The Wrong Man — page 51: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A CALL ANSWERED. 53 he wished to propose. Wonderi> 2 what the pursuit mean _ thinking he should be able to learn something of the ms gg the village, or perhaps be the first to spread the news—an ob- - , Jeet scarcely less desirable—he char bet ive whip, and proceed- _ ed on his way at a brisker pace than he had hitherto thought _ prudent. The jingling of the tin-ware died away as he passed - ito the distance, and deep silence again settled over the neigh- borhooé of the old block-house. , Dudley was not long in gaining the point where the road up the spur of the bluff communicated with that which ran ~ along the suntmit of the ridge. Here for a moment he seemed ata loss which way to turn. But his quick mind revolving - the different circumstances which had come to his knowledge ‘connected with the recent movements of Overton, he rightly concluded that the pretended expedition to Canada was a story invented to conceal the real nature of his designs, and lead pursuit in the wrong direction. Turning, therefore, to the southward, he gave the rein to his horse, and moved swift forward. He had proceeded perhaps about a mile. when his ear—straining with intense attention in the hope to distinguish the tramp of the fugitive—became conscious of a low, mur- muring sound, not unlike the effort of a half-stifled human voice. Te reined up his horse, and stooping in his stirrups, bent his head down to listen. The sound was repeated, and to come from the deep valley beside the road. In au instant Dudley had sprung to the ground and was standing at the brink of the descent. “ Lucy!” he cried aloud, “Lucy Dayton, is it you I hear ?— and where are you?” A scream of joy and surprise burst from the lips of the maiden as the well-known voice of Dudley thrilled upon her ear. The ‘sound, though deadened by the bandage bound her mouth, was yet loud enough to be distinctly heard him who was vortrnctin Beong et for a ly. He did not for further answer, but ly toate” own the bank. His first spring admonished him, but without effect, of the ne- -_ eessity of caution; for bis head coming in violent contact with the outstretched arm of a low, gnurled tree, was only saved from a severe contusion by the thickness of its covering. Con- tinuing his precipitate descent, a few active bounds brought him beside the captive. He soon emerged into the moonlight, bear- PE ae! Charles hispered the trembling I turning Bybee h! om 4 e trembling Lucy, u her pale face to her lover, and showing by the cddon. as the - streamed on her features, that they wore an expression of __ mogt intense anxiety—“ Ah! Charles,there have been dread- | _ fal doings among these wild hills to-night. A different meet- ing this—oh, how widely different !—from that which we eo fondly, so confidently, anticipated.” ee ae 7? - Ad ae ‘ Pt ba 4