Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-13

stage dress. lt would not be becoming.
"' Where is my sister?' 1 asked again.
'Safe enough, no doubt, she answered.
Here are your clothes. Take off those
silk trappings; they are mine.
"'Yours.'
"' Yes, mine. bought them Of your
master and paid for them
He sent you to me
81 should not have come without
orders. am not in love with you, pretty
as you think you are. Dress yourself
| quicNly; your master is waiting for you.
"With feverish haste 1 tore elf my fine
stage dress and put on nay common
clothes.
CHOW, I said. take me tony master
"'All in good time, my lady, she said,
proceeding leisurely to fold up my stage
dress; = must take care of my property.
I'll hire dancing glrl of my own and
make money out of her Il would have
been wise in you to have made me your
friend.
My anxiety concerning Clarice was too
deep to permit OF my wrangling with the
woman, who seemed to derive pleasure by
prolonging my suspense. Presently she
babe me follow her, and she led the way
to a room where my master was sitting
with an empty wine bottle before him.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his appear
ance was that of a man who had been for
long time without rest
"'Oh, you have come at last = lie ex-
claimed with frown. You are a faith
ful servant, OBTAINING me here for hours
We ought to have been ten miles on the
road by this time
eve are going to leave the town,
then ? 1 said, looking round for Clarice.
He replied with storm of curses upon
the place and every person in it. 1 wish I
had broken my neck before l came into
the cursed holel May fire seize it and
burn it to ashes Come.
90 am ready. Where is Clarice
He was prepared with his answer
She has gone before US. If we are not
sharp we shall not overtake her.
"'Gone before us, I echoed, struggling
inwardly with faintness which oppressed
me, ike the faintness of death, Alone ?
No; with friend, who offered NE
seat for her in a wagon that was going our
road. l am careful of my girls, you see.
You intrusted Clarice to stranger :?
My sister, who has never been parted from
me for an hourr
"'Why not It is time she learnt to
depend more on herself She will not
break, not being made of glass If we de-
lay much longer we shall not reach her
tonight
"'swear TO me that you are speaking
the truth
He crossed his heart, half in Jest, half
in earnest. L swear. And now let me
have no more of your airs. Remember
that you are my servant.
'''I do remember, 1 said, gazing stead
lily at him. If you are deceiving me, may
your life be blighted and your death ac-
cursed =
"'Be warned, Margaret Bear in mind
that you may try my patience too far.
Ask quickly what other questions you have
to ask and make an end of this.
81 was SO completely in his power and
so entirely friendless, thai 1 could do
nothing but be led by him.
Where are the gentlemen with whom
you were gambling last night?'
co In the devils clutches, hope ?
"' Are they here now, and do they be-
long to this place ?
They do not belong to the town, and
they left it at sunrise. Is that the last 2
Yes; l am ready. Let US go
eve went into the street, and at
signal from my master small covered cart
drew up. No person in the hotel took the
slightest notice of us.
Clarics could have accompanied us,
I said, as we are to ride
eff you were not eaten up with sus-
picion, said my master, you would see
that there is barely room for ourselves
Besides, when l sent Clarice off this mern-
ing, thought you and would have had
to walk. You are grateful for kindness =
"' 1t is not without cause that am sus-
picious. Shall we be certain to come up to
Clarice tonight
"'Not if we stand babbling here all
day.
60 Forgive me; tell the man to drive
quickly; we may overtake her on the road.
"My master in low tone gave instruc-
tions to the driver, and then assisted me
into the cart. He arranged some straw
for me to lie upon, and seating himself at
the back of the conveyance drew the can
vas hood close, so that we were hidden
from the people in the streets. The driver
sat in front, and crouched down behind
him in such a position that | could see
the road before us. We drove fast and
were soon out of the town. The driver
did not speak to me nor to him, nor did
he turn even to look at me. The paths
we traversed were desolate and lonely, and
the few human beings we saw tramping
along were forlorn and wretched-looking
from the town we came to poverty.
stricken accommodation house, and the
man stopped to give his horse food and
water. My master got out to drink, and
brought me some bread and cheese, which
1 could not eat. l so begrudged every
moment of delay that l fretted mysel
almost into fever at the stoppage. If
had had money would have given it tt