Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-08-11

man. | do not know II Mr.. Archie mo-
t!ced any change in her. ! think that
from first to last he simply contented
himself with loving her with all his heart
and went on in the same blind, easy
way.
One day shortly after Miss Gailor'sar-
rival. Miss Nora, with her boy, started
for a ramble, ]. rs usual, attending him.
We strolled along till we came to the
edge OF a pretty wood, u short distance
from the falls. For fear of firing the
child we stopped to rest under u large
tree. Scarcely had we seated ourselves
when we heard voices coming near, and
moment latter saw Mr.. Archie and
Miss Gailor. They turned into little
by-path just before they reached the
place where we were seated and so did
not see us, though they were visible to
us for some time. They were talk ing
very earnestly together, and MIR. Archie,
being much taller than his companion,
constantly bent his handsome head To
hear what she said. With all my heart
| wished We had never come in that
direction. Believing what she did, |
knew exactly how such thrilling occur
renee would affect my young mistress.
Under ordinary circumstances, she.
would have seen nothing in this beyond
the common courtesy OF her husband to
his guest. | tried TO act as if had not
noticed, and asked her quite naturally
if we should not return to the hall.
For a moment she did not answer,
then said slowly and abSently, mo, not
Quite vet" A little later she added.
shivering slightly, But need wrap;
will YOU 90 and get it for meW | knew
this was only a pretext TO gain time to
recover herself, and | fingered as long
as possible on this errand. At least,
however, seeing u storm coming up,
retraced my steps, only to find them
gone. Thinking they had seen the
threatening rain, and returned 20 the
hall by another and shorter route, l
again started for the house, this time all
the more hurredly, as large drops be-
gan to fall, accompanied by heavy roll
ing thunders, and broad flashes of light
ming. Arrived home, | found Mr.. Ar
chic anxiously inquiring for his wife and
child. Instantly thought of the Falls,
and hurriedly told Mr.. Archie where
had left my young mistress and her
boy. Quickly calling one or two OF the
men servants 10 follow him, he started
for the woods. Even then | think the
most he feared was thorough drencfI-
ing and fright for the wanderers. |
went mp stairs to make ready changes
of clothing and other necessary prepa-
tons, bat all the while | felt as if
heavy hand was pressing upon my
heart, and feared, know not what.
Well, for long hours, they had search
ed the woods in the rain, but found no
trace of the lost ones. The storm ragged
with unabated fniy all night long, and
thought the roar of the falls would drive
me mad. None of us thought of going
to bed, for all were terrified at the storm
and anxious for the safety of the Young
mistress and her child. Even Madam
Ciure was terribly shaken, although she
tried hard to conceal it, and sharply re-
buked one Of the servants who limited
at the possibility of any danger. "Of
course" she said, "your mistress has
seen that it would be impossible to
reach home before the storm burst, and
has sought shelter else where" But try
as she might to deceive others, l could
see that she really was seriously alarmed.
The night wore away, and still no
signs of the missing ones or the search
ing party. The morning broke clear
and bright, and although there were
dDuIlCdnG lTdcHS Oh Tile pIOleHC6 Ol
she tempest, the rain had entirely
ccIsed and the sun came out brilliantly
Thoroughly worn out with the long night
Of watching and anxiety, | had just
thrown myself upon the bed for a little
rest. when | heard one of the maids
orying out that they were returning
from lhe woods. Rising hastily, hur-
ried down, and saw-what?
Mr.. Archie bearing his wife in his
arms and one of the servants the child.
Before they reached the house | knew
the truth, and lost all power to stir from
the spot where I stood. They all
thought that my darling had become
and in her fright wandered
too near the edge of the falls, but in my
heart | believed nothing of the kind.
Locking for one instant into Madame
Cures waite drawn face, saw that she
100 did ret credit it, and from that time
out she would carry through her whole
life, all the sickening haunting horror
Of having hunted one Young innocent
life to its death: with bitter. unrelent-
ng hatred.