The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-04-01
A FATEFUL RIDE.
CHAPTER L

CHAPTER l.
Madeline, will not let you go on in
/ this manner; 1t is not ladylike. 1t is not
+ proper" said Miss Ayre warmly.
Susanna, you are an old maid" re-
f torted Madeline Ayre complacently.
! Miss Ayre flushed up. If there were
an accusation she hated, it was that of
/ oid-maidism, perhaps because it was
one impossible to contradict.
Il am lady," she said hotly, @and I
Know what IS proper. and what is wrong.
/ And | maintain that this harum- -scarum
scampering about by yourself at all
hours, In all places, is vulgar, fast, and
anything but TO be admired"
. Il don't want to be admired" said
/ pretty Madeline, gathering up her
rlding-habit. Il only want to be let
alone. and do as | like Fast, Susanna.
/ Well, Bey is fast, grant-do you know
| came across the moor in ten minutes
+ the other day from the white tree to
the top of the lane? But vulgar? l am
sure you make mistake there, dear
old sister"
There were certainly no traces of vul-
garlty IN the pretty voice and refined
| face of the speaker. Thoroughbred
perhaps, would have described Made
j line Ayre better than any term.
Il don't know what we are TO do with
you, if you make such mistakes as that,
Susanna" said the girl, laughing. as she
bent her face to her sisters. Calling
|, me vulgar indeed"
at is vulgar for young lady to go
! riding all over the country alone as you
do every day. You ought to take a
groom with you. Some day you will
| have fearful adventure on those lone
ly moors, or somewhere" said Miss
Ayre with great solemnity.
~Oh, which day do you think?" laugh
ed Madeline with mock alarm.
And you talk very scornfully of old
maids, but think you will be one yDur-
self if you don't alter very much" snap
pishly.
We'll. if am as nice one as you, 1
sha MT mind,' conciliatorily.
Men don't like fast girls; at least, the
men worth having don't. Youwill find
that out when too late. Lance Gorden
would like YOU much better if you were
quieter and more ladylike in your be-
havior, l know"
Madeline had reached the door. and
was on the point of turning its handle,
but she swept round when her sister
said that, and raising her little hand
haughtily, asked, the while she cofored
, deepest crimson:
What has Captain Gorden TO do with
Don't be silly, child. OF course he
will have everything to do with them
presently, if you don't disgust him by
some outrageously foolish action. If
you would give up flirting it is very un
ladylike to fiirt as you did last night
with Mr.. Charsley), and all the other
tombOy practices | am always correct
ing you for"
Captain Gorden ought to be very
fattered if he heard you. Well, Susan
ma, can't keep Bey waiting any longer.
| won't go far, dear, really, only just
gallop round and be back before dark"
She tripped downstairs and out to the
stable-yard, where Bey. beautiful
brown horse, looked round with delight
when he saw his mistress approaching.
Lightly mounting and gathering up the
reins, Madeline smiled as she cantered
down the drive.
Il should be wretched being with
out my rides, and Bey would be a
wretched animal too. 1t is such fad
of Susanna's this nonsense about my
going out alone, when / have ridden all
over here alone at any time since was
six years old. | wonder who put it into
her fidgety head; not Lance Gorden, /
hope. | should not like to do anything
he greatly disapproved of; but L can't
be ordered about before marriage" with
q DluSn 10 one WAS near 10 see, ll1db Is
very certain, whatever kind of a slave |
may develop into after. Does he care
| for me, wonder-oh, L wonder? Does
| he dream | care for him? | hope not
/ oh. | hope not!
| Thinking such all engrossing thoughts,
| Madeline galloped farther than she in
| tended before she remembered how late
| it was.
Recalled to time by the waning light.
she turned sharply, and, thinking of her
promise to Miss Ayre, hard and fast she
rode through the wintry cleaning
homewards-past the stunted planta-
| tions and dying bracken, across the
wide-spreadlng dreary moor, meeting
no creature, hearing no sound but dis
tant voices of cattle and dogs.
No road could possibly be more lone
/ ly, but as Madeline had said, she had
/ known it intimately since childhood,
and she knew no fear.
But suddenly-She was near the old
white tree. and the bracken was thick
! about there-Dey swerved and SHE'D.
turning with a sharpness that would
have unseated a less practised rider. and
rearing a little as Madeline frightened
her rein.
Ere she could get over her astonish-
ment at such unusual conduct on the
good browns part, she espled man $
figure rising from the side of the road
looking gaunt and startling in the un'
certain light, and as she espied him he
darted forward and laid powerful
hand upon her bride.
Then for. perhaps, the first time in
her life, Madeline Ayre felt afraid; the
hour and place wers so very Greary. the
attack so unexpected, herself so help
less. Though trem bling inwardly, out
wardly she put a brave face upon the
situation.
She drew up her pretty figure proud.
ly, and said in voice that vas scrupu
lousy calm:
Food" said the man curtly, and a:
he spoke he looked up with hungry. de
manding eyes. Il want food, and vii
have it-for | am starving"
But / have no food about me- saic
Madeline, but have little money
luckily" drawing out her purse from
her saddle-pockeS. You are welcome
to that if you like handing it to him
Money is of no use to me; it IS foot
l want. You can fetch me some if yo1
will-you are on horseback, and dwell
! ings are not so very far away; unles
you wish to have MY death upon you
conscience. bring me something to sus
: tain life-wine, meat, bread. withou
| delay
What are you doing here? Who ar
your" she asked, bending down littl
10 see his face more closely.
Never mind that. Will you do as
ask you?"
Il can do nothing while you hold m
prisoner like this"
He looked up at her quiet face with
rough admiration in his gaze:
, You are plucky GIRL said he. Il
l tell you who and what am, will yo
swear to keep my secret and do what
ask you?"
4 can make no terms until you Sc
me free
He locked at her again, then release
her bride and stood aside so that SD
: could have escaped had she chosen, bu
she stood perfectly still, looking at th
powerful figure and strange haggar
D face by her side.
: Now tell me who you are" she sait
: First give me your word to keep m
; confidence and to help me-
3 L give you my word will not betra
= you. and | viii help you if l can"
: You can" Then drawing nearer he
+ and glancing round. though no liyin
a creature was near, Il am convict" h
o said. Il escaped some time ago-n
matter how or when-and l have bee
o wandering on these moOrS for days. hil
: ing like rabbit, creeping. burrowIn,
= dodging. I have eaten nothing ft
- thirty-six hours, and as say. al
!. starving. For the love of humanii
bring me food. Some day. perhaps,
nav repay you. If can keep up NJ
IS strength for little longer shall escaI
n from England safely. / have plenty {
is friends at distance, but il is needle:
It to waste time over this. VIII you gi'
o starving fellow-creature help Il
charity's sake.' {.
Il will. said the girl, touched by Il
Z earnest desperate appeal. Il viii ris
home and fetch YOU what can. fru
e you. you see, implicitly"
IS @You nav trust me- You were in n