The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-05-19

night Whon ben-Wny, WHATS tno maG-
ter? in q changed voice, for Kitty, stop
ping short, had given sharp exclama-
ton OF pain.
ooh, Judith, how unlucky! that stone
turned under my foot, and I've twisted
my ankle, I'm afraid. Help me to sit
down. Perhaps the pain will go off in a
minute or two"
But the pain did not quite go, though
Judith unbuttoned the boot, and chafed
the slender ankle in her own warm
hands.
Its better, though" declared Kitty,
after a while. cts decidedly better,
and can walk, I think, if you will let
me hold your ARM"
But the first step brought renewed
paleness, and groan.
"What shall we do?" said the troubled
Judith.
my dear goosey, don't look 60 terri
fed. It's simple enough business: l
shall sit here quietly-the ankle does
we'll enough while keep still-and you
will please go down the hill to the Bar
rett farm, and get Mrs. Barrett to send
little Seth to Mr.. Barrett, wherever he
happens to be, and ask him to tackle
up the carry-all and fetch me. That's
ali that's necessary, dear, so don't be
worried. Only you'd better start at
once, for the afternoon is getting on.
STAY, though. Before you go, couldn't
YOU help me to less conspicuous place
than this? Somehow don't fancy the
idea of sitting here alone to be stared at
by the people in the Mountain House
stage as they 90 by. Oh, I know.
Tlo ~. Ia DornS. TIL oo tLoro -
"The old Pound?"
Didn't you know that that thing over
there was the Pound? Dear me! I've
known that ever since that first after
noon. Ben told me. I think. 1t always
seemed rather interesting, somehow, but
never took the trouble to go inside be-
fore. They haven't used it for years,
l believe, but it will make very good
retreat until you come back, just as good
as if was a cow" And laughing gayly,
though with a brow twisted by pain,
Kitty hoped across the road, and into
the small-walled enclosure opposite.
"There this is beautiful" she declared,
dropping ito a corner" This wall makes
q good back for me to lean against, and
no one but you will suspect am here.
Don't run, and don't you heat yourself,
Ditha, or you II have headache to-mor-
row. I'm doing very nicely, and don't
mind waiting bit. Take your time.
With this injunction, Judith departed.
For few moments her footsteps were
audible on the stony road; then they died
away, and perfect quiet took possession
of the hilltop and the old Pound, bro
ken only by the drowsy chirr of grass
hoppers in the soft yellow grass. So
silent was it that when flying bird skim
med across the wall with sharp call
to his mate, Kitty quite started in the
corner. About her stretched carpet
of low aromatic growths - tansy and
sweet fern and white-blossomed lmmor-
telles, with here and there tall spike OF
golden-rod Haunting its yellow flag.
The sun was nearing the horizon now.
Crimson tints flushed the soft valley dis
lance, and little fleets of rose and purple
cloudlets began to feck the pure sky
overhead. After while Kitty heard the
rattle of the stage wheels and the crack
of the drivers whip, as it crunched by
on the steep road. Then came silence
again, broken, little later, by the sound
of distant voices, which she guessed to
be those of people on the lower cross
roads; but they did not come near her
retreat; nor was she startled when soft
thud of hoofs drew near, till a loud
"Haw" close to her ear made her Jump,
and at the same moment a big red COW
vaulted into the Pound with bounce
and a clatter. There was rattle OF bars,
dance of boyish boots on the road, and
before Kitty could realize the situation,
and scream, it was too late. The boots
were far down the hill, and there was
she, Kitty Roach, shut-yes, actually
shut into the old Teverton Pound with
red Ayrshire-she, whose horror from
childhood had been a COW, to whom the
fear of lion was as nothing in COMPARE
son! It was too terrible.
Fright, no less than her disabled
ankle, kept her perfectly motionless.
Even had she been able to stir, nothing
would have induced her to reduce the
distance by an inch which lay between
herself and the terrific creature which
was now cropping the immortelles in the
immediate neighborhood of the gateway.
Frozen by fear, she sat, her one hope be-
ing that Judith might return soon, when
suddenly the sound of manly footsteps
on the road restored her faculties OF
speech, or rather of screech, and, with
wild and desperate energy, she screamed.
"Oh, please come here, whoever you
are!"
Come where?" asked voice; and
obovo tho wolI cloao vevv c1Oao IN