he covered her face with her hands while shudder after shudder
shook her whole frame.

Mr. Dinsmore was much perplexed, and deeply concerned. "Shall I send for
Dr. Barton?" he asked.

"No, no, papa! I am not ill; only my nerves have had a great, a terrible
shock; they seem all unstrung, and my temples are throbbing with pain."

"My poor, poor darling! strange that with all my care and watchfulness you
should have been subjected to such a trial. Some ruffian has been trying
to extort money from you, I presume, by threatened violence to yourself,
Travilla, and me. Where were you?"

"In my arbor, sir."

"And alone?"

"Yes, papa; I thought myself safe there."

"I forbid you to go there or to any distance from the house, alone, again.
You must always have some one within call, if not close at your side."

"And my father knows I will obey him," she said, tremulously lifting his
hand to her lips.

He administered an anodyne to relieve the tortured nerves, then sitting
down beside her, passed his hand soothingly over hair and cheek, while
with the other he held one of hers in loving, tender clasp. Neither spoke,
and at length she fell asleep; yet not a sound, refreshing slumber, but
disturbed by starts and moans, and frequent wakings to see and feel that
he was still there. "Papa, don't go away; don't leave me!" was her
constant cry.

"My darling, my precious one, I will not," was his repeated assurance; "I
will stay with you while this trouble lasts."

And all that day and night he never left her side, while Rose came and
went, full of anxiety and doing everything that could be done for the
sufferer's relief.

It was a night of unrest to them all; but morning found her free from
pain, though weak and languid, and still filled with distress if her
father was absent for more than a few moments from her side. She inquired
of him at what hour she had come in the day before: then watched the time
and, as soon as released from her promise, told them all.

Great was his indignation; and, determined that, if possible, the villain
should be apprehended and brought to justice, he sent word at once to the
magistrates: a warrant was issued, and several parties were presently out
in different directions in hot pursuit.

But with the twenty-four hours' start Jackson had made good his escape,
and the only advantage gained was the relief of knowing that he no longer
infested the neighborhood.

"But when may he not return?"