Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-06-07

Without more ado l went to the
piano, found a song that / remembered
he particularly disliked, and sang it
baby.
| "Really, Beatrice, I cannot congratu-
late you either on your song or your
voice." said Mrs, Byng, for once forget
ing her raIe of amiability. "Pray, sing
something that will give us some little
pleasure to listen to-
| Mr.. Lomax here joined in: Z" Yes,
Miss Byng; you seem to forget that the
last time you sang that song expressed
n,y dislike to it."
"So," thought /, "before have even
agreed to marry you, you dare to Gen.
sure me! / wonder what it will be
afterr'
| However, I took a piece and played
it through. Just as it was finished 1
found Mr.. Iomax at my elbow.
"Cruel Beatrice, not to sing" he
murmured; and suddenly encircling
me with his arms, kissed me two or
three times.
I struggled madly to free myself;
jumped up and out of the door; not,
however, before had heard Mrs. Byng's
voice say soothingly, "Don't be dis
mayed, Mr.. Lomax, the dear girl will
come round in a day or two; / will
answer for it,
"Come round She would answer
for it."
Half crazed, fled up stairs, rushed
to my room, and locked the door then
plunged my face into a basinful of
water to wash away, if possible, every
trace of those hated kisses. Yes he
had certainly made mastery 5troke
then-he had made me realize how
utterly hated him. I felt scorched,
polluted by his touch.
And my father had said by his return
it was settled thing. Mrs. Byng, of
course, had forced him to say that she
wanted me gone, that her child might
reign supreme. Why, not content
| with forcing this hated marriage upon
me, she had even that very day heaped
other indignities upon me- | had had
to do servants work. O, what was to
do? Ny father had said 1 should not
remain with him. Then 1 must marry
Mr.. Lomax? No-never Rather would
beg! 'te.'"
Lightning like, a thought flashed
through my mind. Was it possible?
| had restlessly been pacing the room
] now stood still. | put my hand to
my head to still it's throbbings. Yes,
[ would do it; l would save them all
from further trouble. I would disap-
pear. Again I bathed my face, this
time to clear my brain. looked at my
watch-8 o'clock. | remembered sud-
denly that the London mail stopped at
a mail station about three miles dis
tant, at midnight-plenty of time to
catch it.
Ny resolution was taken. had Ave
pounds in my dressing case, given me
only a few days previously for my al
lowance. l took it out and began my
arrangements. First l packed up
small handbag, into which I also put
several of my BEST ornaments, and then
| got myself ready for the walk.
The sounds in the house gradually
ceased. / heard Mr.. Lomax 60. l
heard my stepmother 60 to her room,
and the usual locking-up took place,
and then all was quiet. Half an hour
elapsed.
snow, or never" l thought, and
carefully unfastening my door, crept
down stairs, went into the dining-room
and took glass of wine, and putting
into my pocket some biscuits left on
the table, / noiselessly opened the
French window and stepped out on the
terrace.
Freel AS lightly as possible l glided,
more than walked, past the front of the
house, without deigning one farewell
glance at the place that, until Mrs.
Byngs advent, had been happy home
to me, but that lately had been worse
than prison, and with a sigh of relief
found myself beyond the gates, with
the long stretch of road before me.
How solitary it looked. Hitherto /
had acted in a sort of maze but the
cold night air, in reviving, also brought
me back to the present moment.
Should I ever be able to walk these
dreadful three miles alone? Looking
up suddenly, I saw afar off the light
glimmering from Mrs. Byng's win
dow that decided my fate. / ran
swiftly on.
Snow was lying on the ground every
bush and twig showed sharply out
against the sky clearly defined. AS |
passed belt of fir trees, the sligatnoise
of my own footsteps startled me; and l
glanced behind to be seized with fear at
my own shadow. Turning the corner
of the road, dark moving thing came
toward me. What could it be? My
feet seemed rooted to the ground, else
| I must have turned and fed backward.
However, as itcame nearer it proved to
be only horse with a clog on its leg.
Taking courage, I rushed past it, and,
| leaving the road, crossed two fields, and
began to skirt the river, that being a
short cut to the station.
How dark and cold it looked as it
glided onl But yet it fascinated me,
and l stopped to gaze at it for mo-
ment. What evil spirit was it that pos
sessed me that secend2 With shudder
l sprang quickly forward and ran on my
way afresh, nor did l slacken speed un-
| til the station lights came in view. Not
one human being had met me; so far
I might hope that had gained my lib
erty.
Putting on thick vail, entered and
took my ticket for London-only just
in time, for the train came up the next
minute. How thankful was | to be
even in such a haven of refugel Sink
ing back to the first seat, found | was
not alone, q gentleman sat in the oppo-
site side of the carriage; we had not
gone far when he offered me his rug,
which l gladly accepted, for it was
fearfully cold, and then he seemed to
sleep.
During that night underwent fiery
ordeal of doubt and fear. No sleep
visited my eyes; my future plans had
\ l. i l,..4 lod