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

contend against MIN Sitting by the
/ fire in her terrible trouble and perplexi-
ty, her hands pressed upon her aching
/ brow, the thought came into her mind
/ that there was only one way Of saving
herself-fight Edna was young and
inexperienced, possessing an inordinate
! idea Of Mr.. LydelPs power and of her
own unprotected Weakness; and it did
! in truth seem to the girl that she could
be saved by flight. More than ever did
/ she regret that the home had no mis-
| tress to whom she could appeal; Mrs.
| Lydell had been for some years dead.
q will do it," she whispered at last
to herself in her bitter desperation. q
viii run away-and this very night. To
morrow Theodore comes, and it might be
too late"
In a commotion of heart that few peo-
pie have experienced, Edna made her
few preparations, hoping to escape when
the household should be asleep. 1t was
an early household generally; Mr. Ly-
dell was old enough to feel the need of
rest. At ten O'Clock Edna heard him
come up stairs; and by the very tread of
his foot, and the bang he gave his door,
she knew how angry he still was with
her.
Every night at one o'clock stage
coach, as she knew, passed a distant
! place called Harris Corner, on It's way to
catch the mail train at BraemOnt If
she could join that coach it would take
1 her to the train, and she might escape
all over the world then.
Waiting and trembling, sick and irres-
Go al 70
/ be a most formidable expedition in
I Edna's eyes, little short of wicked, it
seemed that the minutes never would
pass. The more she watched the little
clock on the mantelpiece, the slower the
hands appeared to move. Should she
stay and sacrifice herself?-or should she
venture on this daring move? 1t was
perhaps the thought of Malcolm Payne
that neryed her to attempt it.
When the clock struck twelve she put
out the lamp, and, taking the small
paper parcel in her hand, opened the
chamber door softly. Listening, as well
as she could for the beating of her heart,
she made her way softly across the car
/ peted landing down the stairs, and finally
/ out through the glass doors Of the break
/ fast room.
So far, 50 good. Walking quickly
/ through the garden, she stood within the
outer gate, trembling, under the friendly
! shadow of the great trees, through which
the sharp December wind was sweeping
its weird song. For a minute, eye and
ear were keenly vigilant; there was no
movement, no match struck to warn her
/ that aught had been heard within doors.
With renewed hope she passed out to
the high road.
1t was a very lonely neighborhood,
and Edna trembled as much from that
as from other fears as she went rapidly
along in the dark night. The moon
ought to have been out, but it was not.
The way was longer than she had
/ thought fOr-Or seemed 50. Harris Cor
ner was gained at last, and none too
soon. She had barely reached it when
the stage turned the curve of the hill
before her. The coachnian drew up.
/ Two male passengers were inside, appar-
emily asleep. Edna shrank into cor
ner and was soon forgotten. a long
/ hour of feverish desire to push forward
more rapidly at last ended; she took her
/ ticket for distant place, haphazard, and
was soon whirling rapidly along.
/ Amid the rush and thunder of a swift
er flight she matured her still somewhat
/ indefinite plans. As first step toward
the accomplishment of these plans she
left the train earlier than she had in
tended; getting out at an insignificant
station 1t might be safer, she thought,
than going on to any larger town.
! All that day Edna walked; not know
I 4. Il. l.
makes towards of us, and she feared to
/ be seen. 1t is, however, needless to fol-
/ low her through the tortuous journey
/ by which she designed to battle pursuit
I The sun had gone down, indeed, night
/ long set in, when, heart sick and weary,
cleaning light from handsome villa
/ tempted her to seek shelter there. In
truth, she was physically incapable Of
proceeding further. Entering the gate,
/ she crossed the lawn to the house.
But the exhaustive effects Of unusual
! fatigue and excitement told severely up
on a somewhat fragile nervous SYSTEM
and it was with unsteady hand and beat
/ ing heart that she drew the bell. At its
first vibration a deep-mOuthed hound
came leaping around the wall and barked
at her-but did not bite. Nevertheless,
Edna was thoughly frightened; and
when the door opened, revealing a tall,
raw boned. female of severe aspect, her
mOdicum of strength gave out, and in
stead of the effective little speech so care
fully prepared, she gasped some unin-
telligible words, and fell fainting into
the arms Involuntary extended to re-
ceive her.
The arms were muscular ones, and she
was hastily born into charming little
room, in which sat the mistress of the
house.
"What is it, Burns?" she asked, with
out looking from the gIancing knitting
needles in her hand.
g | dinna ken, Miss Ruth, unless it be
a woman frae the skies that dropped in
my arms. It's well they are stout, for
she's heavy like, though an ilka thing"
Burns c0Olly added, Gepositing her bur
den suspiciously on the sofa.
The astonished Miss Ruth sprang to
her feet with an alacrity that sent her
ball of yarn to the opposite side of the
room, and left her work pendant on the
corner of the work table beside her.
I" Poor thingl poor thingp' she sighed,
/ leaning over Edna's inanimate form, her
helpful fingers actively busy. Chafe
her hands, Burns, while l loosen her
I cloak. What a beautiful girl she is.
Quite lady, am sure"
Burns set to work, her tongue keeping
time to the operation.
" Now, Miss Ruth, I'm the oldest SER
vitor of this old house of the Meals, and
YOU must list to me. Dinna be running