The Van Buren press., 1877-05-22

rence-"a gh0ul!
looked at her with surprise. Sh,
said no more She was silent until sh,
reached the hotel. Then going with he
father to their rooms, she bade me goot
night in her usual manner. 49, = ~
When she had gone, turned instant
ly back toward the bridge. The moor
was coming up round and full. The all
blew in my face dense and dewy. / walk
ed rapidly up to the road, and hurriedly
entered the wood r F5t
The light fell in broken patche,
through the branches upon the shrubs o.
Towering clusters, deliciously fragrant il
the dew. As rapidly broke the brittle
stems started at sound of brushes crack
ling behind me. Turning Isaw the darl
figure Of man. gliding off through tn,
trees.
"Some poor tramp taking night,
rest here. l have disturbed him."
thought. My hands were already full ol
the lavish bloom, and I turned away.
The next morning 1 presented the flow.
ers to Velore.
What! did you get them there ?" was
her first exclamation. ...-.=
Yes, went back last night"
"How kind and thoughtful of you.
But, Mr.. Derford, did you see no one p
mo; all was as quiet and beautiful as
a scene Of enchantment. Yes" inter
rupted myself. "An old straggler stole
off through the bushes as was gather.
ing the flowers"
l saw her shudder as she turned away.
Four days later little Helen We're came
She was petite thing, but very pretty,
with a torrent of bronze-b brown curls that
almost enveloped her dainty figure
could not but notice that at this time
Sloewick was SO mood as to be almost
uncivil. And he seemed to regard me
with furtive dislike-I who had always
wished to be his friend--that made me
most uncomfortable. / had no feeling
for him but one Of pity. thought him
ailing, unhappy. would have rendered
him any reliet in my power. So, said
to Velore. She turned very pale, appear.
ed about to tell me something. but stop.
ped.
did you ever think she said. after a
moment, that he might not be quite
quite sanc::"
mo indeed" answered. "Oh, that
is quite impossible
She heard me eagerly. ro.lH==.
+" l am glad you think SO, she said.
At dinner she was missing Mr.. We're
was petulant. Where could Velorc be
He would not din without her" But
Helen and l coaxed him to his place at
at the table, and she did hei best to take
her sisters place.
o,hk ka4ass, stsssas yhaAlaaa- -hesama Of haEs.
alone at about eleven O'clock during the
forenoon.
Making only fent of dinner. yet do,
ing that, that old Mr.. We're might NOT
have bis anxiety increased by perceiying
minc l set forth to tnd her
1t was five o'clock IN the afternoon.
The sun was gliding toward the west
Velore had been gone nearly all day. AS
time passed, her absence began to have a
terrifying significance.
keep MIR. We're quiet if possible"
said to Helen, who showed q womanly
composurc l had hardly expected under
the circumstances. But there was n
strained, absent look in her eyes that fill
ed me with compassion. 81 will get cut
some men, and scour the whole neighbor-
hood before nightfall. She will surely
be found"
But it was nearly dark before l could
get efficient help. About seven O'Clock,
however, three men rode away in differ
ent directions, while took the road to
the bridge on foot 49,,
A thunder storm was coming up; il
was almost dark The lightning that
cleft the heavy purple OF the sky was
sharp and zigzag.
l had nearly reached the bridge. The
thunder clouds gathered so thickly in the
sky that almost entire darkness cnvelop.
ed me hurried on, but stopped upon
the bridge, with hand on the railing
In spite of the rattle of the now fast de-
scending rain, could hear the soft gil
,.ing Of the water that I could hardly see
and fancied there was an ominous sig.
nifcance in that almost inaudible flow
l listened, shuddering at the loneliness
and straining my frowning gaze into thu
black tide.
A savage clutch-fast, furious blows
raining upon my defenseless head, into
my eyes, upon my gasping mouth!
was down and beaten blind and deaf be
fore could make stroke of resistance
so powerful and overwhelming was The
attack
can seem to see what never knew
my enemy raising my passive body
and casting it over the railing of the
bridge into the water, the lightning play
ing over us, and the solitude of natur,
around.
/ came to my senses making half effec
tual efforts to swim, Having been al
adept at swimming from child, thinl
it was almost impossible to drown me
half dead as I'was padded about in
a half-unconscious state for awhile. A
last, my senses clearing, l realized my
situation, and struck out collettedly, bu
feebly, for the bank. When crawleG
up the grassy slope ] put my hand to my
temples, which felt strangely, and found
them Shiny with my own warm clottinl
blood
Istood for a while unable to tell whicl
way to go, and still somewhat dazed.
did not even have the thought to fear th'
temperance Of my enemy. l only
felt the need of a place of rest and refuge
ond unahla tn toll nv lnCation sfufn hi pt