that instant seized by the officer, and forced from the spot. “ “Shame! Shame!" cried a bystander- Take the handcuffs off the poor woman and let her look at her husband." “Poor woman, indeed .t” exclaimed Jones, the officer, “she‘s the biggest devil alive! Do you know what she's done? Not only murdered a beautiful lady; but blown up a church and killed half-a-dozen men!" A shudder shook the crowd. Could this be true? A score of questions was put. to Bailiff Jones. But he would not stop to answer any one of them. Call- ing his coadjulor Smith to help him, they each took an arm of Sybil and forced her from the scene. " Faint, speechless, powerless under this «I. K i k | veiled day and night; and t sudden .and awful misery, the wretched young wife was torn from her dying husband and thrust into a stagecoach” guarded by three other bailiff‘s. and immediately started on her return journey. Resistance was useless, lamentations were in vain. She sat dumb with a des- pair never beforc exceeded. scarcely ever before equalled in the case of any sufferer under the sun. There were no other passengers but the sheriff’s officers and their one pri- .soner. Of the first part of this terrible home- ward journey there is but little to tell. They stopped at the appointed hours and stations to breakfast, dine, and sup, and to water and change the horses, but never to sleep. They~ tra- as no other passengers joined them, it was probable that the sheriff’s officers had engaged all the seats for themselves and their im- portant charge. During the whole horrible journey the hapless young wife neither ate, drank, slumbcred, nor spoke; all the faculties of mind and body, all the functions of nature, seemed to be suspended. It was on the night of the third dav, and they were in the last stage of the journey. They were going slowly down that terrible mountain pass, leading to the village of Blaekville. The road was even unusually difficult and dangerous, and the night was very dark, so that the coacliman was driving slowly and care- accuniulation of fully, when suddenly the bits of the \Ieaders were seized and the coach stopped. ‘ In some alarm the bailiffs thrust their heads out of the side windows to the right and left, to see what the obstacle might be. To their horror and amazement they found it surrounded by half a score of highwaymeu, armed to the teeth. .â€" CHAP’I‘ER IX. “The road robbers, by all that's devil- ish!" gasped Jones, falling back in his ‘ seat. -" ‘ " -_,.. g/Vfiww “Good gracious!" cried Smith. And all the brave “bum-baillies" who had so gallantly bullied and brow- beaten Sybil. and her sole defender, dropped panic-stricken, paralyzed by terror. . “Get out of this, you vermin I" ordered a stern voice at one of the windows. “Yeâ€"yeâ€"yes, gentlemen," tattered Jones. “Taâ€"take all we have. but spaâ€"spaâ€" spare our lives I" pleaded Smith. “Well, well, get out of this, you mis- erable cowards. Empty your pockets, and you shall be safe! It would be crueler than infanticide to slay such miserable helpless wretches!“ laughed the same voice, which poor Sybil, as in a dream, recognized as belonging to Captain Inconiiu. The trembling bailiffs descended from the coach and gave up their pocket- books and watches, and then submitted to be tied to trees. The eoaehiiiaii and the guard yielded to the same necessity. The horses were taken from the coach and appropf‘iatcd to the us,- of the vie- tors. And lastly. Sybil. who was rendoi-iui. by despair .liii’lfffei‘t‘nt to her fate. was lifted from lirr seat by the stri pg arms of Moloch. who held her a moment in suspense. while he tinned to his chief and inquired : “Where. now. captain?" “To the rendezvous! you treat the lady with due tll‘l’t‘l't‘llt.“ “Never you fear. ruplziiii!" answered the giant. :is he threw the limit-fainting form of the lady zit-rm his shoulders and strode up a narr- w font-path to Where sovrral horses were tied. Ili' SL‘lt‘t'lt'tl lllt‘ .‘ll'illl‘L'Au‘fil Hf llli‘ group. llliilllllf'tl and lifted the helpless OR, SYBIL BERNER’S VINDICATION ' shutter. know when the laws \llil liuik llinl, 'iiot twenty years old yet! 'thn law that persecutcs you Coloo~>0009000000060c000.0.0. and set off at full speed, clattering through the rugged mountain pass with a recklessness of life and limb that at. another time Would have frightened his companion half out of her senses. But now, in her despair of life. there was even a hope in this mad careerâ€" thc hope of a sudden death. But the gigantic rufiiaii knew him- self, his horse, and his road, and so he carried his victim through that fearful pass in perfect safety. They reached a deep, narrow. seclud- ed valley, in the midst of which stood an old red sandstone house, closely surrounded by trees. and only dimly to be seen in the clouded night sky. Here the robber rider slackeiied his pace. . The deep silence that prevailed, the thick growth of leafless weeds and briars through which their horse had to wade. all showed that this house had been long uninhabited. and the grounds long uncultivated. Yet there was some one on guard; for when Moloch rode up to the. door and dismounted, and holding Sybil tightly clasped in his left arm. rapped three times three. with his right hand. the door was cautiously opened by a decrepid old man, who held a lighted taper in his withered fingers. “Ho, Pluto! who is here?" inquired Moloch, striding into the hall. and hear- ing Sybil in his arms. “No one, sir, but the girls and the woman! and they have just come! And ‘no fire made, and no supper ready? Come. bestir yourself. bestir yourself. and make a fire first of all. This lady is as cold as death! Where is Iska ?” “In this room, sir," answered the old man, pushing open an old worm-eaten door that admitted them into a large. old-fashioned oak-paneled parlor. With a wide fire-place and a high corner cupboard, but without other furniture. On the hearth knelt Gentiliska, trying 0 coax a little smouldering fire of green wood into a blaze. “No.” sighed Sybil. \veai'ilv. “wt-ii. then. you did; aiid'i'ii iou vm how it all happened; the. Sci-ref of \"IJLIII' abode of I’enilletoii l‘uik nus known to 11o.) many people. It miildii't possiny :bc kept forever by all. It is {I wonder ‘llli’ll it was kept so long by any. ’l'hov ikept it only until they thought you were isafe from pursuit and of 2st. Then some. of (iiiptniii Pendlctoii's peoples it is not known whommlct it leak out iiiilil it got to the cars of the authorities. who set. inquiries on foot; and then the whole thing was discovered. and as usual. misinterpreted and misrepresen- ted. You got the credit of voluntarily Iconsorting with us. and of purposely blowing up the old Haunted (llnipel. ,.'\lltl the new warrants that were issued ‘for your arrest charged you with that. crime also." “Good Heaven I" (‘Vt'liiiiiiflil Nylill. for- getting all her indifferriire; “what will they not heap upon my head next? I will not rest under this iiiipuhition! I \\'lll litit I” “Neither would I, if I were youâ€"~lhat is. if I could help it," said the girl, sur- casticully. Hut Sybil sat with her thin hands clasped tightly together. her deathly white face rigid as marble. and her large. dilated elves staring into the “1’0 lii‘i‘tlloSS of the strong!) girl's ii‘oiiy. “ liit now I must tell 'you how all this hurt us. in the first place, when your flight from the. ('zivcrn was discovered, we felt sorry only on your account. be- cause you ran into imminent danger 3f arrest. We had no idea then that your arrest. would lead to the discovery of our retreat: but it did. When our (le- tectives brought in the news of the war- rants that name out against you. they also warned us that the authorities had the clcw to our caverns. and that there. was no time to be 10st in making our escape." \\'ith her hands still closely clasped together. with her paliid features still set. as in death. and with her staring eyes still fixed upon the tire. Sybil sat, needless of all that she heard. The girl continued her story. “\Ye tel no time be lost. \Ve gathered up the most valuable and portable of our efforts, and that same night evacu- ated our cavern and dispersed our band: taking care to appoint a distant place of rendezvous. Satan watched the road, riding frequently to the wayside inns to try to discover the coach by which you would be brought back. He was at Upton this evening. when the stage stopped to change horses. lle recognized you. and immediately mounted. put spurs to his fast horse and rode as for life, and death to the rendezvous of his band. and got tlmm into their saddles to intercept the stage coach. He also gave orders that we should come on to this deserted house, which he had discovered in the course “What the dâ€"l is the use of Pllmng away at that? You'd lust as well try to set fire to a wet sponge," impatlently exclaimed Moloch. v And he went to one of the windows, wrenched off a dry, mouldering shut- ter. broke it into pieces with his bare hand, and piled it in among the green logs. Then from his pocket he took a flask of whisky. poured a portion of itl on the weak, red embers, and in an in- stant had the whole mass of fuel in a roaring blaze. . Meanwhile Sybil, unable to standi had sunk down upon thi- .loor, wherel she remained only until i; :itiliska saw her by the blazelof the fur. “You are as cold as ice!” said the kind-hearted .girl, taking Sybil's hands in her own, and trying to warm them. “Come to the fire,” she continued, as- sisting the lady to rise, and drawing her toward the chimney. “Sit here," she added, arranging her own red cloak as a seat. “Thanks,” murmured Sybil. â€"you are very good to me." “Moloch, she is nearly dead! Have you got any wine? If you have. give it to me I” was the next request of the girl. The giant lumbcred off to a heap of miscellaneous luggage that lay in one corner, and from it be rooted out a black bottle. which he brought and put in the hands of the girl. saying: “There! ha, ha, ha! there's some of her own old port. We made. a raid upon Black Ilall buttery last night, on purpose to provide for her." “All right. Now a tin saucepan, and some sugar and spice, old Moloch! and also. if possible, a cup or .Lumblcr,” said Gentiliska. The giant went back to the pile in the corner. and after a little search brought forlth all the articles required by the gir. “Now. good Moloch, go and do for old Ilecute what you have done for me. Make her a fire, that she IllilV have SUDIH‘I‘. I‘t‘ildy for the captain when ll” comes," coaxcd Gentiliska. I “Just so, princess.” agreed “1C 1.0mm. who immediately confiscated another v I and carried it off into the ml. joining back room to kindle the I lli‘i‘. “You were wrong to leave us! got into trouble immediately! You would have berii in worse bv this time if we had not rescued you IL Don‘t voii are down on vou. your only safety is with the outlaws 9" inquired Gentiliska, as soon ‘ found herself alone with her guest, “I don't know. I don‘t cure. it is a” one to me now. I only wish to die. if it were not it sin. I would die by sni. eide.“ answered Sybil. with tho ’ calmness of despair. “‘Iiie by suicide!’ Die by n mimic- slivvi end! You to talk so: xnd mu Bosh! cut and come with us merry outlaws who profoL-i \-,,u_ .\ud whatever you do. don't rim away from us again! You got us into awful lj'iitllilt‘ and danger and loss when you I‘ll” away the last time; did you know “Thanks kitchen You as she tll‘cu f‘y foru‘. of me holy into a seat before liiiu,]it?" A u of his rides. and which he supp03cs will be a safe retreat for the present. That is all I have to tell you, and I reckon you knew in the rest," concluded Gen- tiliska. But still Sybil sat in the same attitude of deep despair, regardless of all that was said to her. While Gentiliska‘s tongue was rim- ning, her‘liands were also busy. She had prepared a cordial of spiced and sweetened port wine. and had set it in a saucepan over the fire to heat. And now she poured it out in a silver mug and handed it to Sybil, saying: “Come. drink; this will warm and strengthen you. You look like death. but you must not die yet. You must drink and live.“ “Yes, I must live I" said Sybil. “I must live to throw off this horrible im- putation from the fame of my’ father's daughter." And she the cordial. And soon a new expression passed into her face; the fixed despair rose iii- to a settled determination. a firm, active resolution. “You look as if you were going to do look the goblet and drank something. What is it?" inquired Gentiiiska. iii consternation. “No, I am not mad. On the contrary. it seems to me that I have. been mad. or I never could have borne the fugitive life that I have been leading for the last two months! I will bear it no longer. I will give myself up to trial, come what will of it. I would even rather die a guiltlcss death than lead an outlaws life! I will give myself up !" “After all the pains we have taken. and risks we have run. to rescue you :7” exclaimed (ientiliska, in dismay, “Yes. after all that ! And yet I thank you all the same, I thank you all, that, you have set me at liberty, and by so doing have given me fhc opportunity of voluntarily delivering myself up.” “Just as if Captain Incoiiiiu would let you do it. I tell you he has his own reasons for suing your life," angrily retorted the girl. “And I have my reasons for risking my life upon the bare. chance of rescu- pig my good name.” said Sybil. firmly. “and your captain would scarcely dr- tain the here as a captive. against my will." she added. smiling strangely. “\\'i‘ll. maybe lit‘ ‘.\oiilil. mill l]|il_\'|)f' he wouldn't! but lt|‘l‘t' llv' (fttliil“'. and you can ask him." said the girl. as the galloping of a horse's feet was heard in the front yard. .-\ iiiriineiil piissml. and then the rob- ber chief. with three or four of his men. entered the room. bringing with them the niailbags illltl other booty taken from the stage coach. “Grim! evening. Mrs. Ilt‘rners! You are welcome back :iiiiriiii.r your devoted slaves!“ was the greeting of fiairtain Inconiiu. as half in deference. buff in mockery. he raised his cap and bowed low before the lady. For an instant Sybil was dumb before the sneaker. but she soon recovered her self-plisschioii. and said: “I ought to thank you for your gal- lantry in rescuing me from the custody of those rude men; especially as the lh'eedoin you have given me affords me the opportunity of \iilllllltll‘lly doing that which I slidilil not like to be forced illlii dwi‘ t.:|}il7llll Iiicoiinu bowed in Silence. :lllll lIl wine pi‘rpll‘xity. and then he said: “I am not sure that I undi-rsland y'ou‘ iIIIJiilltlfl. as to who! you would do?» “I would go freely before a court of justice. instead of being {inc-pd lilim,.,.‘v explained Sybil. “I triid you would nevi-r coniiiiit such it suicidal act I” cxvlziiid-‘(l the, captain. in consternation. “Yes. I would and I will. I care no- thing for my life! I have lost all that makes life. worth the fixing! All is gone but my true honorsfor its more semblance has gone with everything else. I would preserve the true honor! I would place myself on trial. and trust in my innocimce and in the help If l"roviden'ci‘." said Sybil. speaking with a stoical fii‘iiiiiess wonderful to see in one so young. (Iiiptain Inconnu. who had listened in silence. with his eyes fixed upon the ground. now lifted them to her face and replied : “Sleep on this resolution before, you act, Mrs. Rer‘iiers. and to-morrow we will talk further on this subject," “I must. of necessity sleep on it before acting." said Sybil, with a dreary smile, since nothing can be done tonight; but also I must tell you that nothing can change my resolution.” “Thus let it stand over until to-mor- row," replied the captain. Then with a total change of tone and manner he turned to Gentiliska and said: “Now, let us have supper, my little princess, and afterward we. will open the mailbags and see, what, they have brouth us." Gciitiliska clapped her hands toge- thci'do summon the old woiiuin of the band, who quickly made her appear- ance at the door. “Supper immediately, Hecate!" said the, girl. The woman nodded and withdrew. And in a few moments she reappeared and summoned them in to the evening inch]. The supper was served in the rudcst possible fashion. There were neither table nor chairs. A fine tablecloth. not too clean. was spread upon the floor, and on it were arranged a few plain articles of food such as could be quickly prepared, “You will excuse our imperfect house- keeping. I hope. Mrs. Bernei‘s. The fact is we have. just moved in, and have not got quite comfortably settled yet," laughed the captain, as be folded his own cloak as a seat for Sybil, and led her up and placed her on it, and sat himself down by her side. Other members of the band joined them at the meal. and Captain lnconriu and Gentiliska did the honors. b... CHAPTER X. When Sybil woke the sun was stream- ing in at the unshaded windows, and by its blaze of light she saw that two of the women had left the room, and left no one with her except Gentiliska. The girl was up, and was m‘dking what shift she could to wash her face with the aid of a tin basin, a stone ewer, and a crash towel, all of which, for want of a washstand, were placed upon the bare floor. When she had finished washing, she carefully emptied the contents of the basin out of the window, and refilled it again with fresh water for Sybil. 'l‘hen, happening to turn around, she dis! covered that her guest was awakJ. “You rested well?" she said with a smile. “Yes, for I was worn out. This is the first night in four that I have lain down and the second night in eight,’ answered Sybil. “My gracious goodness! How could you stand it? You cannot be rested yet. You had better lie aâ€"bed longer." “No, I would rather get up," said Sybil. rising. As on a foi‘iiier occasion, the girl at- tended tlie lady at her rude toilet, renâ€" dering the assistance. of a dressing- maid. .lust before they left the room. Gen- tiliska, ehuiicing to glance out of the window. uttered an exclamation of sur- prise aiid delight. ‘-‘\\-"'hat is it?" inquired Sybil. “The. captain’s son! Oh, a beautiful boy. Mrs. Ileriicrsl An angel amang devils! He has been gone so long! cm.“ And now he has unexpectedly coma back again. Look. Mrs. Burners! Oh! how I do wish somebody would deliver this boy from this band; would save this pure youngr Soul alive I“ eitciaimed Gciitiliska. with more. feeling than bil had ever seen h.-r display. l~‘ollowiiig the glance of the, girl's eye. the lady looked from the, window. I'I'I‘pill'i‘tl as she had been by Gentil- iskzi's praise to behold a boy of rare beauty. she was really startled by the angelic l't\‘~‘llllt".\'5 of the lad before her. The i'liuriii was not :il nie in the soft, bright. golden hair that shone like a halo around the fair. open forehead, nor in the straight brown cycbrinis, nor the, clear blue eyes. nor the sweet serious mouth, nor in the delicate blooming complexion :‘it was also in the expres- sion of earnest candor and trusting love. that. beamed from every feature (f that beautiful face. “Yes, indeed; he looks like a serapli. What is his name?" inquired Sybil, in a burst of admiration. “It is Raphael." u‘Rapliael !‘ an appropriate name. So might have looked the, child-artist Ra- phael, in his brightest days on earth. So may seem the love-angel Raphael to those who see him in their dreams," said Sybil, gazing, as if spellbound, Of} the beauty of the boy. (To be continued). -____‘..___ “'lIOLES.-\ LE MUSIC Thousand Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven Instruments. A combination of brass bands that might be quite equal to bringing down the walls of Jericho will be heard at a fete to be given at Government House, Aldershot, England. All the bands of the Aldershot Army One Corps, drawn from 27 separate regi- ments, and comprising nearly fifteen hundred separate instruments, are to play together. This will form one of the most gigantic orchestral combina- tions ever attempted. The actual number of instruments engaged will be 1.’£37, made up as follows :â€" Flutes and piccolos . . . . . . . . 34 E flat clarionets . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Oboes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' 23 1st B flat clarioncts . . . . . . . 114 2nd B flat clarionets . . . . . . . . 62 lst cornets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Trumpets . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 9 Euphoniums . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 31 2nd Trombones . . . . . . . 2t Brass basses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Drum basses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Alto clarionets . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 3rd B flat clarionets 58 Saxophones . . . . . . 20 Bassoons . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' 53 Horns . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 2nd cornets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Althorns . . . . . 26 lst trombones . . . . . . . . . . 25 Bass trombones . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 String basses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Side drums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Bass drums . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Bagpipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295 Bugles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Mr. Henry Sims, R.A., will conduct this vast array of musicians. ._._+.. VOICE BY GRAMOPHONE. A young lady from Australia has just won a singing scholarship in London! under novel circumstances. From her'. Colonial home she sent to a welbknown professor in London a “record” of her' voice, with the request that he would test it on the graniophone, and inform her whether he thought its qualities sufficiently good to justify her in tak~ ing so long a journey for an examina- tion for a scholarship. The professor listened to the “record.” was duly im- pressed by the possibilities of the voice, and wrote to say he thought she might try. Encouraged by this report. she reached England just in time for the examination, and was one of two suc- cessful candidates out of 190 competi- tors. *â€" IRRESISTIBLE. “This dog, madam, would be cheap at twenty dollars.” “I would take him. but I am afraid my. husband might object." “Madam, you can get another husband much easier than a dog like that." .\llt“.\'fly. to coiighin‘ an’ sneezin, all day? Zekeâ€"Sell it! AI“ ICE. Zeke, what's the best Lb iiig to do when one of your bosses takes 1