“No matter,” said he, trying to speak fiercely; “you will hear from me in good time.”

“And you from me on the spot, if I should happen to catch you at such mean and cowardly work as you were just now engaged in,” said the stranger, no seeking to veil his contempt.

“The vulgar brute!  O, he’s horrid!” ejaculated the young lady as her rather crestfallen companion laid the whip upon his horse and dashed ahead.  “How he frightened me!”

“Some greasy butcher or two-fisted blacksmith,” said the elegant young man with contempt.  “But,” he added boastfully, “I’ll teach him a lesson!”

Out into the beautiful country, with feeling a little less buoyant than when they started, rode our gay young couple.  As the excitement of passion died away both feel a little uncomfortable in mind, for certain unpleasant convictions intruded themselves, and certain precepts in the code of polite usage grew rather distinct in their memories.  They had been thoughtless, to say the least of it.

“But the girl looked so queer!” said the young lady.  “I couldn’t help laughing to save my life.  Where on earth did she come from?”

Not very keen was their enjoyment of the afternoon’s ride, although the day was particularly fine, and their way was amid some bits of charming scenery.  After going out into the country some five or six miles, the horse’s head was turned, and they took their way homeward.  Wishing to avoid the Monotony of a drive along the same road the young man struck across the country in order to reach another avenue leading into the city, but missed his way and bewildered in a maze of winding country roads.  While descending a steep hill, in a very secluded place, a wheel came off, and both were thrown from the carriage.  The young man received only a slight bruise, but the girl was more seriously injured.  Her head had struck against a stone with so strong a concussion as to render her insensible.

Eagerly glancing around for aid, the young man saw, at no great distance from the road, a poor looking log tenement, from the mud chimney of which curled a thin column of smoke, giving signs of inhabitants.  To call aloud was his first impulse, and he raised his voice with the cry of “Help!”

Scarcely had the sound died away, ere he saw the door of the cabin flung open, and a woman and boy looked eagerly around.

“Help!” he cried again, and the sound of his voice directed their eyes towards him.  Even in his distress, alarm, and bewilderment, the young man recognized instantly in the woman the person they had so wantonly insulted only an hour or two before.  As soon as she saw them, she ran forward hastily, and seeing the white face of the insensible girl, exclaimed, with pity and concern,—­

“O, sir! is she badly hurt?”

There was heart in that voice of peculiar sweetness.

“Poor lady!” she said, tenderly, as she untied the bonnet strings with gentle care, and placed her hand upon the clammy temples.