St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-31

NdiICJ . hhO Tue SdIuou VI EueH ON6l
continents and oceans, on, and still on
for lifetimes. The fairest scenes grew
old aud her eager feet weary, but they
had no power to pause. At last prison
walls shut her in, and stayed her wan
derings for little. 1t would be but q
little time she knew they would begin
again with her release, and even now
the bolts and bars we're sliding back.
With the sound of opening doors
Cherry started up and looked around
her-or tried to look, for she was in
darkness. She felt cautiously for the
stone walls of her cell, and touched on
ly velvet. Slowly she cOmprehended
She was still in Miss Fosilby's carriage
she must have fallen asleep there. No
one had known it, and they had gone
away and left her in the blacksmith
shop for the night. How late was it {!
1t had seemed long time in her dream
ing. But had it been all dream for
there came again the sound of an open
ing door.
Could any one be coming for her
Uncle Nat had surely not known
where she was, or he would not have
left her; and Aunt Barbara would think
of her as having sought shelter from the
rain in the house of some friend. But
the sound of footsteps near the door
was unmistakable, and she heard voices
in whispered consultation. Then the
steps drew cautiously nearer and paus-
ed beside the carriage.
''This is it,n affirmed an unfamiliar
voice.
"Make sure" was answered in low
tone.
There was moments pause, then a
match was struck, famed up for an in
stant, and was quickly extinguished.
By its brief light Cherry caught only a
glimpse of several heads she discover
ed no one clearly. But the strangers
were apparently satisfied that they had
found the object of their search. There
was mutteted "All right" and the
carriage was slowly turned around.
"Steady now make no noise !" was
whispered warningly, and the carriage
was drawn carefully forward, out of the
shop and into the road.
Another momentary pause occurred,
as if some of the party had gone back
to close the door. Cherry, still crouch
ed low on the seat, discovered that the
rain had ceased, and through the win
dow caught CLEAN of stars. She fear
ed to raise her head for any farther OBJ
servations lest she should be discovered
as, frightened and bewildered, she tried
to comprehend her situation. 1t was Il
particularly unpleasant one. The car
riage had evidently been stolen, and
she was being borne away in it, she
knew not whittier, or by whom. These
persons, aware of its unwonted presence
in Uncle Mats shop, and cOveting its
silver trappings, perhaps, had seized
the opportunity to steal it, never
dreaming that it had an occupant. If
they should find her there
Cherry shuddered at the thought of
it. Those who could commit such a
crime would scarcely hesitate to conceal
it ut the cost of one fraiI life wholly at
their mercy. How utterly in their pow
er she was, she realized more fully as
the carriage rolled on again. Miss Fos-
ilby'S luxurious carriage, but it could
scarcely have seemed more terrible had
it been a hangman's cart bearing her to
certain execution. She leaned forward
with Il thought of calling for help, but
she most dreaded2 ? Then came Il wild
impulse to spring from the moving We
hiCle and escape, and she sank back to
await the issue in trembling suspense.
1t might be miles before they reached
their destination, but if nothing betray-
ed her presence before. daylight must
surely reveal it. How many hours
would there be first Oh, if they only
knew Aunt Babara, Uncle Nat or
John-p0or John How he would won
der and search. Would he ever know ?
she wondered. She half forgot herself
in Il strange pity for him. That ''little
home lie had spoken of only last night
could never be now. And she could
have made it such a bright little nook
Life was very sweet-even the old
homely work and ways that she viewed
so scoInfully that day; and if hers were
to end now-so fearfully-thc gilt and
glamour it bad missed mattered little,
but the truth and love it might have
held were priceless.
1t seemed an iuterminable time that
passed in that strange journeyiug, be-
fore there came another halt, and a
slight sound as of taking down bars and
untastening a gate. Then, by the IN
even motion, she could tell that the
wheels had passed from the beaten road
to the roughcr ground and at last they
stood still. 1t had come now, the su-
preme moment. There was breath of
prayer, Il wild longing to look into
Johns eyes once more, and then she
collected all forces of mind aud body to
do and bear as she might
Again she heard Il whispered colo
guy, low triumphant laugh, and then
all noise died away. The carriage door
remained closed, but a dim light shone
upon her, and she saV that she was op-
posite the window of a houSe-a cur
tanned window, across which shadows
fitted as OF persons moving within. A
sudden hope arose in Chelry's heart. 1t
WAS possible that her captoIs had all
entered the house, and there might be
a chance for escape. She could scarce
ly increase her peril by the attempt,
and huridly, but silently she sprang to
the ground. No one was near her. and
she ran with such speed as only des-
pCratiOu could lend, back in the direc-
tiuu from which she fancied she had
come. As SHE reached the gateway and
passed out upon the road another fig
urc unexpectedly confronted her, and
she drew back in breathlcss terror.
"IIcllod .' exclaimed a startled but
chraTy voice.
With that word she threw herself iu-
to his aims.
"Oh john Juhu :"
"Why Cherry ! did I frighteu YOU so