The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-06-07

AAoAO s>uO 1 went 10 TIL
piano, found song that remembere,
he particularly disliked, and sang it
badly.
"Really, Beatrice, 1 cannot conpratu
late you either on your song or you
voice" said Mrs. Byng, for once forget
ing her rale Of amiability. "Pray, sin,
something that will give us some littl,
pleasure to listen to-"
Mr.. Lomax here Joined in: " Yes
Miss Byng; you seem to forget that tn,
last time you sang that song I expressed
my dislike 10 it"
So," thought I, "before have eve,
agreed to marry you, you dare to cen
sure mel wonder what it will b,
afteri''
However, took q piece and playes
it through. Just as it was finished
found Mr.. Lomax at my elbow.
"Cruel Beatrice, not to sinp,n h,
mnrmured; and suddenly encirclin,
me with his arms, kissed me two O.
three times.
l struggled madly to free myself
jumped up and out of the door not
however, before had heard Mrs. Byng',
voice say soothingly, "Don't be dis
mayed, Mr.. Lomax, the dear girl will
come round in day or two; will
answer for it,
"Come round! She would answer
for it."
Half crazed, l fed up stairs, rushed
to my room, and locked the door then
| plunged my face into a basinful O,
water to wash away, if possible, every
trace of those hated kisses. Yes; he
had certainly made a mastery stroke
then-he had made me realize how
utterly l hated him. l felt scorched
polluted by his touch.
And my father had said by his return
it was a settled thing. Mrs. Byng, o.
course, had forced him to say that she
wanted me gone, that her child might
reign supreme. Why, not conten,
with forcing this hated marriage upon
me, she had even that very day heaped
other indignities upon me; l had had
to do servants work. o, what was l to
do? My father had said | should not
remain with him. Then must marry
Mr.. Lomax? No-neveri Rather would
l begI
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 its throhbings. Yes,
| would do it; | would save them all
from further trouble. / would disap.
pear. Again l 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
q mail station about three miles dis
tant, at midnight-plenty of time to
catch it.
My resolution was taken. l had five
pounds in my dressing-case, given me
only few days previously for my al.
lowance. | took it out and began my
arrangements. First / packed up q
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. |
heard my stepmother 60 to her room,
and the usual locking-up took place,
and then all was quiet. Half an hour
elapsed.
"Now, or never" l thought, and
carefully unfastening my door, l crept
down stairs, went into the dining-room
and took glass Of wine, and putting
into my pocket some biscuits left Oh
the table, / noiselessly opened the
French window and stepped out on the
terrace.
Free! As lightly as possible glided,
more tFan walked, past the front of the
house, without deigning one farewell
glance at the place that, until Mrs
Byng's advent, had been a 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 | ever be able TO walk these
dreadful three miles alone? Looking
up suddenly, l saw afar off the lighl
glimmering from Mrs. Byng's win
dow that decided my fate. rar
swiftly on. /
Snow was lying on the ground every
bush and twig showed sharply oui
against the sky clearly defined. As
passed belt of fir trees, theslightnoibt
of my own footsteps startled me; and
glanced behind to be seized with fear al
my own shadow. Turning the corner
of the road, dark moving thing came
toward me. What could it be? Ny
feet seemed rooted to the ground, elst
/ must have turned and fed backward
However, ss itcame nearer it proved Il
be only horse with q clog on its leg
Taking courage, rushed past it, and
leaving the road, crossed two fields, anG
began to skirt the river, that being {
short cut to the station.
How dark and cold it looked as i
glided onl But yet it fascinated me
and / stopped to gaze at it for a mo
ment. What evil spirit was it that pos
sessed me that second? With shudde
| sprang quickly forward and ran on m,
way afresh, nor did slacken speed un
til the station lights came in view. No
one human being had met me; SO ia
l might hope that | had gained my lib
erty.
Putting on thick vail, entered an
took my ticket for London-only jus
in time, for the train came up the mex
minute. How thankful was l to b
even in such a haven of refugel Sink
ing back to the first seat, found l wa
not alone, a gentleman sat in the oppt
site side of the carriage; We had nc
gone far when he offered me his rul
which ! gladly accepted, for it Wa
fearfully cold, and then he seemed t
sleep.
During that night / underwent fer
ordeal Of doubt and fear. No slee
visited INV exes INV fiture nlana ha