Cruel As The Grave

"Amen, and Amen! We shall never forget, and never cease to thank and

bless you, dear friend," added Sybil, with tears in her eyes, as she

gave him her hand.

"May the Lord grant you a safe journey and a quick return," said Clement

Pendleton, as he pressed the lady's hand and relinquished it.

"And I sez Amen to that! Oh, Marser! Oh, Missus! come back to your poor

old Joe soon! His heart will snap into ten thousand flinders, if you

don't!" sobbed the poor negro, as he shook hands with his young master

and mistress.

Then with a mutual "God be with you," the four friends parted.

Captain Pendleton, sighing, and Joe, weeping, bent their steps up the

banks of the river towards the fording place, where they would have to

cross to find their horses on the other side.

Lyon Berners cracked his long wagoner's whip, and started on the road

leading away from the river towards the east.

It was yet early in the autumn night, and but for the cause of the

journey, the young pair would have enjoyed it very much.

"It is a very pleasant evening for the season," said Lyon, cheerfully

looking up at the clear, blue-black, star-spangled sky.

"Yes, indeed," answered Sybil briskly.

"Are you quite comfortable, darling?"

"Very! Captain Pendleton, dear Captain Pendleton, arranged my seat so

nicely. It is so soft and easy. I could go to sleep here, if I were

sleepy."

"You may have to sleep there, dear. We must travel all night, in order

to get a good distance from this neighborhood before morning."

"I can bear that very well, as comfortably as I am placed. But you,

dear Lyon, you who are driving, you will be tired to death."

"Not at all. My work to-night will not be more than many men frequently

undertake for mere amusement."

"And the horses?"

"Strong draught horses like these can work eight or ten hours at a

stretch, if they are well fed and rested between times."

"Oh! I'm so glad I have got away from the Haunted Chapel and the

ghosts!" suddenly exclaimed Sybil.

"And especially from the 'damp girl,'" laughed Lyon Berners.

"Oh, don't mention her!" shuddered Sybil.

They were now entering one of those frequent mountain passes that

diversified their road, and the care of driving required all Lyon's

attention.

They travelled all night as nearly in a direct line towards the far

distant city as the nature of the ground would permit. At daylight they

found themselves in the midst of a deep forest, some twenty miles east

of Blackville. Here, as the road was naturally broad and the trees tall

and sparse, and especially as a clear stream of water ran along on one

side, the travellers decided to stop and rest, and refresh themselves

and their horses until noon.