The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-09-28

low, pleasant laugh ripping over her
lips at the Intellectual effort. " Lie still;
my dear young lady. Burns shall get
you cup of tea"
How good you areI" impulsively
cried Edna, as the door closed on Burns.
AND she caught the slender hand that
was bending over her, and drew it to
her lips. Miss Ruth's heart had pulsated
through nifty odd years; but it was still
very soft one, and Edna slipped at once
INTO It's softest niche. 1t was utterly
impossible to look at that taking face and
not believe in it.
The keen-witted Burns, on returning
with the tray, quickly perceived the i'm
preston made ON her mistress, and as
promptly commented on it when again
out Of hearing.
The Meals war a alike" she grum-
| bled IN her broadcast Scotch-as was gem
orally the case if put out. Shake them
a thegither i bag, an you'd ne'er ken
ane trae anlther, unless Miss Ruth might
ia, out the simplest O app
But Miss Ruth, unconscious of Burns
depreclative opinion, answered Edna's
regrets, and apologize remark that her
journey would be resumed early next
morning, with cordiality which would
have dOubly eXasperated the waiting
woman. 1t must, however, be admitted
that Edna-after mentioning as her name
the abbreviated one of Miss Ivesly,
which, being merely baptismal name,
nobody had ever heard of-fell into anx-
ious thought. She felt that she was ex-
pected to explain whence she came, and
a few more personal items, and she could
not.
"She is so young" thought Miss Neal.
" | fear | ought to press her confidence
foI her own sake"
1t was not early in the evening when
Miss Neal conducted her guest up stairs.
81 hope, my DEAR" she said, as they
! exchanged good nights, that your rest
will not be disturbed. | am in hourly
expectation of the arrival of my nephew,
who has promised me visit, and it is
somewhat rare | get one from him, so if
you hear a stir you will know what it
is. And in the morning you will tell us
your story; we will advise you for the
best"
But this was just what Edna was
afraid to do. Faint, despairing, she be-
gan to lay plans for quitting this house,
as she had quilted her own. Mentally
and physically exhausted, Edna lay
down on the bed, only taking oft her
/ shoes and dress, in the midst of which
| she heard the arrival below, and pres
emily Miss Neal came up stairs, followed
by manly step.
81 am sorry you think / have done
wrong, DEAR" she was saying. "But,
indeed, Burns ought not to call her
night tramp You are tired, so ri say
no more; but in the morning we will in
sist upon the young person explaining
herself. Good night, my lad; you'll
sleep we'll"
With trembling anxiety Edna waited
for an hour or more, and then rose. The
words had scared her Miss Neal seemed
to be a very proper kind of person, and
no doubt she and this stern nephew of
hers would deem it right to send her
back to Mr.. Lydell. At any risk she
must escape that. Lighted by the de-
| caying fire and brilliant moon, she made
hasty toilet and was soon standing
without her room, prepared for another
/ flight.
| Oppressed by nervous dread of she
! hardly knew what, detection being upper
most, Edna paused moment to listen.
| But profound silence reigned over the
| cottage; he boots were in her hand, and
| she gave no sound as she cautiously
CROPPED her way down stairs. Whether
| she should get away she knew not. That
| there was a back door to the house she
had heard through some colloquy be-
tween Burns and her mistress, and she
endeavored to find it. The open door of
! the kitchen gave forth a glimmering
gained the door and peered closely at it
to see its fastening8. Only one heavy
| bolt
Her trembling hand was about to push
back this bolt when a football in the
kitchen warned her of danger. There
was no time to lose; and in moment
she had slipped into closet just beside
| her under the stairs, the door of which
her anxious eyes, now grown accustomed
to the semi-darkness, discovered ajar.
She had barely entered when the foot
step came forth; its owner pushed the
kitchen door to and made for the stairs
All might have gone well but for an
awkward movement of Edna's. She
came in contact with what seemed to be
basket of clothes-pegs, and they came
down with a tremendous clatter.
"Them rats again!" calculated Burns,
irascibly-for she was the night-walker.
Back she came to the closet door.
"The door open!" cried she in sur
prise. "The uncanny things can run in
and out. I'll fetch a candle and the
poker"
Turning the key in the lock, away
went Burns for the poker. Would there
| be murder committed?
With heart beating to suffocation, Ed
ma prepared for the encounter by draw
ing the hood of her waterproof more
closely about her face. She felt like
one in despair.
Very soon Burns returned, bent on
| the slaughter of the rats. Her hand
softly touched the key. 1t turned the
lock snapped; but ere the door could be
moved by the cautious Burns, Edna,
hooded and yelled, threw herself against
it with all her might, at the same time
uttering a low cultural sound in her
own great terror, which was followed by
her onset. And it all proved too much
for Burns. Instantly she lay discom-
flied heap upon the floor, candle and
bravery alike extinguished
With swift fingers Edua unfastened
the back door and darted out, intensity
of dread winging her feet as she fled
from the place. As the door swung be-
hind her she paused moment to put OF
her boots and then con tinued her wild