The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-09-20

"Worse," 1 murmured: ''Do not run,
but lose no time"
ventured to glance behind. Nothing
was visible; but every moment was pre-
cious; we must reach the pony-trap and
Tom. Once all together, the convict
would surely not venture to attack us, and
knew that being on the high-road alone
would in itself insure our safety. But we
had not reached it yet; long rough mar
row path had to be traversed. IF the man
suspected we had seen him, nothing would
be easier than for him to overtake us and
make short work of us. thought of
Jack, of Rose, of my happy life. Every
thing seemed to float throughS ny mind as
half led, half dragged SDsaW after me.
We had gone perhaps shade more than
half way when | once more turned round;
in the distance, on the path over which We
had just passed, to my unutterable conster-
nation, 1 beheld the convict hurrying to-
wards us.
"Run, Susan" panted-"run for your
lifer'
Another twist in the road hid us mo-
mentarily from his sight; but 1 knew he
was after us, running now as fast as, or
perhaps good deal faster than we were,
though we were now both of us flying
along at pace which only the peril we
were in could have enabled us to sustain.
''For your life!'' l repeated. "Run,
Susan!'
held her hand Narrow as was the
path, we managed to struggle onwards to-
gether and to keep ahead of our pursuer.
Mercifully, we had had good start; and
it had only been on second thoughts, some
minutes after we had disappeared, that the
man had elected to follow us. felt if 1
once let Susans hand go, she would be
lost Ever and anon she stumbled; once
she nearly fell, but she recovered herself
well, and though painting terribly, showed
no signs of succumbing.
But he was overtaking us; heard him
coming faster and faster, nearer and nearer.
l heard him breathing behind us, and |
| felt another instant and he must be upon
US.
"Helpl' l shrieked.
'Help" echoed poor exhausted Susan,
in still shriller treble
l heard an oath, awful in its profanity,
hurled at us; but the steps seemed to pause.
"Helpl helpr | shrieked again.
We plunged forward | heard as in
the distance the sound of horses feet gal
Looping towards u.s. Another moment and
we were in the high-road; Susan speech
less, her dress half torn off her with our
terrible race, her hat gone, and otherwise
in dishevelled condition; l feeling faint
and sick, but safe, thank God! both of us
quite safe-with not only Tom seated in
the shandrydan, staring in mute amaze
ment at us, but with three stalwart mount
ed warders, who were even then in quest
of the convict.
They captured him an hour afterwards,
after terrific struggle, which was made
all the more terrible from the fact of his
having possessed himself of a knife,
with which he attempted to stab the
warders.
Jack came back the next day; and as
his partners illness had assumed rather
serious aspect, he told me he must give up
Morleigh Cottage, and we could finish our
holiday at Eastbourne or some place nearer
town. II never could leave you here
again, my darling" he said; "after such
an escape, l can't risk another" So We
all, cousin Susan included, returned to our
cosy house in Seymour street, and after
wards proceeded to the seaside, where in
due time Susan and both fully recovered
from the shock we had received in that
Devonshire ravine.