The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-01-12

with the lanterns which were to have shone
down on such gay dance. What would they
reveal to us in the loft now, thought I, and
feeling dear Jacks arms steal around me, l
put my head down and cried hopelessly.
Sought to have left her. Jack?" sobbed, and
he held me a little closer and answered:
my brave little Kate Somehow that COM
orted me, and then the party began to move
toward the barn. Grandma staid behind to take
care of poor Myra, and we left Aunt Winifred
in a tate of sad INDIGESTION as to whether she
ought to go to her friends only child, or stay
with her darling To-day. you'll be no help
dear" said Grandma, land the boy
will cry for you" so she staid.
The rest of the girls persisted in going,
more afraid of being left alone
than anything else. Just as we struck the
path Charlie Ollcott exclaimed: REALLY those
ladies should not be left alone. will go back
and stay with them"
But Hiram insisted on taking all the men
along, and he was hurried on regardless of his
chivalric scruples. Shall ever forget that
walk, or rather that run? Minutes seemed to
drag relen tlessly, and my heart, torn with
fear for poor little Carrie, left alone if not in
the absolute danger of the convict, at least
with her own fears to battle with. She, 80
timid and childish, for whom we all felt a sort
of protecting love. of all others to be in such
horrible position. A groan came from some
body, and we halted. Charlie was on the
ground rocking back and forth in apparent
agony, and grooming, "Oh my ankle,
my ankle" What was to be done, He could not
walk, he could not be left there. Fred Morrison
and George Burton stepped up with tell-tale
alacrity and offered to make q chair and carry
him home; whereupon Jack grimly remarked
that it would be pity to lose three such brave
fellows, and as it was only a short distance to
the barn they might as we'll carry Charlie there
rs back. We started again with the discom-
fitted trio at the tail of the procession, and in q
few minutes we stood in front of the big door.
ut is locked" said l, land we must go to
the back entrance"
LET me lead" and Hiram stepped in front,
=" it is my barn and ought to be the first on
the ground"
In second the old gentleman had
Jack on one side of him and Herbert
on the other. The door was wide open just
AZ we left it, the b,rn still as death. The
three men walked in, and We waited outside.
could hear my heart beating, and putting
out my hand met Daisy's, cold as ice. We
seemed to ring in our ears. In . moment
Hiram came to the door, lantern in hand.
kate" he called softly. went forward, and
taking my arm he led me to the closet door.
could hardly stand, and catching the old
mans hand, looked fearfully in. There
in the afternoon he had nos m aseH am
inch; his very boot l could SEQ,
heel towards me, as before. l trembled
in every limb. What could it mesn-his
bringing me so close to this creature? Was he
mad, this old Hiram, who had seemed so cool
when all were fearfully excited saw him
stretch out his hand pull open the closet door
and there, hanging from its peg, was the old
carriage blanket, striped gray and black,
that many time had wrapped around my
knees in the drive from the station. The end
Of it fell easily into the top Of an old boot
standing just beneath resting from its weary
tramps and on the floor lay q rusty chain bit
whose days Of curbing were over. looked up
with weak smile when
There is no one in the loft" cried voice
above us-a voice l could not recognize AZ
Herbert's till saw his pale face looking down.
LET me CO." screamed, frantic with this
new horror and self-reproach as remembered
Carrie and I went flying up the stairs Jacks
kind sad eyes looking pitifully into mine.
Carrie Scottr called Carrie Scott
Car" Ny feminine eye had discovered
what they had passed blythe toe OF one tiny
shoe sticking out of one Of the straw divans,
and l flew at 1t raptureusly. As pulled away
the straw, two scraps OF hands, tightly clasped
came to view, and pleading little voice whis-
pered, Please. dear convicts, don't kill me. /
won't tell 1 saw You. am not even look
ing" And indeed she wasn't, for
her eyes were squeezed together. No
tody laughed 1T her, and strangest Of ALL
nobody laughed at me (that night at least).
knelt down by her on the straw and talked to
her, but it was long time before she looked
up. and then with a great fear in her brown
eyes that shall never forget. Herbert picked
her up in his arms and walked away from us
all. carrying her straight to the house. We
followed quickly aud found Aunt Winifred
crying over her in the most hysterical way. In
about an hour she was quite herself and told
us how she saw the rope break and heard chain
rattle; that she was SO frightened she didn't
think Of the pulley and chain in front Of her
but supposing the convict was coming up the
steps, she buried herself in the straw, and she
had been there ever since, afraid TO move. She
heard voices and was sure they had come to
kill her then, till ct last she "knew II was Her
bert" she said with shy little smile.
No girls we didn't dance that night. We
we're little too shaken, all OF as, for that and
Carrie was feverishly excited but we did
on Christmas night. and with no fears to
dampen our enjoy n,ent since Hiram came back
from the station with the news that the con-
victs had been captured on the mountain the
day before ct P. n. "What il it you say,
Bess p Eyes, Carrie married Herbert and
died, poor little thing. before the next Christ
mas day." Aunt Kate added, with little soften
ing in her eyes. Just here there was . clam Of
the door and chssry whistle. Aunt Kate turned
TO the new conner With . greeting. Jack"
she said, 1--WE been telling them about the
striped pants" hADGE.