The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-09-07


"You live here alone" questioned
the newcomer,
No answer.
al say, you live here alone"
"Yes, 1 live here alone"
"I thought when l came to the door
L heard voices"
Mr.. Ranger stopped in preparing
the lantern, raised his eyes, fixed them
on the strangers face, and said, inso-
lently, it must be owned;
perhaps you did and perhaps you
didn't. What business is it of yours
whether l speak the truth or not ?"
asst happens" answered the doctor,
"itis my very special business. believe
nay, / am almost certain-that you
have concealed dangerous and
escaped lunatic, for whom the closest
search has been made"
that's nonsense p returned the
the lantern. "There is no escaped
lunatic here"
"I am sorry to doubt your word,"
replied the doctor, "but, really" and
as quick as lightning he darteG to the
door of the adjoining room and opened
it. At the same time a shape sprang
from it, rushed passed him, and falling
at Rangers feet, implored him wildly
to take care of her and not to give
her up.
DIR. Prince looked on with d salts
fed smile-he had recaptured his vic
tim.
"It's too late to remove the patient
tonight" he said. az will send for
her in the morning. assure you, my
friend, she will be well punished for
this" And his cruel eyes cleaned.
"I'll keep her against the whole gang
of you," answered Ranger, sullenly.
"Have no fear, my darling; they shall
not touch you"
"She will be removed as early as
possible in the course of tomorrow"
said DR.. Prince, quietly. 81 shall pass
tonight at Thornton;" and, taking
up the lantern, he walked out into the
night.
Ranger closed the door after him and
locked it. Then he sat down and con-
sidered what he could do, and Kate
crouched beside him, crying from time
to time, "Oh, Tom, save mer'
Yes, my love, yes" he answered,
az will save you STILL" but he asked
himself, "How?"
At one time he thought of getting
out his wandering house and driving
her away in it; but what good would
that be? They would be followed and
soon found. What was there to be
done? He had always prided himself
on being man of resources, yet now
he seemed resourceless. Presently he
got up and went into the garden. A
strong, keen wind had sprung up, and
had wholly scattered the fog. The
cold air was radiant with moonlight.
lie walked up and down, sorely dis
tracted as to what he should do. Sud-
denly he stopped in his walk and eX-
claimed, Eyes, better even that than
to give her up to them" He took an
other turn to and fro; then he welft
on Kate was sitting just where he
had left her, her face buried in her
hands.
Kate" he said, 81 can save you if
you will do just what tell YOU"
q will be good" she answered.
Shortly after this man, powerfully
built, though somewhat low in stature,
and a slightly-made girl might have
been seen walking together in the
direction of the noted Thornton caves,
in which once Druid priests had per-
formed their dread sacriiicial rites
The girl carried violin case, the man
carried lantern and spade. The
two soon reached the mouth of the
caves.
Where are we going?" asked Kate
In here, DEAR" he answered.
She sprang back, saying, cit looks
50 dark in there, I'm frightened"
"It won't be dark with this" he
said, turning up his lantern to the full.
" In here you are safe. Here they will
never find you"
Are you quite sure they won't find
me?"
"Quite sure; bend your head very
low. There, that's it; you can stand
up now."
They were in the everlasting night
and winter of the Thornton caves. In
deed in that mighty darkness the rays
of the lantern seemed just faint pro-
test of light
The ground was thickly covered
with sand, which rendered their steps
noiseless. In parts this sand collected
in drifts, forming regular hills.
Il am frightened,' she said, begin
ming to cry. Il want the music"
Giving her the lantern to carry, he
took the violin from its case and began
playing, and 50 he drew her on as Or
pheus drew his Euridice. The caves
are cold and the caves are dark. They
stretch for miles, and wind as snakes
wind.
At length they reach a remote part.
Ranger leaves off playing and restores
the violin to its case.
"Kate, my own darling" he says,
drawing her close to him, 81 love you
as | should have loved her child and
mine"
"What are you crying for?" she
asks, putting her hands TO his eyes,
from which, indeed, the tears are fall
ing fast. I'm be good; don't cry,
Tom," and she lays her face caressingly
against his.
He draws one arm away and feels
for something in his coat-a flash, a
sharp report, a whizz of something
through the air, puff Of smoke, cry,
thud on the sand-then absolute 81
lence.
Ranger stood for several minutes
tVifh fhata H.