uccess.

Before leaving home to visit her mission school people Viola had
informed her mother of the new and intimate relations existing between
Jasper Very and herself. The mother was much pleased with the
engagement and, woman like, could not keep the news from her husband.
She told him the story. He also was pleased with the information. The
night he sent word to his neighbors of the abduction he wrote a longer
note to Jasper Very, acquainting him of the villainous occurrence. This
message he sent to the preacher by a trustful servant, Joshua.

The servant rode through the night, but did not reach the village till
the middle of the next morning. Horse and man were very much exhausted.
The eight o'clock meeting was just closing and the preaching service
was about to begin, when Joshua rode up to the little meeting-house.
Jasper, looking through the open door, saw Joshua, whom he knew as one
of Judge LeMonde's slaves.

Thinking something was wrong, Jasper hurried from the church and spoke
to the messenger. Joshua gave him the note. As he read its contents, a
heavy groan escaped his lips and he almost fell to the ground. With a
tremendous effort at self-control, but with tears coursing down his
manly cheeks, he said to Joshua: "Man, you and your horse are very
tired. A livery stable is just around the corner. Put up your horse
there, and the owner will tell you where you can get food and rest."

He then went into the church and said: "Friends, I have just received
news which is very urgent, requiring my presence in another part of the
county. I am sorry I cannot preach here this morning, but I must be
excused, and I will ask the Rev. Irby Trynor kindly to take my place."
With these words he hurried from the building, and going to the stable
of his stopping-place, quickly put saddle and bridle on trusty Bob, and
rode like a Jehu in the direction of "Mount Pisgah."

Darkness was settling on the river bottom when Jasper Very came along
the road passing by Judge LeMonde's plantation. Riding to the corner he
turned to the right, went up the county road to the big gate, opened
it, and passed up to the piazza. The Judge and George had returned from
their unsuccessful search a half hour before. The planters had gone
home for the night, promising to renew the hunt next morning. The
sheriff and his men were accommodated at various houses, some stopping
at "Mount Pisgah."

As Jasper dismounted the Judge himself met him. For