And gazing on the happy autumn fields, our little heroine smiled
brightly, and felt very thankful in her heart to Him who dowered her
life with all that beauty, and joy, and happiness; and ever and anon
her hand would be raised absently toward her neck, where it played
with the old coral necklace taken from the drawer in which it had been
laid--by accident, we should say, if there were any accident. And so
they approached the town.
CHAPTER LXVI.
THE HOUR AND THE NECKLACE.
As they entered the town, something strange seemed to be going on; the
place was evidently in commotion. A great thrill seemed to run through
the population, who were gathered at the doors and windows--such of
them as did not throng the streets; and as the hoofs of the horses
struck upon the beaten way, a drum suddenly was heard thundering
indignantly through the narrow streets.
The crowd rushed toward it--hurried, muttering, armed with nondescript
weapons, as though the Indians were come down from the mountain
fastnesses once more; and then, as the cortege from Apple Orchard
passed beyond the old fort, the meaning of all the commotion was
visible.
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