The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1884-07-11

Why should a morbid fancy of his poor,
sickly, fmanciful wife trouble mes
And vet the impression her words had
mnde unon me was SO strong that l deter-
mined, il my mother should not arrive az
the station shortly after us-that she would
be there already was too much to suspect
of her-that I wonld ask Mr.. Rayner to let
me take a cab to my uncle's house and fetch
her myself.
Mrs. pr.ayner scarcely spoke for the rest
of the afternoon; that unusual pursb OF w
hemonce seemed to have exhausted her.
The foe. which had been hanging about
&c e., days GREW SO thick as the afternoon
vore on that we had to have the lamps
LIGHTED much earlier than usual, and II was
onito dark when, at about hnlf-past four,
there was d ring at the front-door bell.
The cook came in to say that a boy from
tho village wanted to speak to Miss Chris
t;e. and / went into the hall and found a
little fellow Of about ten whom l did not
know. who told me that Mrs. Manners, who
1yas nj the school-house, had sent to ask mo
IN come to her at once, as she wished "
speak to me about the dole. This was a
| YEARLY distribution OF clothing and money
among the very poor people Of the parish,
which took place in November. 1t was
rather strange that Mrs. Manner should
want to speak to me abont it, l thought at
first. as | was not q district visitor. How
ever. of course l must go, and 1 went back
into the dining-room and told Mrs. Rayner
about it.
"Don't go, Miss Christie" said she at
once. cit is some trap, some trick; Mrs.
Manners never sends messages but by hef
own boys. Don't 60"
al don't like not to CO." said hesi-
tatingly. at may be something OF I'M
portance, and Mrs. Manners has been SO
kind to me. Please let me go, MIS- Ray
ner."
She shranlx into herself, and leaned back
again as the cook reappeared OF the door,
saving the boy said Mrs. Manners message
was-would l make haste:
"Of course you can go, Miss Chrlstie,'
said Mrs. Rayner listlessly.
I ran ND stairs and was down again
ready for my walk in a few minutes. The
boy was evidently prepared to accompany
me-. and the fog was so thick that l was
Glad of it, for he was more used to the
turns of the road than 7; and even he had
to 90 very slowly and to keep close to the
hedge. He kept urging me to make haste
however, and I followed him as fast as i
could. while he turned every other minute
to see that | was still behind him.
The school was about half a mile from
the Alders, among the first houses OF the
village. When l stumbled against a mile
stone which was, l knew, not far from our
destination, the boy said
"Here, miss, take care! This way"
And, taking a corner Of my cloak, ne
led me round into a path which branched
off to the left.
"But you are going wrong" I said. at
is straight on, 1 know-not up here. This
is the way to Cummings Farm, half q mile
off,"
cts all right, MISS" said he. "lm
afraid of our being run over along th>
high-road now we're SO near the village.
Come on, miss; it's all right"
He was very impatient; and l followed
him. not without some misgivlngs. we
had CROPPED our way up this lane for what
seemed to me a very long time, when the
boy stopped and whistled. 49,
"What are you doing that for" SAID
sharply. But the boy, who, by making a
few steps forward, was lost to my sight IN
the fog, whistled again. l stood Tor a mo
ment trembling with terror. Then the boy
exclaimed angrily-
"Why, he amt here!"
HE! WlOe L CIlel, Al va "Ao ~
that moment / heard a cracking OF
branches. and saw dimly through the fog a
few yards in front of me, the figure OF mar
crashing through the hedge, and leaping
down from the field into the road. :
Smothering a cry | turned, ana ran
knew not whittier. 1t was Tom Parkes OF
Gordon, who had decoyed me out mere 70
punish me for my discoveries, which Sarah
myst have told them about.
I heard the boy say THANK we" ano
then the footsteps of the man coming nearer
to me. My only hope was that 1 mlgh'
perhaps escape him in the binding log bJ
crouching under the hedge until he hat
passed; but, to my horror, he was coming
as slowly and cautiously as I. had fount
nv way to the hedge and knelt down clos
under 1t, my face almost in among the
briars and thorns. He passed me; / could
see the vague form as it went by. But IN
nv joy at the sight I c drew a sharp breath
he turned back, CROPPED for me, found, ane
raised me to my feet, all without a word
I closed my eyes and %shuddered. For TIN
first moment I felt too exhausted by the ex
citement of those awful minutes to struggle
much. I could only feebly try to push hin
off, crying brokenly-
"~Don't-don't hurt mel"
"Hurt you, my own darling! Look III
at me. Heaven help me, I have nearly
frightened you to DEATH"
I looked up with a cry and flung my arm
round his neck. 1t was Laurence, his fac
: SO haggard and so dirty as to be scarcely
5 recognizable; but he told me as he kisse'
me again and again, that I must not MINI
that, for he had travelled night and da.
without a moments rest since he got m.
letter on the morning of the previous day
"And, thank Heaven, ! am in time, i
timel" he cried, as he pressed me again il
his arms.
"In time. for what. Laurencea / shoul
have been near you in two days." laid
wonderingly. awe were to start to-mol
row morning."
! "To-morrow morning! just Il few hour
more, and I should have lost you'll" erie
the poor fellow, in such agony of horro
: and relief at the same time that only t
see him in tina state brought the tears t
. my own eyes.
. "Lost me, Laurence2 Oh, do tell M
Q what YOU meant" I cried piteously.
ooh, Violet, are you still so innocent q
l to think that that man would have brougt
. you to mes"
. "Why not?" asked /, in a whisper.
d "Because he loves you himself" said III
. between his teeth" if the feeling even 20
inspire in such a man can be called low
; Your innocence would not have protecte
= you much longer. Oh, / was a fool, a bin
> fool, ever to cave you, for father-motht
II anybody in the world! But l did nj
70 know quite all until your own sweet nai'
I letter opened my stupid eyes"
"Oh, Laurence, Laurence, what dreadf'
. things are you saying?"I cried, shakir
with fear even in his arms.
(, "Never mind, my own darling; you a